The Zwiefler family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Zwiefler is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Zwiefler was given to someone who lived in Bavaria. The Zwiefler family resided on a vast feudal estate in an elegant manor. They also became involved in the political and economic affairs of Bavaria and acquired a distinguished reputation for their contributions to German society.
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Early Origins of the Zwiefler family
The surname Zwiefler was first found in Bavaria, where the name Zweifel made a great early contribution to the feudal society of early Europe. The name Zweifel became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.
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Early History of the Zwiefler family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Zwiefler research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Zwiefler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Zwiefler Spelling Variations
In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Zwiefler include Zweifel, Zweiffel, Zweifeln, Zwiefel, Zwibel, Swibel, Zwiebler and many more.
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Early Notables of the Zwiefler family
More information is included under the topic Early Zwiefler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Zwiefler family
The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Johan Zwiebler, who came to Pennsylvania in 1752; Adam Zweiffel came to Philadelphia in 1844; Johann Zweifel came to Philadelphia in 1874; Alois Zweifel arrived in Pennsylvania in 1877.
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