Surname Bechtler - Meaning and Origin
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Bechtler: What does the surname Bechtler mean?
The last name Bechtler is of German origin and referred to someone involved in metalworking or smithing. The surname is derived from the German word "Bechtler" which can be translated to mean ‘metalworker’ or ‘smith’. This indicates that the original bearer of the last name Bechtler was likely an artisan who crafted items from metal, such as jewelry and weapons.
The Bechtler name is found throughout German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In the United States, the Bechtler name is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and, to a lesser extent, in some other states.
In the modern age, the last name Bechtler is still largely associated with those who worked in metalworking and smithing, as well as descendants of those early practitioners. Additionally, some modern day Bechtlers are active in professions such as mechanics, machinists, and welders; all activities related to metalworking.
Regardless of occupation, modern day Bechtlers can take pride in their ancestral roots. By proudly carrying on the last name Bechtler, modern-day members of the family are honoring the memory of their ancestors who worked with metal and crafted some of the most beautiful and useful items of their age.
Order DNA origin analysisBechtler: Where does the name Bechtler come from?
Bechtler is a surname derived from the German language and is primarily found in Germany and the United States. It is also found in other parts of Europe, particularly in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Poland.
Bechtler is a fairly common name in the U.S., with approximately 26,000 results for it in the White Pages directory. The great majority of those results were found in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Ohio. Other states with concentrations of Bechtler families include Minnesota, New York, Missouri, New Jersey, and Maryland.
Bechtler is also well represented in Germany, particularly in the country’s southwestern regions. In Bavaria, which is Germany’s largest state, there were over 12,000 results found for the name in the Deutsche Telekom Directory. The same directory also found over 10,000 Bechtlers in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
In addition to these countries in Europe, Bechtler is also found in Canada, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, and Chile.
Although Bechtler is primarily found in Europe and the U.S., this surname is still rather widespread and is certainly more common today than it has been in the past.
Variations of the surname Bechtler
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Bechtler are Bechtel, Bechteler, Bachtel, Bachteler, Bachtell, and Bachtler.
The variants of the surname Bechtler is likely derived from the nickname Bachtaler, which is of German origin. The meaning of this nickname refers to someone who was known as a person from Bachtal. This was an area near Baden in Germany in the 15th century, which was a canton of Baden.
The variants of the surname Bechtler reflect a slight variation in spelling of the name - either by phonetic spelling or by accident. In the early 1600s, the first variant spelling of Bechtler was recorded with Bachtell, which was later replaced by Bachtel and Bachteler. These names began to spread across Europe in the 1700’s and 1800's, particularly to the United States and Canada.
From there, the Bechtler name began to evolve into other permutations such as Bechtel and Bechteler. In the late 1700s, these forms of the Bechtler name were widely used in the American colonies, particularly in Pennsylvania, and later spread across the continent.
Today, all of the variants of the Bechtler surname are still present throughout the world. This is an example of how names occasionally change over time, either through migration or through simple spelling errors. The Bechtler family is still alive and well throughout the world, and they still carry with them the same origin story and variations found in the original surname.
Famous people with the name Bechtler
- Christina Bechtler: Swiss curler representing the country at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
- Peter Bechtler: Swiss curling competitor, brother of Christina and winner of several Swiss championships.
- Monika Bechtler: Swiss six-time Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair fencing.
- Zuzanna Bechtler: Polish curler and winner of the 2012 World Junior Curling Championships.
- Rudolf Bechtler: Austrian jockey and winner of the 1886 Vienna Derby in horse racing.
- Emil Bechtler: German sculptor who won several prizes in the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.
- Isidor Bechtler: American composer of popular piano music in the late 19th century.
- Bies Bechtler: Spanish swimmer and bronze medalist in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
- Freddy Bechtler: Swiss ski mountaineer and competitor in international races.
- George Bechtler: American gold and jewelry manufacturer and businessman in North Carolina in the 1800s.