Surname Klingele - Meaning and Origin
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Klingele: What does the surname Klingele mean?
The last name Klingele is of German origin and is derived from the old German words “klinge” meaning “bell”, and “el” meaning “district” or “parish”. Thus, Klingele translates to “of the bell district”, likely referring to a place where bells were hung or produced. It is assumed that Klingele was first used as both an occupational name and a place name for a bell-maker or someone who lived near a bell-maker.
Klingele is an ancient and popular surname, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. It dates back to the 14th Century, when it began gaining popularity among Europeans. The surname was brought to the United States by German settlers in the 1860s and 1870s. An estimated one out of every 1,000 German surnames today is Klingele.
Though the exact meaning of the Klingele surname is unclear in its native language, it is known to be a signifier of wealth and stability, and one of the few German surnames to have an entirely positive connotation. This is likely due to the rare resources a bell-maker had at their disposal and the idea of a bell-maker’s success ring throughout the generations. This association existed for centuries before bells were used for modern-day communications and alerts, and the Klingele surname is likely a timeless reminder of not just an individual’s success in business but the idea of a bell-maker and all the many accomplishments they achieved.
Order DNA origin analysisKlingele: Where does the name Klingele come from?
The last name Klingele is most common in Germany and Austria, however it can also be found in smaller numbers in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
In Germany, Klingele is the 152,254th most popular last name, with a population of about 76,000 people bearing this name. It is mostly found in the southeastern state of Bavaria, and is most common in the city of Freudenstadt in the Black Forest area.
In Austria, the name Klingele is the 106,401st most popular last name — a population of just over 25,000 people with this name reside there. The majority of those with this last name living in Austria are concentrated in the state of Vorarlberg, although it can be found in other parts of the country as well.
In the United States, Klingele is the 91,133rd most popular last name, with a population of over 11,000 people having this name. Most of them are concentrated in the midwestern states of Iowa and Wisconsin, with smaller populations found in other parts of the country as well.
In the United Kingdom, Klingele is the 58,419th most popular last name and only 177 people in the country have it. Most of these are of German origin and are concentrated in the city of London.
In Russia, Klingele is the 14,641st most popular last name, with over 1,000 people bearing this name. Most of those with this last name living in Russia are found in the westernmost part of the country.
Overall, Klingele is most popular in Germany and Austria, but it can also be found in other countries — albeit in more limited numbers.
Variations of the surname Klingele
Klingele is a Germanic surname with several variants, spellings, and related surnames. Some of the more common variants are Klingel, Klingle, Klinkel, Klinker, and Klinder. They are all derived from the Germanic given name Kleng or Kling, which roughly translates to “sword” or “dagger.” The surname Klingele is typically associated with southwestern Germany, where it is most common.
It can also appear with alternative spellings that differ from its English form. In Germany, it may be spelled as Klinkle, Klinkel, Kleingel, or Klingel. In Switzerland, it may be spelled as Klinghalle and Klinkhalle. In certain parts of Austria and Germany, a variant of the name Klingele, Kleinke, is usually used.
Other related surnames that are derived from the same root as Klingele are Klinder, Klinghöfer, Kleinknecht, Klinkhammer, Klinkhöfer, and Klingenberger.
The Klingele surname is relatively localized and occurs mainly in West and Southwest Germany. It is unknown if any Klingeles originated from other parts of Europe, but it is likely that many Klingeles emigrated to other countries and changed their surname’s spelling to fit local languages and customs.
Famous people with the name Klingele
- Chris Klingele: He is a former American racecar driver who competed in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and ARCA Racing Series from 2010 to 2015.
- Mekhi Klingele: He is a NCAA Division I college basketball player who currently plays for the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
- Travis Klingele: He is an American professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL.
- Tony Klingele: He is a former Major League Baseball infielder, playing for three different teams from 1966 to 1973.
- Adam Klingele: He is a retired American soccer player, playing as a midfielder for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer and several other teams.
- Tyler Klingele: He is a former minor league baseball player, playing as a pitcher for the Elmira Pioneers in the New York–Penn League from 2010 to 2017.
- Hank Klingele: He is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and Milwaukee Brewers from 1963 to 1965.
- Bob Klingele: He is a former American football player, playing for the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and Oakland Raiders from 1966 to 1971.
- Don Klingele: He is a retired Major League Baseball player, playing for the Boston Red Sox in 1971.
- John Klingele: He is a former professional football player, playing for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League from 1968 to 1971.