Surname Grünthaler - Meaning and Origin

Grünthaler: What does the surname Grünthaler mean?

The last name Grünthaler is an occupational surname of German origin. The name Grünthaler derived from the Middle High German word “grunthal”, which means a “green meadow” or “small wood”; likely referring to an area of land that was farmed or grazed. The “er” suffix likely indicates a family who owned or worked on land occupied by these fields or woods.

The Grünthaler family originated in the old southern German regions of Upper Swabia, which includes the present day administrative territories of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Hessen, and the Rhineland-Palatinate. This family could be found across the German states at least as early as the 16th century.

The Grünthaler surname has various spellings, including Grunthaler, Grünthaller, Gründthaler, Grüntaller, and Grünthal. The name is still common to this day, mainly in Germany and Austria. It is also found in parts of Scotland, the United States, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Throughout the centuries, the Grünthaler name has been passed down through the generations and is still recognized today. It is an indication of deep roots and a history that has connected generations of Grünthalers together.

Grünthaler: Where does the name Grünthaler come from?

The last name Grünthaler is common today in the German-speaking countries of central Europe, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also quite common in parts of the United States with large German immigrant populations, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.

Grünthaler is believed to be an occupational surname, derived from “Grüne Taler” which means “Green Thaler” in German. The name was most likely given to merchants who dealt in green-backed currencies or silver coins, or to people who worked or lived near meadows or fields of green grass.

In the census of Austria-Hungary taken in 1880, there were 6,847 individuals with the last name Grünthaler recorded, with over 98% from the then-presence of the Austrian Empire.The highest concentrations of the name in Austria today are found in the southern part of the country, in the provinces of Lower Austria, Styria, and Carinthia. In terms of population, Grünthaler is the 93rd most common name in Austria in 2020.

In Germany, there were 35,615 individuals with the last name Grünthaler recorded in the Federal Republic census of 1990.The highest concentrations of the name today are found in the southwestern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, as well as in the northern states of Lower Saxony and Bremen. According to recent statistics, Grünthaler is one of the ten most common surnames in Germany.

In Switzerland the most prominent concentrations of the name Grünthaler are found in the cantons of Zurich, Aargau, and Basel-Landschaft. According to official records, there were only 1,439 individuals with the last name in 2000.

Grünthaler is also quite common among American immigrants of German descent. The highest concentrations of individuals with this surname in 2020 were found in two states—Wisconsin and Minnesota—which have historically been home to a large German-speaking population.

Variations of the surname Grünthaler

The Grünthaler surname can trace its origins back to the Middle High German language and is thought to be derived from the word grün, meaning “green”. It is most likely a habitational name derived from any number of places named Grünthal or Grünthaler. The German language can sometimes be tricky when it comes to spelling, and there are several variants of the Grünthaler surname. The most common of these variants include Grüntaler, Grunthaler, Grunthal, and Grüntaller.

The variants of the Grünthaler surname can also include surnames of appropriate regional spelling substitutes. For example, it is likely that in the southern regions of Bavaria, the surname would be spelled Graenthaler, Graentaler, Graenthaler, and Gränthaler.

Given the wide prevalence of this surname in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as its many variants, it is possible to find surnames of similar origins that could be related to the Grünthaler surname. The most common of these surnames include Grünthal, Grüntal, Gruntal, and Grüntall.

In summary, the variants, spellings and surnames associated with the Grünthaler surname include Grüntaler, Grunthaler, Grunthal, Grüntaller, Graenthaler, Graentaler, Graenthaler, Gränthaler, Grünthal, Grüntal, Gruntal, and Grüntall.

Famous people with the name Grünthaler

• Johann Grünthaler: Johann Grünthaler was the co-founder of Almeida-Grünthaler, the world’s first winery to commercially produce sparkling wine in the middle of the 1800s.
• Christian Grünthaler: Christian Grünthaler is a German actor, known for his roles on films such as The Book Thief (2013) and Inglorious Basterds (2009).
• Gustav Grünthaler: Gustav Grünthaler was an Austrian bobsledder who competed in the late 1920s.
• Sadie Grünthaler: Sadie Grünthaler is an American Alpine skier. She represented the United States at the 2017 World Championships in St. Moritz.
• Günter Grünthaler: Günter Grünthaler was a German professional football midfielder who played in the 1950s and 60s.
• Elisabeth Grünthaler: Elisabeth Grünthaler is an Austrian artist known for her abstract sculptures which focus on themes such as nature and technology.
• Robert Grünthaler: Robert Grünthaler is an Austrian football player who currently plays for TSV Hartberg.
• Dieter Grünthaler: Dieter Grünthaler is a German-born ballet dancer who performed with ABT from 1988 through 2000.
• Andreas Grünthaler: Andreas Grünthaler is an Austrian football manager.
• Johann Grünthaler jr.: Johann Grünthaler jr. is an Austrian fashion designer and TV presenter, best known for his reality show “The Curvy Girls”.

Other surnames

Grünthal