Surname Thal - Meaning and Origin
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Thal: What does the surname Thal mean?
The last name Thal is of German origin and is derived from word ‘thal’, meaning 'valley' or 'dale'. In some cases, this name is derived from the German personal name Thalhof, which translates to 'valley house'.
The name Thal is believed to have been derived out of one of the seven major clans of the Bavarian region, the ‘Thaler’, which was a German princes family. As a result, the name Thal is quite an old and celebrated last name throughout Bavaria, where the names originated.
The first and last names Thal and Thalmann are fairly common across Eastern and Central Europe, as well as in parts of Scandinavia. These names are spread throughout several countries, with certain variants being more widespread in certain regions. In Austria, Thal is a common last name. In towns such as Vienna and Graz, the surname is especially prevalent.
In the German language, the word Thal specifically refers to a deep and wide valley. This is why many families with the last name Thal have adopted nicknames such as “the Thals of the Valley”.
The surname Thal has evolved into many different forms over the years, including Tailor, Tailorovich, Thalberg, Thaler, Thaller, Talman, Talevich, and Thalbauer.
Today, Thal is a popular last name worldwide, due to it being carried by families who emigrated from Europe in search of a better life.
Order DNA origin analysisThal: Where does the name Thal come from?
The last name Thal is most commonly found across Germany and Central Europe today. According to MyHeritage.com, it is most prevalent in Austria, where it is the 917th most common last name. It is also fairly common in Germany, ranked as the 2,445th most popular name. In Switzerland, Thal is the 1,438th most common last name. It is also popular in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where it is believed to be derived from the German word for valley.
Thal is also occasionally found in the United States, as there are various European immigrants with the last name. In the US census of 2000, Thal was reported as the 34,508th most common last name in the country. In England, Thal is an uncommon name, but there are some instances of it being used in newspaper records and other sources from the 19th century onwards. It is also believed that some bearers of the name Thal were Jewish immigrants who fled Germany after the Holocaust.
In addition to Europe, some people with the last name Thal have also settled in Israel, creating branches of the original Thal family with the name Kudler-Thal. As far as Latin America is concerned, there are instances of the last name Thal in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, suggesting that there may be descendants of the original Thal family that have traveled and settled in these countries.
Variations of the surname Thal
The surname Thal is a Jewish name derived from the Hebrew word “thal” which means valley. It is most commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews living in Eastern Europe, although variants are found in other regions.
The most common spellings of the name Thal are Thal and Thall. Variants in other languages include German Thal, Thalh, Tal and Talh, Dutch Taal, Duit Tal and Dutch Talh. Other variants include Thaal, Tahl, Thaael, Tahlman, Thaalman, Thaalmann and Thale.
Surnames of the same origin as Thal include some of the above listed variants as well as Tesler, Teler and Tilser. These surnames are variants of the same Hebrew word, though they tend to denote slightly different locations or occupations.
The surname Thal is a very common one, particularly in Eastern European Jewish communities. It was historically given to someone who worked or lived in a valley (“thal” in Hebrew). As well as indicating an origin in the land of Israel, it may also signify a place of birth or schooling. Though some of its variants are becoming less common, it is still a popular surname in many parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Thal
- Udo Thal: German actor, known for Antikörper (2005).
- Sophia Thal: British singer-songwriter.
- Miles Thal: American actor, director, and producer, known for his roles in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016).
- Ruth Thal: American actress, known for Practically Perfect (2001).
- Felix Thal: Austrian actor, known for Paula (2016).
- Cara Thal: American actress and television host, known for Murder on Skid Row (1994).
- Max Thal: German comedian, known for Moonbase (2004).
- Heinz Thal: German actor and voice actor, known for Doctor’s Diary (2007).
- Fritz Thal: German journalist and news presenter, known for his work on Tagesschau (2015).
- Viktor Thal: Austrian actor, known for Nothing But Shadow (2014).