Surname Pirkl - Meaning and Origin
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Pirkl: What does the surname Pirkl mean?
Pirkl is a surname of German origins and is derived from the Old High German words meaning "pear tree," "meadow," or "field dweller." It is a habitational name from places such as Pirk near Amberg in Bayern or Pirkach near Straubing. The surname is most numerous in Austria, and is also common in southern and central Germany. Throughout the centuries, the name has spread around the globe while retaining its German roots.
Throughout Europe, many people bearing the Pirkl surname are descended from the ancient Saxon tribes who settled in what is now Germany. However, some are descended from French Huguenots who fled to Germany during the religious upheavals of the late sixteenth century. Some also trace their ancestry to Dutch immigrants who arrived in Germany during the seventeenth century.
Pirkl clans settled in many areas of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, but their presence in the United States is greatest in the mid-Atlantic region. This is due in part to the large-scale immigration of German-speaking people to the region in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Today, the Pirkl name is fairly rare owing to its location-specific origins. The majority of those who bear the name are of German heritage, although some have adopted the name through marriage into a Pirkl family. Regardless, it is certain that the Pirkl name — and its traditional German history — will live on and remain an important part of its bearer's identity.
Order DNA origin analysisPirkl: Where does the name Pirkl come from?
Today, the last name Pirkl is most commonly found in the Czech Republic and other countries in Central Europe. It is also a fairly common surname in the United States, particularly in the Midwest.
In the Czech Republic, the last name Pirkl is derived from the German word "berg" meaning hill. It also likely originates from the Czech word "pirke" meaning pine, suggesting the family was likely associated with a hill either covered in pine trees or nestled near a pine forest.
In the United States, the Pirkl surname first shows up on record in the 1800s in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The vast majority of occurrences of the surname can be traced to various branches of a single family that emigrated from Austria or Bohemia.
Over the years, the various branches of the Pirkl family have spread out across the U.S., including to Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Texas. Moreover, there are some occurrences of the name Pirkl in Canada, England, Scotland, and Germany.
Overall, the last name Pirkl is becoming increasingly rare as more and more members of the Pirkl family take on different surnames. However, it is still frequently seen in its home countries of the Czech Republic and other parts of Central Europe, as well as a handful of U.S. states, particularly in the Midwest.
Variations of the surname Pirkl
Pirkl is an uncommon surname most commonly seen in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Pirkl could include:
Pirkli, Pirkle, Pirkler, Pirklicek, Pirkliček, Pirklitsch, Pirklit, Pirkowicz, Pirkovic, Pirkowic, Pirkous, Pirak, Pirsk, Pirsko, Piercle, Percle, Pircles, Perckle, and Pykel.
In Germany, the spelling Pirkl is most common. It derives from the German word "perkel" which means a piece of land that is divided or cut out of an allotment. It may be derived from an old Slavic word "Perklova" which translates to "divided house". It also may have derived from an old German word "perclen", which means to divide into parts.
In Austria, the spelling Pirkle is most common. It is derived from the Czech diminutive of Peter, "Pirl".
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the spelling Pirkliček is most common. It is derived from the German name "Piercel". It is derived from the old German word "perclen" which means to divide into parts.
Finally, in Switzerland, the spelling Pirklitsch is most common. It is thought to be derived from the German word "perkel" which means a piece of land that is divided or cut out of an allotment.
Famous people with the name Pirkl
- Rudi Pirkl: Austrian Olympic athlete who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
- Josef Pirkl: Austrian actor who starred in films like Badl, Der singende Greis, and The Mask of Dr.Mabuse.
- Jindřich Pirkl: Czech physicist and university professor who specialized in optics.
- František Pirkl: Czech politician who served as the Mayor of Prague from 1915 to 1918.
- Cestmír Pirkl: Czech professional ice hockey player who played for teams in the Czech Republic.
- Jaromír Pytlík: Czech doctor and medical researcher who was the president of the Medical Union of Czechoslovakia.
- Jiří Pirkl: Czech skier who competed in the 2000 Winter Olympics.
- Jan Pirkl: Czech sculptor best known for his bronze bust of close friend and poet Julius Zeyer.
- Ondřej Pirkl: Czech footballer who plays centre back for Vyšehrad.
- Jakub Pirkl: Czech golfer who won the Czech Amateur Championship in 2012.