Surname Schlägel - Meaning and Origin
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Schlägel: What does the surname Schlägel mean?
The last name Schlägel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word of the same spelling, which means “hammer” or “mallet”. The name was likely used as an occupational name for a blacksmith or carpenter who worked with such a tool.
A person bearing the last name Schlägel may have also been an armorer or soldier of some sort, as the Schlägel was also historically used as a weapon, being a type of spiked club. It could also have been given to someone pertaining to a profession involving the management or caring for horses, as the Schlägel was used to pacify them due to its hard surface.
Its origin as an occupational surname demonstrates the importance of skilled craft actually being seen and remembered in the Middle Ages, as typically surnames were based upon a person's occupation. It also speaks to the importance of blacksmiths and armorers in medieval times, as these skilled trades were essential for the tools and weapons needed by many different aspects of society.
It is likely that those bearing the last name Schlägel would have a strong connection to Germanic culture, as the origin of the word is derived from Middle High German. Those with the surname would likely also have strong connections to their ancestry, potentially being able to trace their lineage back to their Germanic roots.
Order DNA origin analysisSchlägel: Where does the name Schlägel come from?
The last name Schlägel is primarily found in Germany today, where it is believed to have originated from. It is a German surname with a literal translation of “hammer”, though its exact origin remains unknown.
The last name Schlägel appears to be most common in the German states of Bavaria and Saxony, primarily in and around the German city of Chemnitz, formerly known as Karl-Marx-Stadt.
The surname Schlägel is also found in other parts of Europe, such as in Austria, where the region of Carinthia is particularly heavily populated with people carrying the last name Schlägel.
In the United States, the last name Schlägel has only become common in the past few decades. People with this last name can be found in immigrant communities in major US cities, particularly those along the East Coast.
Considering its widespread nature, the last name Schlägel is not exclusive to a single ethnicity. People of various backgrounds have engaged in different migrations throughout history and adopted the surname along their way, giving it an international spread.
Overall, the last name Schlägel is most commonly associated with German roots, but it is by no means exclusive to the region. People of all backgrounds can be found bearing the name today, and it remains one of the more common surnames in Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Schlägel
The surname Schlägel is of German origin and is associated with a number of variants and spellings. Common variants of the surname include Schlaeger, Schlegel, Schlegal, Schleger, Schlegeler, Schlegler, Schlegelmeier, Schlegelmilch, Schlegelmacher, and Shalaeger.
In the English language, the name can also be spelled Slegel or Sclagel. This is actually a phonetic spelling of the surname in which the consonants are pronounced in a different way.
In some families, the name may have been changed or Americanized to Slagle, Slagel, Slagley or Slagle. Less common variants of the name include Sleger, Shlagel, Shlagel, Schleiger.
In the Netherlands, the name can be spelled as Schlegel, Schlegels, Schlegelen, Schlegels, Schleger, Schlegers, and Schleger. It can also be spelled Schleeger and Schleeger in the Netherlands.
There are also several variants of the name in Hungary, such as Szlager, Szlagel, Szlegel, Szlegler and Szlegelmayer.
Other spellings include Schlegeler, Schlegl, Schlegler, Schlegelmeyer, Schleglmacher, Schleglmilch and Schleifgel.
Finally, the name may have been anglicized in Russia by replacing the "ch" sound with an "s" sound, leading to forms of the surname like Sleigel, Sleigel, Sleigle, Sleigler, Szleigel and Szleigel.
Famous people with the name Schlägel
- Hans Schlägel, German author, theorist and photographer
- Franz Schlägel, Austrian mathematician and physicist
- Jens Schlägel, German sculptor
- Johannes Schlägel, German Conductor
- Ernst Schlägel, Austrian physicist
- Karl Schlägel, Austrian author
- Jakob Schlägel, Austrian professor of East Asian Art history
- Martin Schlägel, German theologian
- Friedrich Schlägel, Austrian lawyer, politician and Minister of Finance
- Christophe Schlägel, Austrian sculptor