Surname Winklmüller - Meaning and Origin
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Winklmüller: What does the surname Winklmüller mean?
The surname Winklmüller originates from the area in and around the Bavarian Alps in Germany. It has a long and fascinating history, being one of the oldest recorded German surnames. The name is consistently found in various genealogical records, especially in the Bavarian region of Germany.
The name suggests that the earliest Winklmüllers were a Bavarian family from the small mountain town of Winklesberg, a now defunct village high up in the Bavarian Alps. In Middle High German, the name Winklmüller would be 'Winklesbari', the tiny settlement of Winklesberg.
It's believed that the first Winklmüller lived near the creek, a mountain creek which flows right past Winklesberg. In Old German, the word 'Winklmüller' would describe someone living by a creek and the suffix '-müller' suggests that the person was a miller by trade. It's possible that the first Winklmüller was a person who owned a mill located near the creek at Winklesberg.
Over time, the Winklmüller family spread out across the Bavarian region, although to this day they can still be found in the area. The name is immensely popular in the region and there are many different branches of the Winklmüller family tree in existence.
The Winklmüller family has remained rooted in the Bavarian Alps for centuries and their surname has become synonymous with the local area. It's a name with a long and storied history that continues to live on.
Order DNA origin analysisWinklmüller: Where does the name Winklmüller come from?
The last name Winklmüller is relatively uncommon today and is mainly associated with southern Germany. It is most common in Bavaria, especially the area surrounding Munich. Other areas where it is found include Saxony, Thuringia, and Baden-Württemberg. In Austria, the name is primarily found in the state of Tyrol. It is also found in the surrounding countries of Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland.
The origin of the name Winklmüller is most likely derived from the old German words winkle (meaning “a plot of land”) and müller (meaning “mill”). Thus, the original bearer of the name likely worked in the milling industry. The family likely had its own mills which produced goods such as flour and cloth.
The name Winklmüller is not particularly widespread and there does not appear to be any identifiable population of individuals with the name outside Germany and Austria. Furthermore, very few holder of the family name appear in genealogical records and resources. This suggests that many of the Winklmüllers that once lived in Central Europe may no longer exist. However, some people with the surname may still live in those countries, although they may not always use the same spelling or pronounce the name the same.
Variations of the surname Winklmüller
The surname Winklmüller is a German variant of the surname Winkelmeier. It is more common in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is also spelled Winklmueller, Wiinklmuller, Wiinklmaier, Wiinklemüller, Winklmeir, Winklmeier and Winklemeier. In Germany, new spellings and variants tend to develop quite quickly through dialects.
The original root of the name is Winklmayer, which is a form of a German profession surname. It is derived from the word “winkel” which is an old German term for an outdoor space and “müller” meaning miller. As this was a professional name, individuals with this surname were likely millers in the past.
Variations of Winklmüller exist across Europe due to its German origins. The Dutch variant of the surname is Winkelmeijer and the French variant is “de Winkelmüller”. In some cases, the surname has evolved to resemble the English spelling of “Winkelmeyer”. It is also a frequent misspelling of the name “Winckelmann”, which is a German surname from the 15th century.
The surname Winklmüller is found in various records dating back to the 1600s, especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is a common variant, with over 20 distinct spellings of the surname having been documented over the centuries.
In summary, the surname Winklmüller is derived from a German professional surname, usually used to refer to millers. It is an old name found in German-speaking countries that has over 20 distinct spellings, the most common of which being Winklmueller, Wiinklmuller and Wiinklemüller. Its variations also exist across Europe, including French, Dutch and English versions.
Famous people with the name Winklmüller
- Adolf Winklmüller, a German painter of the 19th century
- Johann Winklmüller, another 19th-century German painter
- Hans-Adolf Winklmüller, an Olympic athlete from the former East Germany
- Michael Winklmüller, a German football player
- Philip Winklmüller, a German professional rally driver
- Sylvia Winklmüller, a German actress
- Werner Winklmüller, a German film screenwriter