Surname Listle - Meaning and Origin

Listle: What does the surname Listle mean?

The last name Listle is of German origin, and is derived from a location-based surname. It is derived from the German word Leist, meaning "clay pit" or "clay bank".

The name may refer to someone who lived near a clay pit, or to someone who worked in a clay pit, such as pottery and brick makers. Alternatively, it may have referred to a person who smelted ore or metal products. Clay and ore processing were key in the industrial development of Germany during the 17th and 18th centuries, and such activities likely had a role in the establishment of Listle as a surname.

Given its German origin, Listle is prominent in Germany, Austria, and certain parts of the United States, such as Pennsylvania, Texas, and California. Although it is comparatively rare, it is still present among some families today.

As far as its definition, the name Listle is most simply defined as being derived from the German word Leist, meaning “clay pit”, and is generally associated with those who inhabited or worked in clay pits. Today, the name is still present in some families and is most prominently found in parts of Germany, Austria, and the United States.

Listle: Where does the name Listle come from?

The surname Listle is most commonly found in Switzerland, where it is the 90th most popular surname. In the United States, Listle is estimated to be the 27,698th most popular last name, a significant decrease in popularity from its peak in 1880 when it was estimated to be the 7,564th most common surname. The surname is of German origin, but Listle’s were among the earliest Swiss immigrants to the United States.

Today, the surname can be found in a variety of locations. In the United States, most Listle’s reside in Pennsylvania, with additional clusters in Texas, Ohio, and New York. Surrounding countries like Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic also record decent sized concentrations of the surname. In addition, Listle’s can be found living in Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and even small numbers in Belgium, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Due to assimilation, there are a variety of misspellings. Alternative spellings include Listel, Listl, and Listeler. Lynis, Linn, and even Lusch are variations of Listle as well. Less commonly, the surname has transformed over time, and Listle’s can still be found with surnames like Listen, Listman, and Liszt.

The Listle surname is still held by many people today and can be found living throughout the United States and Europe. It remains a reminder of an immigrant family that made a new home abroad and built a successful and long-lasting legacy.

Variations of the surname Listle

Listle (sometimes Listel or Listell) is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the German word “list” which means “pleasure” or “joy”. Notable people with the surname Listle include the German-born American sculptor Fritz Listle (1897–1973).

The variants and spellings of Listle likely come from its evolution over time from its original spelling in Germany. It also could be due to immigrants coming to the United States who changed the spelling of their surname once they settled here.

Variants of Listle include Listel, Listell, Listl, Listelarie, Listener, Listner, Liston, Listleman, Listlitz, and Listrow. Surnames of the same origin as Listle include Lestle, Listle, Litsle, Lustle, Listel, Listl, Listol, Listt, and Listler.

Throughout time, other letters have been added to and dropped from the surname as it has changed from region to region. For example, Listener may be a variant found in some eastern German areas, while Liston is the spelling found primarily in the British Isles. The surname Listlitz is found primarily in eastern German and former-Austrian regions, while Listleman is seen in French-speaking areas.

Although the surname has changed spellings throughout the years, it will always have the same meaning - joy, pleasure, and delight.

Famous people with the name Listle

• Chaim Listle: an American driving instructor who appeared in the movie Eliezer (1982);
• Howie Listle: a Canadian volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics;
• Rhonda Listle: an American former basketball player who played for the University of Oklahoma;
• Dr. Joel Listle: a physicist at the University of Minnesota;
• Asher Listle: a German-born Israeli composer and music-theater artist.

Other surnames

Listl