Surname Bichl - Meaning and Origin
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Bichl: What does the surname Bichl mean?
The last name Bichl is most likely of German origin, specifically stemming from the Bavarian region. Bichl is derived from the German term bichel, which means “small stream” or “brook.” Therefore, it is thought that this surname originated as a geographic identifier describing a person’s geographic origin.
In the Middle Ages, surnames were adopted in order to both identify an individual or family, as well as to differentiate between various ancestors with similar given names. Therefore, the use of family names allowed for the clear transmission of a family's history or occupation, as well as more detail concerning a person’s geographic origin. In the case of the Bichl surname, it can be assumed that the family was associated with or originated from a nearby stream or water body.
Today, the surname Bichl is still found in Germany, mostly throughout Bavaria. It is also found in the United States, where immigrants and descendants of immigrants from Germany likely brought it with them. Although the exact meaning or origin of the name may not be known today, it is clear that it had a geographical significance in the past.
Order DNA origin analysisBichl: Where does the name Bichl come from?
The last name Bichl is a German surname with regional variations throughout central Europe. In Germany itself, Bichl is most commonly associated with areas in Bavaria, where it is especially frequent in the northern regions such as Upper Palatinate, Lower Bavaria, Upper Franconia, and Middle Franconia. The small passage from these regions nearly to Czech Republic also holds a high density of people with the surname Bichl.
In Austria, the surname is most frequent in the South-Eastern part, and especially in the area of Styria, Carinthia, and Lower Austria. The highest concentration may be found around the district of Hartberg-Fürstenfeld in Styria. Other parts of Austria, such as Tyrol and Upper Austria, also hold pockets of people with the surname Bichl.
In Switzerland, Bichl is more likely to be found in the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden as well as surrounding areas. The highest concentration of people with the surname Bichl is in the Appenzell district.
Bichl is not particularly common in the United States, however some individuals with this surname have settled in various states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This Germanic surname can also be found further afield in countries such as South Africa and Namibia.
All in all, the last name Bichl is mostly concentrated in areas of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Europe, with a few scattered pockets in other countries.
Variations of the surname Bichl
The surname Bichl is believed to originate from either German or Czech roots, and has multiple variants, spelling variations, and surnames of the same origin.
The most likely origin of the surname Bichl is German, from the Middle High German ‘bihel’ meaning ‘bunch or bundle,’ and would have been originally given to someone living in a dwelling surrounded by a wall or hedge.
Variants of the surname Bichl include Bichel, Bichell, Bichle, Bichelle, Bich, Bickel, Bickl, Bick, Bickelle, Bachl, Bieber, Bychl, and Bigel.
Spelling variations of Bichl include Bichel, Bichell, Bickel, Bichle, Bickelle, Bachl, Bicchl. and Beichl.
Surnames of the same origin as Bichl include Bachler, Bacher, Beecher, Beyer, Biaggi, Biechle, Bigalke, Bigger, Bilger, and Bühler.
Over the centuries, the Bichl surname was most commonly entered into official records and documents in various different spellings due to the lack of standardisation of the English language prior to the industrial revolution and the modern era. With such wide array of spelling variants, all deriving from a single source, Bichl remains one of the more varied of surnames across Europe.
Famous people with the name Bichl
- Hans Bichl: Janner Bichl was an Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics at St. Moritz, Switzerland.
- Kurt Bichl: Kurt Bichl is an Austrian former ski jumper who competed from 1972 to 1978. He won the silver medal in the individual large hill event at the 1974 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun.
- Ludwig Bichl: Ludwig Bichl is a former Austrian ski jumper who competed in the late 1970s to the early 1980s. He won the silver medal in the team large hill event at the 1982 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo.
- Ernst Maria Bichl: Ernst Maria Bichl was a German designer, sculptor and architect who worked for the Bauhaus school in Dessau and is best known as the designer of the Bauhaus's famous corporate logo.
- Nikolaus Bichl: Nikolaus Bichl was an Austrian goldsmith and foil embosser who lived in Vienna in the early 19th century. He was the founder of a dynasty of German and Austrian goldsmiths who were renowned for their artistry and skill.
- Alfred Bichl: Alfred Bichl was an Austrian ski jumper who competed in the 1940's. He won the bronze medal in the individual normal hill event at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St Moritz, Switzerland.
- Franziska Bichl: Franziska Bichl is an Austrian biathlon competitor who has competed since 2011.
- Anita Bichl: Anita Bichl is an Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.