Surname Perchtold - Meaning and Origin
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Perchtold: What does the surname Perchtold mean?
The last name Perchtold is a German surname, traditionally originating from Bavaria. The name comes from the German words “perch” and “told”, which mean strength or fortification. Generally, when surnames were formed, the name was adopted according to a character trait or something that the family was particularly known for, and in the case of the Perchtold family, this trait was strength.
The use of surnames began in Europe around the 11th century, as European populations grew and needed a way to distinguish similar-sounding names when communicating with one another. As with many German surnames, the Perchtold name can be found in multiple records as it passed from one generation to the next over the years.
The Perchtold name can still be found within the German population today, and the family has spread out over time. Over the years, people with the Perchtold name have become a part of many different cultures around the globe, particularly those in Europe, the United States, and Canada.
Though the specific origin of the Perchtold name is unknown, it is likely of German descent, and it likely means “strength or fortification.” The term “Perchtold” or “Perchold” is used as a nickname for people with the Perchtold last name, which is a testament to the strength, courage, and fortitude of the Perchtold family.
Order DNA origin analysisPerchtold: Where does the name Perchtold come from?
The last name Perchtold is most commonly found in Austria, where it is one of the two most popular surnames in the country. The family name is of German-Austrian origin and is derived from the root word “Perch” meaning, “to protect”. This surname began as a title given to warriors who were assigned the task of protecting certain regions of the Austrian Empire; originally traced back to the 13th century.
The family name is also found in pockets of Germany and Switzerland, though it is less common than in Austria. It is also occasionally found in the US, Australia and Canada; these countries usually containingless than 100 recorded occurrences. Records of Perchtolds in Germanic speaking countries first appeared in the mid-1500s, when a few family members settled in the regions now known as modern-day Austria.
In the modern day, fascism in the early 20th century, and the destruction of records caused by both World Wars have made Perchtold a difficult surname to tightly trace. Nonetheless, the majority of Perchtold families today are located in Austria, with some being in Germany, Switzerland and other countries telling a story of success throughout the years, even in the face of tragedy.
Variations of the surname Perchtold
Perchtold is a German surname derived from the personal name Perchta, from the Old High German name given to female people in the Middle Ages. This surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which are listed below.
Variants:
Pagerdt, Pärcht, Pährtcher, Pahlen, Pergen, Perky, Petter, Purckhardt, Purckharter, Pergan.
Spellings:
Perchteld, Perchhold, Perchtold, Pörchtoldt, Purkhartt, Pergant, Pergeant, Perkit, Perkett, Purkhardt.
Surnames of the Same Origin:
Pertak, Pertek, Pertekl, Pertekle, Pertex.
Perchtold is among the top 500 most common surnames in Germany. The origin and meaning of this surname are mainly prompted by the personal name Perchta in Old High German common to feminine figures in the ancient world. The surname is common in the German speaking areas of Austria, Switzerland, south Bavaria, Germany, and southeastern Tyrol region, as well as other parts of the German-speaking world.
This name is also found in areas of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as in countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire such as Hungary, Bohemia, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
In more recent times, variants and spellings of the Perchtold surname have also spread to places without a German-speaking past such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and other regions of the former British Empire. One of the best-known people with the name of Perchtold is the Austrian physicist Johannes Perchtold who is credited with being the inventor of the ionization chamber.
Famous people with the name Perchtold
- Ingrid Perchtold: Austrian singer and actress, known for appearing as the protagonist of the TV series Der Bulle von Tölz.
- Dagmar Perchtold: Austrian tennis player who represented her country at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Elisabeth Perchtold: Austrian mezzo-soprano opera singer.
- Andreas Perchtold: Austrian footballer who played as a right-winger for SV Mattersburg from 2003-2011.
- Florian Perchtold: Austrian cyclist who won multiple Austrian National Road Championships from 2008-2014.
- Sofia Perchtold: Austrian contemporary artist who specializes in abstract art.
- Matthias Perchtold: German Winter Olympic athlete and bobsledder who competed in the 2002 Olympic games.
- Josef Perchtold: German politician who served as the mayor of Kulmbach from 1922-1924.
- Elke Perchtold: German biathlete who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1984, 1988, and 1992.
- Monika Perchtold-Hunger: Austrian contemporary artist known for her portrait paintings.