Surname Spitzlay - Meaning and Origin
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Spitzlay: What does the surname Spitzlay mean?
The last name Spitzlay is of German origin, with a literal translation of Spitz meaning pointy or pointed and Lay meaning meadow. This may lead to the suggestion that the name is derived from an ancestor who may have come from an area of pointed meadows.
It is likely the earliest relatives of this name were farmers or agricultural workers in and around the German area. It is also possible for the name to have German Jewish roots with many Jewish surnames having a basis in a word or phrase associated with nearby environment, trade, or profession.
Other suggested origins of this surname include being derived from the given name of Spitsard, a Germanic male name with various roots such as Sperts (sharp mind) or Spitz (pointed) and Ard (from the given name Aedward).
The earliest known use of the Spitzlay surname to emerge is recorded in the 16th century in the German region. It is likely that throughout the centuries there have been many variants of the Spitzlay surname including Spitslay, Spitzel, and Spitzle.
Today, the Spitzlay surname is found predominantly in the European countries of Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands but also in areas around the world where emigrants from such countries have settled such as the United States and Canada.
In conclusion, the German surname Spitzlay is believed to have a meaning of ‘pointed meadow’ and have origins based in a nearby environment, trade or profession of an ancestor. It is likely that this surname is derived from the given name of Spitsard and has over the centuries had many variants. This surname is found today with prevalence in certain European countries and areas with German and Jewish heritage around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSpitzlay: Where does the name Spitzlay come from?
The last name Spitzlay is most common today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2019, it was one of the most common surnames in Germany, ranking at 521 out of 88,299 common names. Similarly, in Austria the name ranked as the number 638 most common among the 53,944 recorded surnames that year. The name was slightly less common in Switzerland, ranking at 1392 out of 42,471 common last names in 2019. According to information from Ancestry.com, the last name Spitzlay is found most predominantly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.
The name is thought to be derived from an occupational nickname for an animal breeder of hunting hounds or a farmer with a flock of sheep. The second part of the name, -lay, is thought to be derived from the Old German of “lai”, meaning pasture or furrow. While the origin of the name is uncertain, it is thought to have been used by farmers and animal breeders in the 18th and 19th centuries. It has been recorded in various forms, including Spitzley, Spitzlee, andSpitzley.
Today, the surname can be found in various records worldwide. In the United States, records of immigrants with the last name Spitzlay first appear in the late 19th century. These include families traveling from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, who are thought to have brought the name with them to the US. From there, records of the name Spitzlay are found in various records, including indexes of naturalization, church records, and more. It can also be found in various records all over the world, including Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Spitzlay
The surname Spitzlay has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Speitzel, Spitzle, Spitzley, Spitzner, Speetzle, Spetzel, Speittsel, and Speitzel.
Speitzel is the most commonly used variant of the surname Spitzlay. It is believed to be of German origin and is usually found in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The spelling Spitzle is also frequently seen. It is also most likely of German origin and is found mainly in the same locations as Speitzel.
The spelling Spitzley is also common in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is believed to be a variation on the original version of Spitzlay.
The spelling Spitzner is a variant of Spitzlay. It is also Derived from the German language and is likely found in the same areas as Speitzel and Spitzle.
Speetzle is another variant that is used and is believed to be a combination of the two words “Speit” and “Zelle”, which both mean “pen” in German.
The spelling Spetzel is also common and is believed to be the same place name as Speitzel but with a slightly different spelling.
The bottom two variants are Speittsel and Speitzel. Both of these are believed to be most closely related to the original version of Spitzlay. They are found mostly in Germany and Austria.
All of these variants of Spitzlay are derived from the same root meaning, “cut into small pieces”. The surname is believed to have originally been a nickname for someone who made small, precise cuts or was particularly precise with certain actions.
Famous people with the name Spitzlay
- Mark Spitzlay: American professional golfer who was one of the top players on the Professional Golfers Association tour in the mid-1980s and early 1990s.
- Ted Spitzlay: American professional baseball player who played nine seasons in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1992, primarily as a catcher and third baseman.
- Karl Spitzlay: Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.
- Rod Spitzlay: American actor and film director who starred in the 1985 horror classic, The Hills Have Eyes.
- Art Spitzlay: Canadian ice hockey player and coach who primarily played for the Dunlop Hockey club from 1972 to 1975.
- Chris Spitzlay: American country music and bluegrass singer and songwriter.
- Dale Spitzlay: American basketball player who was an NCAA All-American in 1985 and played for the Toronto Raptors in the early 1990s.
- Jesse Spitzlay: Canadian freestyle skier who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.
- Jason Spitzlay: American documentary filmmaker and producer.
- Frank Spitzlay: American former minor league professional baseball player who pitched in the minor leagues for five different teams between 1983 and 1988.