Surname Glätzle - Meaning and Origin

Glätzle: What does the surname Glätzle mean?

The last name Glätzle is a German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word “glatze” meaning bald. The name Glätzle can be translated literally as “the bald one,” and it was likely given to a person who was bald or partially bald.

The meaning of the name could also refer to someone with very close-cropped hair or with a very distinct bald spot on the head. During the Middle Ages, when this surname first appeared, there were certain occupations that required workers to keep their hair very short, so the surname could also have been used to refer to such individuals.

The surname Glätzle can likely be traced back to the 14th century in Germany, and today it can still be found primarily in that region. It is a fairly uncommon last name and the exact number of people with this surname is unknown. Despite its rarity, there are still many individuals with the last name Glätzle who live around the world, with the vast majority living in Germany.

Overall, the surname Glätzle carries a simple but meaningful origin. The name would have been given to someone with either a bald head or a very unique hairstyle or hairstyle pattern, and this meaning would have been understood by those living during the Middle Ages. It also speaks to the profession of the original bearer of the last name, as there were certain trades that demanded a short hairstyle. Today, the surname Glätzle is still not all that common, but it’s found all around the world, mostly among people with German heritage.

Glätzle: Where does the name Glätzle come from?

The Glätzle surname is primarily found in the German-speaking areas of Europe, primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It may be connected to the ancestries of the Rhineland of Germany, but any regional connection is uncertain. The Glätzle surname is also found in a small number of families in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and elsewhere. The last name Glätzle is most commonly found among families whose ancestor emigrated from German-speaking Poland and regions in what was then known as the German Empire. Examples of such families include ethnic German Prussian Mennonites who immigrated to Canada in the late 18th century, as well as German Jews from the Rhineland who relocated to the United States in the 19th century.

The name Glätzle is derived from the German word glätzen, which translates to “to polish,” or more figuratively, “to make shine.” This etymological connection suggests an origin as an occupational surname for someone who was skilled at polishing metal or jewelry items. It is possible that Glätzle then came to be used as an actual surname and evolved along with its various regional spellings and pronunciations as families moved around and sought to differentiate themselves within their neighborhood and region.

Variations of the surname Glätzle

The surname Glätzle is a German patronymic surname meaning "son of Glatzel". Glätzle has two variant spellings, Glatzel and Glatzle, and a few common surnames derived from it, including Glätzel, Glattzel, Glattzilla, and Glattzle.

The primary spelling of the name Glätzle is thought to have originated in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria, where most bearers of this surname still reside today. One of the oldest documented records of the surname dates back to 1106, when a man named "Henricus Glatzli" was named in the highly regarded Augsburg codex.

Those bearing the version Glatzel can be found in southwest Germany and Austria, and the version Glatzle is found mainly in Hungary and Austria as well as in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Glatzle is also common in the United States, where bearers of this name often spell it with a single "l", Glatzel.

In terms of variants, Glätzle is either hyphenated, i.e., Glätzl-e or Glaetzle, or the German "ä" character is commonly substituted for an "a", i.e., Glatzle. Additionally, the "tz" in Glätzle is sometimes put together as a single letter, i.e., Gläzl or Glazl.

In terms of surnames derived from Glätzle, some common ones include Glätzel, Glattzel, Glattzilla, and Glattzle, all of which derive from the primary spelling of Glätzle. Glattzel has been found mainly in Austria, Glattzilla in Hungary, and Glattzle in the United States.

Famous people with the name Glätzle

• Wolfgang Glätzle, German actor and director
• Sebastian Glätzle, German actor
• Max Glätzle, German pastor and theologian
• Ernst Glätzle, German lawyer and politician
• Konrad Glätzle, German producer and director
• Monika Glätzle, German athlete
• Matthias Glätzle, German sculptor
• Ernst Glätzle, Jr., German politician
• Markus Glätzle, German footballer
• Thomas Glätzle, German actor and presenter

Other surnames

GlatzlGlätzl