Surname Klingeler - Meaning and Origin
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Klingeler: What does the surname Klingeler mean?
The last name Klingeler is a German surname derived from the word Klingel, which means "bell". During the medieval period in Germany, people often named their children after objects they saw in everyday life. In this case, it was likely that someone in the family had the job of ringing a bell in the local town.
The Klingeler surname is one of the more uncommon German surnames that was most prevalent in the area around Flanders. It appears on records in the 18th century, and can still be found there today.
In the modern day, the Klingeler name is shared by several families in the United States, particularly those who immigrated from Europe in the early 20th century and during the two World Wars. Additionally, it is a fairly common name in Germany, where it is still widely used.
Those bearing the Klingeler surname take part in a wide variety of professions and activities. Some of those bearing the surname have taken up the traditional bell-ringer profession, while others have gone on to careers in the arts, academia, and business.
Today, this name offers a strong connection to its roots and provides an insight into the cultural history of those who carry it.
Order DNA origin analysisKlingeler: Where does the name Klingeler come from?
The last name Klingeler is most commonly found in western Germany today. The name is derived from the German word "klingeln" which means to tinkle or jingle. This indicates that the original Klingeler family may have been connected to bells or bell-making in some way. The name may have also been adopted to mean a person who works with chimes or bells in some capacity.
The Klingelers are likely of German-Franconian origin and may have originated in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg or the Rhineland. As far as places where the Klingeler name is most prevalent today, the most common regions are the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Outside of Germany, a few European countries have pockets of people with the last name Klingeler. For example, Netherlands and other parts of Germany have emigrated Klingelers. Even the United States has a few people with the last name, mainly concentrated in California and other parts of the west coast.
Given the history of the name, it is likely that the Klingelers have been in western Germany for centuries, and that their population steadied and grew throughout the modern era. Amidst Germany's tumultuous history, the Klingelers held on to their familial name and today, with only modest dispersal outside of the country, it remains alive in western Germany.
Variations of the surname Klingeler
The surname Klingeler is derived from the Middle High German name “Klingelere” which means dinger or bell-ringer. Klingeler is also seen as a variant of Klinker, which is a surname of Dutch origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the name Klingeler include:
Klingle, Klingele, Klingelere, Klingler, Klinker, Klingeleer, Klingelaar, Klingler, Klinglere, Klinkerle, Klingelere, Klëngle, Køngle, Klingel, Klinke, Klinkel, Klinkkle, Klingelre, Klingeleere, Klenkel, Klëngeler, Klingler, Klingeleer, and Klingelaar.
The Klingeler surname is primarily found in German speaking areas such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is also widely found in the Netherlands, Denmark, and more recently in the United States, Canada and Australia.
The surname Klingeler is also associated with two prominent families with long-lived and long-standing members in Germany. The more widely known is the renowned Klingeler family of Saxony that’s traceable back to the early 14th century, which consists of highly respected lawyers, doctors, businessmen, and musicians. The other is the lesser-known “Klingeler von der Höhe” family of Thüringen, which dates back to the 15th century and is represented by a noted theater director, archeologist, and classic mountain climber.
The Klingeler surname can also be found in records in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium. In fact some Dutch emigrants to America use the name Klingeler, rather than Klinker, due to the reverse spelling convention used in Dutch.
The altered spellings of Klinger and Klingerl are also found, as well as the less common variants other associated surnames such as Kling, Klöng, Klengel, Klinkert, Klingler, Klink, Klinkert, Klinkerl, and Klingelerl.
Famous people with the name Klingeler
- Uwe Klingeler: a former German footballer.
- Maren Klingeler: a German television presenter and model.
- Iris Klingeler-Köhler: a German author best known for writing fiction novels.
- Wolfgang Klingele: a former German footballer.
- Florian Klingeler: a German musician.
- Richard Klingeler: a German footballer.
- Beatrice Klingeler: an American musician.
- Sebastian Klingeler: a German composer and conductor.
- Kirsten Klingeler: the lead vocalist of the pop band Clouds.
- Johannes Klingeler: a German actor.