Surname Schärli - Meaning and Origin

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My adventure with the iGENEA DNA test started as a quest for my roots, not exactly knowing how deep the revelation would go. Undeniably, the biggest surprise revolved around my surname - Schärli.

F. Schärli

Schärli: What does the surname Schärli mean?

The last name Schärli is a Swiss German surname, derived from the Middle High German word 'Scherlin', which means little shear. This suggests that the surname may have first been a occupational name for a skilled worker – a shearer of cloth or sheep. The modern Swiss-German spelling of the surname is Schärli, and the proprietors of this name would typically trace their Swiss roots from Northern Switzerland, particularly from the cities of Aarau, Biel and Zürich.

In Switzerland, Schärli is a rather common surname, and as recently as the early 1700s the majority of Schärlis living in the country were found in the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland. Today, Schärlis are still a fairly common presence in these cantons, and the surname is also found in areas of Germany, Austria, and to a lesser extent France.

The surname Schärli is often seen spelt with the umlaut "ä". This is indicative of the name's Swiss origins, as the umlaut is an integral part of Swiss German and Austrian German language and script.

Schärli is an evocative surname, representing a notable part of Swiss history and heritage. For the families who hold this name, the Schärli surname is a proud reminder of their Swiss origins and is a distinguishing feature of those who have long called Switzerland home.

Schärli: Where does the name Schärli come from?

The last name Schärli is primarily found in German-speaking countries, especially Switzerland. According to an analysis by Forebears, the Schärli last name is the 7,022nd most common surname in the world. It is also the 845th most common last name in Switzerland.

In regards to its origin, Schärli is generally believed to be derived from the Middle High German “scharlemann”, which literally translates to “honest man.” It’s considered to be an occupational surname, with its origins dating back to Hamburg in the 16th century.

The Schärli spelling is often found in the canton of Zürich, likely due to the fact that it is very close to the Swiss town of Seebach, another town from which the surname is known to have originated. The Schärli surname is also very popular in the canton of Luzern.

Since the 19th century, the surname has spread across Europe with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom hosting sizable populations, while folks with the Schärli name are “scattered” throughout the United States.

Today, the Schärli last name is, generally speaking, most concentrated in Switzerland. As such, it can be said that today the last name Schärli is most common in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, with its presence in other countries existing in smaller pockets.

Variations of the surname Schärli

The surname Schärli is derived from the German name Scharlach, which means red or scarlet. From this origin, the surname Schärli has a few different variants, spellings and surnames.

Variants of Schärli include Scharli, Scharlee, Scharles, Scharly and Scharlin. Spellings such as Schärli, Scheerly, Scherli, Sharlay, Sharlita and Shurly are also seen.

Surnames of the same origin as Schärli include Scharlach, Sharlee, Sharly, Sharman, Sharples, Sarley, Scharff, Charley, Charloff, Charley, Chorlton, and Kharlamov. Additionally, Scharlach commonly appears in many compound surnames such as Scharlach-Rosenberg, Scharlach-Starke and Scharlach-Schirman.

The surname Schärli is found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is a relatively rare name, but has grown in popularity in recent years due to the increasing popularity of various forms of media featuring characters or characters with the name.

Famous people with the name Schärli

• Nino Schärli, Swiss rally driver and team manager
• Ernest Schärli, Swiss pianist and organist
• Herbert Schärli, Swiss footballer
• Ruben Schärli, Swiss snowboarder
• Selina Schärli, Swiss ice skater
• Yvonne Schärli, Swiss race walker
• Claude Schärli, Swiss composer
• Fabian Schärli, Swiss Attorney General
• Thomas Schärli, Swiss professor of internal medicine
• Franz Schärli, Swiss musician and composer

Other surnames

ScharlSchärlScharloh