Surname Knörrlein - Meaning and Origin
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Knörrlein: What does the surname Knörrlein mean?
The last name Knörrlein is of German origin, and is derived from a German occupational surname. It is a variation of the surname Knöerlein, which was likely a nickname derived from old German words “knöerl” meaning “small mound or mound-maker” and “lein” meaning “small”. People with the Knörrlein surname likely had a profession relating to masonry or stone-making, and the surname was used to distinguish them from others in the same profession.
This surname is most common in Bavaria, located in Germany. Throughout different regions, the spelling of the name can appear as Knorlein,Knöhrlein, Knöhrlin, Knoerlein, Konörlein, or Knörrlein.
The first known reference to the Knörrlein name is found in the family records of Anna Marie Knorlein, who was baptized in Germany in 1665. Since that time, the family has spread to the United States, where it is still found today.
Knörrlein is an old German surname, but it continues to appear in many different forms around the world. It is a surname with an interesting backstory that can be traced back to a person’s profession and importance in the masonry or stone-making trades.
Order DNA origin analysisKnörrlein: Where does the name Knörrlein come from?
The last name Knörrlein is believed to be of German origin. In modern times, the last name can typically be found in areas of Germany, particularly in the area around the city of Nuremberg.
The Knörrlein family established their roots in Nuremberg around 1600. It is believed that the family could have arrived in Germany to escape war and poverty in their original country. The family then altered their name from Krennerlein to Knörrlein as they settled into Nuremberg. It is thought that the name was eventually shortened to Nörrlein in order to make it easier to pronounce and spell.
As the name spread across Germany, families with the last name Knörrlein have been found living in regions including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and throughout cities and towns of northern Germany.
Family members with the last name Knörrlein can also be found in the United States and parts of Canada, especially in areas where migrants from Germany settled during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Overall, the last name Knörrlein is a relatively old and German-rooted surname that has spread globally over the last few centuries. It can still be found today in areas of Germany and parts of North America, where descendants of the original Knörrlein family have settled.
Variations of the surname Knörrlein
The surname Knörrlein is most commonly found in the southwestern region of Germany and is derived from the Middle High German word “knorrlocc" meaning knob bucket or small cask. It is most commonly spelled as “Knörrlein” or “Knörlein” but there are other variants of the surname as well.
The surnames Knorlein, Konrle, Konerle, Konerl, Knerlein, Knorl, Knörrl, Knerrl, Knorrelein, Knerle, Knörrle, Knörrlin, Konrelein, Knörrl, Knörl, Knorle, Knorrin, Knorrl, Kroerl, Knörrlein, Knorleine, Knorrel, Konrrlein and Knurle are some of the other variants of the Knörrlein surname.
The variations found in the surname suggest that it’s been around for a long time and could be a possible indicator that the name has been in use for generations.
Some variants of the surname also appear in other areas of the German speaking world, for example, Konrlein is found in Austria, Knorleine is found in Switzerland while Knorrlein is also found in the Netherlands.
It’s not uncommon for the spelling of the same name to be different in other parts of the world due to changes in languages over time, which could explain the various spellings that are seen.
Despite the variations, it is clear that all these spellings and surnames share a common origin in the Germanic word “knorrlocc”.
Famous people with the name Knörrlein
- Herbrechts Knörlein (1530–1593), German sculptor
- Mark Knörrlein (born 1963), American sprinter
- Cindy Knörrlein (born 1983), German figure skater
- Sabrina Knörrlein (born 1991), German tennis player
- Oskar Knörlein (1887–1956), Austrian-born German painter and graphic artist
- Ernst Knörlein (1898–1962), German aircraft designer
- Alexander Knorlein (born 1938), German politician
- Ludwig Knorrlein (1888–1963), German swimmer
- Karl Hermann Knörrlein (1867–1932), German mathematician
- Raimund Knörrlein (born 1950), German ski mountaineer