Surname Mühlfelner - Meaning and Origin
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Mühlfelner: What does the surname Mühlfelner mean?
The surname Mühlfelner is of German origin and is derived from the old German word 'muhlenfels', which translates as 'millrock'. This name likely originated as a toponymic surname, referring to someone from a place named 'Mill Rock'. As such, it would have been used to denote someone who lived by a specific mill.
In German, the compound noun ‘Mühlfelner’ can be broken down into the two constituent words. ‘Mühle’, meaning ‘mill’ and ‘fels’, meaning ‘rock’. The suffix ‘er’ denotes a person from a certain place or origin. Thus, Mühlfelner would typically signify someone from a place named after a millrock or a millstone.
The surname was likely popularized during the medieval period, when many people adopted surnames that reflected their place of residence or their occupation. During this time, it could also have been reflected as ‘Muellerfels’ or ‘Mullerfels’, depending on the regional dialects.
The surname Mühlfelner is still common in several parts of Germany, including Bavaria and parts of Southern Germany. It is also found among contemporary German immigrants to America, Canada, and other countries. The variant of Mühlfelner is found as Milfelner, Milfeller and Millerfelner, among other spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisMühlfelner: Where does the name Mühlfelner come from?
The surname Mühlfelner is most commonly found in the landlocked European country of Austria. It is a German surname, with variations such as Mühlhauser and Mühlbacher, and has been around since the 1200s. It is believed to originally have derived from 'mühl' meaning 'mill' particularly one that was powered by an animal such as a horse, and the suffix 'felder' meaning 'fields'. This would have been a reference to someone who worked in the mill industry, either as an owner of a mill or just as a worker.
Today, it is believed that the surname Mühlfelner is confined mainly to Austria as a result of its proximity to Germany where the surname originated and its German-speaking population. In recent decades, the use of the surname has spread into neighbouring countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, and Spain. However, due to the population associated with each of these countries, the numbers of people with the surname Mühlfelner in these locations is likely to be quite miniscule in comparison to that of Austria.
The use of the surname could also be seen in the international community as a result of migration or emigration of people. The surname could be found in countries such as the United States, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand where migrant populations have been established and have been invited to settle by their respective governments.
Variations of the surname Mühlfelner
The surname Mühlfelner is of German and Austrian origin. It is a patronymic surname, indicating that it derives from the personal name of the original bearer's father, most likely someone called Muhl or Milfelner. It is also possible that the surname originated from one of the various places called Muhl or Milf in the German-speaking countries.
Variant spellings of the phrase Muhlfelner include MühlFELNER, Muehlfelner, Mülfelner, MuehlFELNER, MühlFELLNER, MulFELNER, MühlfelNer and MUEHLLFELLNER.
Surnames related to Muhlfelner include Muhlfeld, Mühlfeldt, Muelfelder, Muehlfelder, Muelfeller, Muehlfeller, Mülfeld and Milfelder.
Muhlfelner is a common surname in the German-speaking countries, with the majority of families residing in Bavaria, Thuringia and Hesse.
Today, Mühlfelner and its many variants are known all around the world, fueled by immigration. In countries like the United States and Canada, the various surnames associated with Muhlfelner are more commonly spelled as Mehlfeld, Mühlfeldt, Muelfelder, Muehlfelder, Muelfeller, Muehlfeller, Mülfeld and Milfelder, although use of the original spelling has started to gain in popularity.
Famous people with the name Mühlfelner
- Dr. Franz Carol Mühlfelner: was a 19th-century Austrian physician and composer, best known for his work on venereal diseases.
- Karl Mühlfelner: was an Austrian ophthalmologist and eye specialist, credited with being the first to successfully describe elongated intraocular tumor.
- Johann Michael Mühlfelner: was an Austrian scholar and theologian.
- Dietrich Mühlfelner: was an early modern Austrian poet and playwright.
- Paul Mühlfelner: was an Austrian painter, active in Vienna during the mid-19th century.
- Wolfgang Mühlfelner: was a twentieth-century Austrian sculptor and designer.
- Maria Anna Mühlfelner: was a noted Baroque Austrian composer and violinist.
- Edmund Mühlfelner: was a twentieth-century Austrian conductor and composer.
- Benjamin Mühlfelner: is an Austrian painter and graphic designer.
- Eduard Mühlfelner: was a nineteenth-century Austrian actor and singer.