Surname Petzelt - Meaning and Origin
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Petzelt: What does the surname Petzelt mean?
The last name Petzelt is of German-Slavic origin. Typically, it is a habitational name derived from locations in North Bohemia or Silesia. The place-name Petzelt is derived from the Slavic elements 'pet-', meaning 'to settle or to inhabit', and 'sel't', meaning 'village' or 'town'.
In the Middle Ages, it was common to denote a simple hamlet with the term 'sel't', or a more expansive village with the term 'ischenie', which meant 'location'. The Petzelt family likely originated in one of these villages, or from the town of Petzelt, an old town in the ale region of North Bohemia, located in modern-day Czechia.
The families bearing the Petzelt surname likely lived in close proximity to one another in the past, and likely had similar occupations. Common professions were likely farmers, tradespeople or artisans. In some cases, the surname may identify someone as having an established status among the nobility.
Overall, the Petzelt surname is linked to the legacy of German-Slavic culture in North Bohemia and Silesia. Its historical status of a habitational name indicative of an ancestral settlement enhances its legacy. The meaning of the surname Petzelt, in short, is "one from Petzelt".
Order DNA origin analysisPetzelt: Where does the name Petzelt come from?
The last name Petzelt is primarily found in Central and Eastern Europe, including countries like Germany, Austria, and Poland. In Germany,Petzelt is particularly prevalent in the former eastern territories, such as Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, and Berlin. It has also been recorded in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
In the United States, Petzelt can be found in the states of Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. In Canada, it is primarily found in Ontario. It can also be found in Brazil, Australia, South Africa, and Russia. Petzelt is recorded as far back as the 1400s in the historic area of Silesia.
The Petzelt surname likely has its origin in an occupation that is associated with a person who made or sold felt, a material made from shorn wool or fur. This type of occupation was also referred to as Petzler or Feller. It could also be derived from the Middle High German words 'petzeln' or 'peitz' meaning 'fuss', which may have referred to a messenger or courier.
Variations of the surname Petzelt
Petzelt is a surname of German origin. According to the Institute of German Language (IDS), the original spelling of the name is Petzold or Petzolt.
Variant spellings of the Petzelt surname also include Petzoldt, Petzhold, Petzholdt, and Petzholtz.
When immigrants bearing the Petzelt name arrived in the United States they had their names changed to sound more American. The surname then went under a number of variations, including Petroolic, Pedzolt, Petzstill, Petzest, Pecool, Patzuke, Patsol, Patsull, Pacolt, Pattzell, Patzel, Patserl, Patsiss, Pattzold, Pettysell, Pettzler, and Pecoll.
In some cases, the surname was even changed to look less Germanic and more like an English surname. Examples include Pitsel, Pettiford, and Pottsford.
In locations in Europe where the German language is still spoken, the name is sometimes spelled Petzel in Austria, Petschl in the Czech Republic, Petzl in Hungary, Petzlov in Poland, and Petsel in Switzerland.
As with many surnames, Petzelt can also be found spelled differently as a result of errors during record keeping. Variations of this surname occasionally found are Petzel, Petzele, Petzell, Petzelle, and Petzettle.
The surname Petzelt is one of thousands of variations of German surnames. For example, Metzelt can be found, as well as Metzele, Metsel, and Metze. In other cases, the final two letters of Petzelt may become an -er or -in, resulting in the surnames Petzeler and Petzelin.
Famous people with the name Petzelt
- Alan Petzelt: a renowned poet and essayist who is known for his works exploring the relationships between language and art, including his widely-praised book Word Places.
- Hugh Petzelt: a prominent musician and composer who has worked in numerous genres including classical, jazz, folk, and progressive rock.
- Mateusz Petzelt: a Polish American computer scientist and professor, specializing in distributed computing systems.
- Suttner Petzelt: a German writer, poet, and translator who was active in the beginning of the 20th century.
- Michael Petzelt: a German journalist and editor who is well-known for his work on cultural and political issues in Germany and Europe.
- Emil Petzelt: a Czech-born Austrian painter who was a part of the creative renewal in Austria in the 1920s and 1930's.
- Ursula Petzelt: a German actress, best known for her performance in the successful television series Horspiel.
- Vera Petzelt: a German photographer who is best known for her beautiful long-exposure shots of nature landscapes.
- Elmer Petzelt: an American businessman, inventor, and philanthropist who was a prominent figure in the early 20th century.
- John Petzelt: an American political activist and organizer who worked to promote civil rights and economic justice.