Surname Penzold - Meaning and Origin
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Penzold: What does the surname Penzold mean?
The last name Penzold is of German origin, and originates from the German word "penzoldt," which is from the same family as the German word for "steward." Generally, Penzold is a variant of Penzolt, a surname which dates to the medieval times and was derived from a local steward of the household.
The moniker Penzold was first adopted as a name by families, likely in reference to an employee or staff member of the same name. Such a name would be used as a kind of nickname to refer to their position in the household. It is thought that the name was especially common in parts of Germany and Austria during the various migrations of the time.
Today, the surname Penzold is connected to many families throughout Germany as well as other countries in which German surnames are present. Despite the trend amongst many modern families to use the spelling 'Penzoldt' or 'Penzolt' instead, the variations of this name all stem from an ancestor who adopted the surname in reference to one who was (or would have been) a steward of the household. In this way, the name Penzold continues to represent the values of loyalty and service which were part of its origin.
Order DNA origin analysisPenzold: Where does the name Penzold come from?
The last name Penzold is most commonly found in Germany. Penzold is an old German surname, derived from a personal name that was itself derived from “pfenning”, which means penny. In German, it is spelled as “Penzold”, and it originated from an area that is now located in Bavaria, South-East Germany.
Today, the last name Penzold is widely found throughout the German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Additionally, some individuals with the last name Penzold have emigrated to other countries, and can be found living in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and parts of South America.
The majority of people with the last name Penzold are of German descent, although there are some exceptions, and some bearers of the last name can trace their ancestry back to different countries, such as Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
Many people with the last name Penzold still live in the city or town of their name’s origin, and can trace the lineage of their family back for many generations. The Penzold name has been part of the culture of Bavaria for hundreds of years, and this sense of heritage is still very strong today.
Variations of the surname Penzold
The surname Penzold has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants and spellings are Pensold, Pensold, Pensoll, Penzoll, and Penzollt.
The surname Penzold likely derives from the German-language given name ‘Penzold’, meaning “powerful guardian”, and is a common name throughout large areas of Germany.
Penzolds who come from eastern Germany may also have derived from the ancient German name “Pentzol”, which also carries the meaning “powerful guardian”.
Penzolds who are of Jewish heritage likely derived from the Hebrew name “Penzal”, which is used to refer to a “true fighter”.
In addition to the different geographical origins and meanings, the Penzold surname also has several variants and spellings that are found in different parts of the world. In Russia, it is written as Pinzol, Pensholl, Pinzoll and Pinchol; in Italy, it is spelled Pensal and Penzolli; and in France, the name is spelled Pennyzol.
Other surnames of the same origin as Penzold include Penzol, Pinzoll, Pinzold, Penzolle, Pentzold, Penzolle, and Penna.
Although Penzold may appear as different surnames in different countries, each of these is likely to share a common origin and meaning.
Famous people with the name Penzold
- Kareem Penzold: Managing Director of The Motion group, a global private media company.
- Christiane Penzold: German actress and singer.
- Jourdan Penzold: German TV presenter and radio host.
- Philipp Penzold: German ice hockey player who played in various leagues in Europe before retiring in 2014.
- Carl Penzold: German chess master and six-time winner of the German Chess Championship.
- Chauncey Penzold: Former Major League Baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1905.
- Max Penzold: Former Olympic rower who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the men's coxless four event.
- Helga Penzold: East German alpine skier who competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
- Emily Penzold: American poet, novelist, and teacher who has published two collections of poetry: “A Flight of Stairs” and “Unspooling.”
- Otillia Penzold: German figure skater who competed for East Germany during the 1970s.