Surname Säckl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Säckl: What does the surname Säckl mean?
The last name Säckl is of German origin and is a nickname for a large or tall person. It is derived from the Old High German word “sack,” which means “side” or “edge.” In medieval times, it likely referred to someone with protruding shoulders or hips, suggesting tallness or a large frame.
The surname Säckl is also found in Austria and Switzerland. It was among the more common Clan names throughout Baden, Wuerttemberg and the surrounding region in the late 18th century. It is suggested that the surname originated in the Mendrisio Valley in Ticino, Switzerland.
Today, the name is still found in the areas of Alsace, Snode, Bargen, Magaly, Maglov, Magdalla, Moers and Volkermarkt, all in lower Austria. The Säckl surname is also found in parts of the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana and Minnesota.
When translated into English, Säckl means “bagel,” and was likely intended to signify an individual’s long or large profile. This likely served as an iconic representation of a “bigger than life” presence, as bagels play an important role in many celebrations in Austria and Germany.
The name is still popular in Germany and Austria today, and has been somewhat adopted into American culture as a unique name choice. Many modern Säckls proudly carry their ancestor’s legacy and strive to live up to the big presence it embodies.
Order DNA origin analysisSäckl: Where does the name Säckl come from?
The last name Säckl is an uncommon name, typically associated with people of Germanic origin. It's possible to find references to this last name across Europe, in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Poland.
The name itself is derived from the Middle High German words for sack and little, implying that the bearer of the surname either had a family history of working with sacks or was of a particularly small stature. It is even sometimes translated directly in English as “A Sack of Little”.
Today, the last name Säckl can be found primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The vast majority of occurrences of this family name in Germany are concentrated in the southwestern states, and the most common occurrence in Austria is in the northeastern region bordering Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland. Switzerland also has a few references to this name in the western and southern regions along the border with Germany.
Overall, the last name Säckl appears to have a relatively small presence in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though isolated occurrences can be found across Europe. It is likely that most people with this Germanic surname either live in the regions described or have descended from families that originally came from this area.
Variations of the surname Säckl
The surname Säckl is derived from a Middle High German personal name Sacco, which is a diminutive of the Germanic name Sacho, and also the patronymic form of the name.
Variants of Säckl are Sackl, Sakl, Sack, Sakl, Sackle, Sackleh, Säckel, Saacl, Sackel, Säckel, Saekle, Sekl, Saekl and Saekli.
Spelling variants of Säckl are Säckle, Saekle, Saikl, Säikl, Sekle, and Seikl.
Surnames of similar origin to Säckl are Säcklein, Saakel, Sak, Saak, Saike, Sakke, Sackmann, Sacko, Saacke, Saalk, Zeckel, Sackewitz, Sackhausen, Sakowski, and Zäck.
The surname Säckl was spread throughout Prussia, Austria and Germany in the 13th and 14th centuries. By time the family migrated to North America, the surname had been changed to Säckle. In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, the version Saekle is the most common. In the United States, the surname is mostly found in Pennsylvania as Säckl, Sackle, and Säckle.
The people who share this surname are spread out across the world, having migrated over time to many countries. Thus, it is possible to find people with this surname in Europe, Australia, South America and North America.
Famous people with the name Säckl
- Axel Säckl: Austrian Nazi doctor; served as an SS medic at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and aided in the SS Eugenics Program.
- Max Säckl: German Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS) general; served as a unit leader in SS combat units.
- Christoph Säckl: entrepreneur; founded the brand selve kayaks and river cruises.
- Ursula Säckl: Austrian actress, singer and voice actress; starred in films such as 'The Boat of the Dead', 'The Blue Almoner' and 'The Lee-Man'.
- Franciscus Säckl: Austrian Catholic priest and member of the Benedictine Order; served as the Archbishop of Salzburg from 1632 to 1645.
- Michael Säckl: Austrian civil engineer; designed the Vogelweider sewer system and the Säcklhäusl Pavilion.
- Joseph Säckl: Austrian-German operetta composer; wrote several stage works such as 'Das Lebensspiel', 'Die Vier Grenadiere' and 'Lehr- und Wanderjahre'.
- Joseph Säckl, Jr.: Austrian composer and librettist; worked with his father on such operas as 'Der Leprechaun' and 'Der Talisman'.
- Günther Säckl: Austrian businessman and real estate developer; founded the PAMAG firm and constructed Vienna's Alliotz Tower.
- Simon Säckl: Austrian fiscal doctor; issued a report on the financial management of the Kingdom of Saxony-Coburg-Gotha.