Surname Mainl - Meaning and Origin
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Mainl: What does the surname Mainl mean?
The last name Mainl is of Germanic origin and first appears in documents from the Middle Ages. It is believed that the name is derived from the root words “main” or “mün”, both meaning “stone” or “rock”, and “l”, referring to a person. This suggests that Mainl was used as a name for someone who lived near a stone or rock formation.
The Mainl name is found mainly in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This could indicate that it originated in this area, as southern Germany is home to the famous rock formations of the Black Forest.
Today, the name is particularly common in Southwestern Germany and is one of the most common surnames in Bavaria. Those bearing the name Mainl can also be found in the United States, mainly in Wisconsin, where German immigrants have settled.
The Mainl name most likely indicates that the family is of hardworking origin, with “stone” or “rock” suggesting an ancestral line of sturdy and dependable citizens. The migration of Mainl families to the U.S. would indicate a desire for a more prosperous life and the courage to find it.
Order DNA origin analysisMainl: Where does the name Mainl come from?
The last name Mainl is a relatively uncommon surname, but it is most prevalent in the German-speaking parts of Europe such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. People with the last name Mainl were once scattered across Europe, however this changed as a result of German-speaking migrations starting in the 1700s.
Mainl is a locational topographical surname that can be traced back to a hamlet name, Mainlhof, that is located near the towns of Freyung and Regen in Bavaria, Germany. The name Mainl is thought to be derived from the Middle High German mal which means a ‘low-lying meadow’.
Mainl still remains relatively rare today with the most common frequency of this surname being in Germany and Switzerland. It is estimated that there are around 8,000 individuals with the last name Mainl in Germany, with the most of them origination from the Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Thuringia regions. In Switzerland, Mainl is most common in the Canton of Zurich, with 800 residents carrying the surname. Other places where Mainl is present include Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France. It is thought that outside of Europe, the Mainl surname does not exist.
Variations of the surname Mainl
The surname Mainl is an ancient Gaelic Irish clans originating from County Galway in the west of Ireland. It is derived from the personal name "Mael". There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for this surname, including:
Mayl, Mainell, Meall, Maynil, Maynell, Mynell, Myneill, Meinill, Mac Mainle, Mac Maynil, Mac Anill and Mac Anile. Of these variants, Mayl and Mainell are the most internationally recognized.
The surname is found throughout North America, England, Scotland and Ireland and can be recognized in any spelling. Mainl is the earliest form of the name, and it is possible to trace the family lineage back to the 16th century.
In Ireland, the surname Mainl is associated with the towns of Carraroe and Ballinasloe. These locales were the homeland of the family before they became dispersed within and outside Ireland. Moreover, the people of the Mainl line were known to be high-ranking officers or soldiers and some were also involved in the Civil War.
The MacAnils or Mawnills also belong to the same family tree as the Mainl. This branch of the clan was located mainly in Mayo and moved to Galway in the 1700s. Other surnames such as MacAnils and Myneills can also be found in Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, and Tyrone.
The surname Mainl is believed to have originated as a derivative of the Irish Mael, with a terrminological meaning of "prince" or "servant of God". Today, the spelling of the name may differ in different countries but the surname still reflects its ancient Gaelic origins. As a result, many individuals throughout the Irish diaspora, and indeed the whole world, proudly carry the surname Mainl.
Famous people with the name Mainl
- Ines Mainl: German entertainer
- Anatole Mainl: French comedian
- Bibi Mainl: Brazilian Olympics rower
- Judith Mainl: Austrian model
- Jean Mainl: Swiss actor
- Georgy Mainl: Russian politician
- Jens Mainl: German ice hockey player
- Manda Mainl: Australian fashion designer
- Vince Mainl: American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Freddy Mainl: Canadian Paralympic skier