Surname Affenzeller - Meaning and Origin
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Affenzeller: What does the surname Affenzeller mean?
The last name Affenzeller is of German origin, typically associated with people from Bavaria and the surrounding area. The name is derived from the Latin phrase affinum sellarium, which translates to "distinguished seller." This implies that someone with the last name Affenzeller likely had ancestors who had success in the sale and exchange of goods or services. German surnames of this type were often assigned to a family to identify them and differentiate them from other families.
The Affenzeller name can be broken down into two parts; the affinum meaning “related to” and sellarium which means “merchant” or “trader". While the root meaning of the surname implies that its original bearers were merchants, it is likely that not all who bore the name were merchants exclusively. In some cases, the name may also indicate someone who was a skilled craftsman or artisan, as that sort of pursuit was also a common means of livelihood in the Bavarian region.
In addition to Germany, the surname Affenzeller may be found in various other countries, including Austria, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. For those who bear the Affenzeller name, it is a reminder of their ancestors’ hard work and dedication to making a living in a different time and place.
Order DNA origin analysisAffenzeller: Where does the name Affenzeller come from?
The last name Affenzeller is commonly found in the Austrian, Bavarian, and Swiss regions of Central Europe. It was first found in Bavaria, a state in Germany, where the Affenzellers held a family seat from very early times. Specification in the 14th century shows them living in Schwarzenborg, a village near Linz, a city in Upper Austria. Over time, the Affenzeller surname spread across the Alps into Switzerland and northern Italy as well.
Today, the Affenzeller family name can primarily be found in Austria, Bavaria, and Switzerland, although there have been sightings of the surname in numerous countries throughout the world. In the United States, the first documented Affenzeller was Heinrich Affenzeller, who immigrated to New York in 1889. Other American Affenzellers can be found across the United States, as well as in Canada and elsewhere.
In Austria, the Affenzeller name is present in Vienna, Linz, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Klagenfurt, as well as other places in the region. In Bavaria, the surname can be found in regions such as Munich, Augsburg, and Regensburg. In Switzerland, the Affenzeller name can be found in the cities and towns of Zurich, Bern, Lausanne, Basel, and Geneva, as well as small villages and hamlets throughout the country.
Overall, the Affenzeller family name is still relatively common in the regions of Central Europe from which it originates. It has spread to numerous countries around the world, but still remains concentrated in Austria, Bavaria, and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Affenzeller
Affenzeller is a surname of German origin. Alternate spellings and variants of the name include Affzeller, Affingeiler, Affenzieller, Affinzeller, Affinzeller, Affenzaehler, Affenzeller, and Affenzill. The name is derived from the German words "affe" (meaning monkey) and "zeller" (meaning cellar).
The Affenzeller surname is most common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is thought to have surfaced in central Europe during the 14th century when families began using German-sounding versions of their given names as family names.
Surnames derived from the Affenzeller name include Affenzeller-Kasslinger, Affenzeller-Pfeiffer, and Affenzeller-Von Rothenfelser. The Kasslinger and Von Rothenfelser families originated from Bavaria. The Affenzeller-Pfeiffer family likely has roots in Austria's East Styria region.
The name Affenzeller was likely used to describe someone who was agile, cunning, wily, or mischievous, qualities usually attributed to monkeys. It could have also been used as a nickname for someone who looked like a monkey, or acted monkey-like.
The Affenzeller name has also evolved over time with various spelling variations. For example, some forms are composed of two words instead of one, most likely to reflect a tribal name or place name and to distinguish different branches of a family from others with the same surname.
Regardless of the origin of the Affenzeller name, it remains an interesting and unique name that has been carried on by many families across Europe for centuries.
Famous people with the name Affenzeller
- Matthias Affenzeller: An Austrian professor, specializing in computer science, mathematics, and physics. He is the managing director at the Institute of Computational Perception at Johannes Kepler University Linz and the director of the NLP Chair.
- Wolfgang Affenzeller: A German track and field athlete and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
- Konrad Affenzeller: An Austrian composer and conductor who lived from 1725 to 1797. He composed music for the court of Vienna and for the citizens of Vienna.
- Manfred Affenzeller: An Austrian footballer who was part of the Austrian national football team, as well as several top football clubs in the Bundesliga.
- Günther Affenzeller: An Austrian adventure writer and mountaineer. He wrote novels about his adventures in the Alps and other mountain ranges.
- Heinz Affenzeller: An Austrian-born biologist who dedicated much of his life to studying plants and wildlife. He published numerous books about the flora and fauna of Austria.
- Roman Affenzeller: An Austrian painter and sculptor whose works featured landscape scenes as well as animal life and human figures.
- Jürgen Affenzeller: An Austrian painter, sculptor, and potter who was active at the start of the 20th century.
- Bernhard Affenzeller: An Austrian poet, philosopher, and theologian who lived from 1868 to 1925.
- Angelika Affenzeller: An Austrian political activist and women's rights advocate. She was one of the founders of the Austrian Women's Movement.