Surname Raubal - Meaning and Origin
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Raubal: What does the surname Raubal mean?
The last name Raubal is of German origin and is derived from the German word "Raub," which has multiple meanings. It can mean "robbery" or "snatch," reflecting a ancestral background in a military, law-enforcement, or guard-related profession. The addition of “-al” indicates that this profession is a family tradition, passed down through the generations, or that several family branches may have had the same profession.
Raubal is also associated with a specific geographical location in Germany, as the name is especially popular in the small town of Rauboden, or Raubael in old German. This town is located near the Austrian border in the Bavarian Alps. Historically, Rauboden was known for its gold and silver mines, and the Raubal family likely hails from here.
Aside from its German origin, the family name has also been adopted by some Danish families, although this is mostly due to immigration in the 1800s.
The Raubal name is associated with strength of character, loyalty and a strong sense of family. Those with the name are often seen as proud and hardworking, with an entrepreneurial spirit and a natural inclination for order and structure. It’s no surprise, then, that many individuals with the name have gone on to successful and impressive careers, including multiple notable individuals in history, such as Adolf Hitler’s half-niece, Geli Raubal.
Order DNA origin analysisRaubal: Where does the name Raubal come from?
The last name Raubal is not overly common these days, however there are a few individuals that do carry it throughout the world.
In Germany, there is a Raubal family that comes from Erkelenz, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate state. It has been suggested their lineage could be traced back to immediate family members of Adolf Hitler’s half sister, Angela Raubal.
In the United States there is another Raubal family that is concentrated in the mid-Atlantic region. This family is descended from Heinrich Raubal Sr., the father of Hitler’s half sister, Angela. He was born in the late 1700s in Czechoslovakia and emigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1800s. Today there are Raubals living in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Maryland.
In other parts of the world, there are a few individuals carrying the Raubal name. In Australia, there are a handful of Raubals that have their lineage traced back to the United States, as their ancestors immigrated at the start of the 20th century. Smaller numbers of Raubals live in countries such as England, New Zealand and Canada.
In general, the last name Raubal is not too widespread, however it can be found in small numbers across the globe.
Variations of the surname Raubal
The surname Raubal is of German origin. It is a combination of two words: the German 'rau' meaning 'noisy' and 'bal' meaning 'town'. Variations of the name include Ruabel, Reubelle, Rauble and Rauball. It is believed that the spelling of Raubal was introduced to English-speaking countries in the 19th century by German immigrants.
Common spellings of the surname Raubal include Rabal, Raball, Rabel, Rabell, Raubel, Rubal and Rubbel. Other variations in spelling can also be found, such as Robbel, Robel, Robell, Rubel and Rubell.
Common variants of the surname include Raubold, Raubolt and Raubould. Other related surnames for those of the same descent include Ruble, Ruppel, Reubel, Ruppel and Ruffel.
The surname Raubal is rarely found in United States records. It is more common to find it as the surname of German and Austrian military personnel. Some notable people with the surname Raubal include Margarete ‘Gretl’ Raubal, Adolf Hitler's half-sister, and Heinrich Raubal Jr., her son, and an SS commander.
In the present day, the surname Raubal is still commonly found in Germany and other European countries.
Famous people with the name Raubal
- Geli Raubal: Geli Raubal was a niece of Adolf Hitler who lived between 1907 and 1931. She was rumored to have a romantic relationship with him, although there was some dispute over the nature of this connection.
- Leo Raubal: Leo Raubal was the brother of Geli Raubal and a half-brother of Adolf Hitler. He was the son of Alois and Franziska Raubal. He served in the Austrian-Hungarian Army from 1914 to 1918 and later worked as a police officer in Linz, Austria.
- Friedelind Raubal: Friedelind Raubal was the daughter of Leo Raubal and half-niece of Adolf Hitler. She had a noted career in music, performing as a composer and pianist. She was also an active member of the anti-Nazi resistance in Europe during World War II.
- Heinz Raubal: Heinz Raubal was the son of Leo Raubal and nephew of Adolf Hitler. He was an active member of the Nazi party in the 1930s, and was later sentenced to twenty years in prison after volunteering to testify against Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg Trials.
- Angelika Raubal: Angelika Raubal was a half niece of Adolf Hitler and the daughter of his half-brother Alois. She had a daughter with Hitler's valet, Johann Kubizek, named Heinerle, who died in infancy. She is believed to have committed suicide shortly afterward.