Surname Vetterle - Meaning and Origin
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Vetterle: What does the surname Vetterle mean?
The last name Vetterle originates from Germany and is derived from the terms “Vetter” and “Le” which means “cousin” and “law” respectively. Therefore, the literal translation of the name is “cousin of the law”. It is believed that Vetterle is the German version of the surname Vetterli, which is also derived from the same terms, but in the Swiss-German dialect. There are also a number of spellings of the name such as Vettrle, Vettrli, and Vetterli.
The earliest documented use of the name Vetterle was in the 15th century when Johann Vetterle was recorded in an accounting system of the town of Dinkelsbühl in 1470. From then on, records of Vetterles can be found in regions across Germany, such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Today, the name Vetterle is still found throughout Germany, but there are other countries with significant populations of families with this surname. For example, many people with the name Vetterle are found in the United States, Canada, Austria, and Switzerland. Additionally, in recent times, there has been an increased number of people with the last name Vetterle found in Asian countries such as India and Singapore.
The surname Vetterle is a unique and ancient name that is rich in German culture and history, tracing all the way back to the middle ages. With people spread across multiple countries, the name still retains its connection to its historic German roots.
Order DNA origin analysisVetterle: Where does the name Vetterle come from?
The last name Vetterle is most commonly seen among German-speaking populations, particularly in Austria and Germany. This name is of German origin and is derived from the name "Vetter," which is an occupational name for a vassal of a feudal lord. This name also became a nickname for someone with a strong voice or commanding presence, and evolved to become the Vetterle spelling.
Within Germany, Vetterle or Vettersle can be found in almost all states, with Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, Baden-Wurttemburg, and North Rhine-Westphalia notably having larger numbers and concentrations. Outside of Germany, Austria also has a significant presence of this last name.
Due to its Germanic origin, Vetterle is also found among German diaspora populations living in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere. Immigrant families may have brought the name with them from Europe and it has continued to be used as a given name. Families with this name may also be found within parts of the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and other German-speaking regions.
It is important to remember that the presence of this last name in a particular region may depend on immigration and emigration patterns, which can have an impact on the overall distribution of the name.
Variations of the surname Vetterle
The surname Vetterle is derived from an old Germanic personal name. There are multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The primary spelling, Vetterle, is derived from Vettering, which was once a variation of the Germanic Vidaring, meaning “wood king”. The Germanic element “-ring” was used in surnames to denote a leader or ruler. Variations of Vettering include Vetterlein, Vetterly, Vetterer, Vetterling, Vittaring, Fetterer, Bettar, and Bittar.
The first German spelling of the surname was Vetterel. From the Low German, the name became Vetterle, and more modern versions of the name include Vetterle, Vetterli, Fetterle, and Fetterli. Variations on the name in other countries include Betzler, Vetzel, Vezel, Vettier, Vettierle, Vettiere, Vettiaire, Vetilia, and Veithly.
Other related spellings include Vettore, Vettori, Vetoret, Bettor, Bettore, Bittora, Fettore, and Fettori. In Sweden, the surnames Vetterlöf, Vetterström, Vetterdahl, and Vetterdahl are variations on the original.
The surname Vetterle is also found in parts of England, mostly in the counties of Wiltshire, Devon, and Dorset. It is believed that the name was born by immigrants of German, Dutch, and Swiss origin, who settled in these areas in the late 1700s. Variations on the name in Britain include Vettrell, Vitterle, Fitterer, Fiterleri, Bator, and Bitterley.
Famous people with the name Vetterle
- Stephanie Vetterle– An award-winning author and sci-fi enthusiast who wrote the wildly popular book series, The Enclave.
- Sepp Vetterle– An Austrian former ski jumper, who competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics.
- Chelsea Vetterle– An American country singer-songwriter who released her debut EP, Roots, in 2018.
- Oskar Vetterle– A notable German chemical engineer, who served as professor of chemical engineering at the Technical University of Munich from 1882 to 1895.
- Oskar Vetterle– A Swiss painter who is best remembered for his Romantic landscapes that depicted the daily life of the Swiss rural populations.
- Sapna Vetterle– An award-winning Indian fashion designer, who launched her eponymous label in 2001.
- Manfred Vetterle– A German film actor who is best known for his role as Max in the 1981 cult classic Das Boot.
- Kurt Vetterle– An Austrian composer and theater director whose works include operas, music dramas, and tonal and atonal pieces.
- Hugo Vetterle– A former Austrian wrestler who won a gold medal at the 1906 Summer Olympics.
- Adolf Vetterle– A German palaeontologist who is credited with the discovery of several species of mosasaur.