Surname Pretzl - Meaning and Origin
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Pretzl: What does the surname Pretzl mean?
The last name Pretzl is of German origin and is derived from the Middle Low German term “Pretel” meaning pretzel. Pretzels originated in Europe in the 7th century and were made from a simple dough of flour, water, and salt, which remain the same in modern versions. Pretzels were associated with religious practices, good luck charms, and an emblem of tradesman and bakers. In traditional German folklore, it was believed that pretzels would ward off evil spirits and protect against lightning.
The family name Pretzl is most commonly found in the German-speaking parts of Europe and is an occupational surname. The surname was most likely given to someone who made or sold pretzels for a living. This is why the name translates to pretzel maker or pretzel seller. Regional variations of this surname are Pretl, Prötzel, Pretzien, and Pretz.
Today, the Pretzl surname is carried by a large population of people in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in pockets of the United States, particularly areas where German immigrants settled. Those who bear the name proudly embrace its history as a commemoration of their ancestral heritage and of the ancestral trade that provided for generations of families. Additionally, pretzels are often part of the celebration of special German-based occasions.
Order DNA origin analysisPretzl: Where does the name Pretzl come from?
The last name Pretzl, although not terribly common today, is still found throughout much of Europe and beyond. The first known occurrence of the name Pretzl is found in the German city of Augsburg in 1290. Over time, the name spread to both the Germanic countries of Austria and Germany, but also to many countries with German speaking populations like Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and even parts of Norway.
Today, the name is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but it can also be found with some frequency in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Poland, and Luxembourg. It's also seen with some frequency in the US, primarily among German Americans. This is likely due to the large influx of German immigrants to the country from the mid-1800s to early 1900s.
The name Pretzl is fairly uncommon, but seeds have been planted that could see its popularity grow. For instance, the name is now in use in the health and fitness industry, thanks to the creation of the PretzelFit health and fitness plan in 2021. With this new visibility, the use of the name Pretzl could increase as more people become aware of it.
Variations of the surname Pretzl
The surname "Pretzl" is primarily of German origin, derived from the term for a bread knot like snack that is similar to a pretzel. Variants of the Pretzl surname include Pretzel, Pretzels, Pretzeler, and Pretzlin. The double-S spelling of the word pretzels is also common, as is Pretzler and Pretzele, among other variations.
Variant forms of the Pretzl surname also exist in other German-speaking areas, including Austria and Alsace-Lorraine. In Austria, the Pretzlña, Pretzleb, Pretzlb, and Pretzla are some of the more common variants. Similarly, in Alsace-Lorraine, the Pretzels, Pretzel Burg, Pretzler, Pretzelle, and Prottz are some of the variants.
Variations of the Pretzl surname can also be seen in other Germanic languages, including Dutch and Scandinavian languages. In Dutch, the surname can be written as Pretzelaar, Pretzelman, Pretzels, and Pretzelsch. Similarly, in Scandinavian languages, the surname can take more phonetic spellings such as Pretzél, Pretzell, Pretzelssen, and Prætzelt.
It is important to note that the surname Pretzl is also connected to several other surnames, such as Prezler, Prezell, Pratzel, Pratzl, Bretz, and Bretzler. These names are related to the original Pretzl surname but each take a slightly different form.
Famous people with the name Pretzl
- Antje Pretzl: Antje Pretzl is the daughter of the late Bavarian politician and social reformer, Olga Pretzl. She is a highly celebrated firebrand politician in Bavaria and is currently a Member of the State Parliament of Bavaria.
- Sahra Wagenknecht: Sahra Wagenknecht is a German economist and politician. She is the chairwoman of the far-left party, Die Linke and is a Member of the German Parliament for Die Linke. Her father’s surname was Pretzl and she changed it to Wagenknecht to distance herself from her father’s values.
- Friedrich Pretzl: Friedrich Pretzl was a German entomologist and an expert in the taxonomy of the social insects Arachnida and Hexapoda. He retired as a professor of zoology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in 1902.
- Isidor Pretzl: Isidor Pretzl was a German naturalist and zoologist. He was the chief conservator of the Bavarian State Museum of Natural History in Munich from 1898 to 1925. He was an expert in crustaceans and spiders.
- Alfred Pretzl: Alfred Pretzl was a German sculptor who specialized in figure reliefs and architectural sculptures. He was a member of the Berlin Academy of Arts from 1889 and he was awarded the Order of the Crown in 1902.
- Michael Pretzl: Michael Pretzl is a German football coach and former professional football player. He is currently the manager of the German lower division club FC Nöttingen and previously played for several German teams.