Surname Völgel - Meaning and Origin
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Völgel: What does the surname Völgel mean?
The last name Völgel is a German surname which has many possible origins. It may be derived from Middle High German words meaning “bird” such as “vogel” or “vogeler”. Alternatively, it may be derived from Middle High German words meaning “field” or “meadow”, such as “velge” or “velger”. It may also be derived from the Old High German word “folgiro”, meaning “shepherd”. The form of the surname suggests that it was derived from one of the latter two words, as the umlaut over the letter “o” was not traditionally used in Germany until the 19th century.
The surname Völgel is associated with several villages in Bavaria and neighboring regions. Because of this, it is likely that the family takes its name from one of these villages. These villages are located in rural, agricultural areas where the family may have initially been employed in farming or pastoral activities such as tending livestock. It is also possible that the family was associated with falconry or the practice of hunting with trained birds of prey.
Völgel is a very common last name in Germany, indicating that it is an ancient surname with many bearers. Today, the family is scattered throughout Germany, Europe, and North America, although many members of the family still live in the same rural areas to which their ancestors were likely associated.
Order DNA origin analysisVölgel: Where does the name Völgel come from?
The last name Völgel is generally found today in North-Central and Northwestern Germany and Austria, as well as some parts of Eastern Europe. It is thought to be of Germanic origin, likely stemming from the Old High German word 'vogal' (bird).
The surname is most concentrated today in the German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, and is most common in the small village of Fiefbergen, in Lower Saxony. It is also quite widespread throughout Austria, with a particularly large concentration in the province of Vienna and in the Tyrol region.
Outside of Central Europe, the last name Völgel can be found among German-speaking communities throughout the world. In America, immigrants from Germany featuring the name Völgel can be found in nearly all states, especially along the East Coast and in the Midwestern states. In Canada, the surname is often found throughout Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta.
In present day, Völgel is a fairly common name in Germany and Austria, although its ranks have been decreasing in recent years. However, with the prevalence of German emigration, the surname has been able to survive in many pockets around the world.
Variations of the surname Völgel
The surname Völgel is an old German surname which dates back to the medieval period when surnames first began to be adopted. It is derived from the Middle High German word "vogele," which was a nickname given to someone who liked to hunt birds. Variants and spellings of the surname Völgel include Foelgel, Voelgel, Foelgler, Voelgler, Vogel, Vogeler, Vogler, Voegeler, Foegeler, Voegler, Foegler, and Voehl.
Surnames of the same origin come from different regions and are derived from similar roots. For example, the German surname Völger is often confused with Voelgel, as they both originate from the Middle German word "vogele", but Völger is derived from the Low German dialect. Other surnames of the same origin include Vogler, Voehler, Fueller, and Völler.
The surname Völgel is sometimes reverted back to the original spelling of "vogele." It is also sometimes re-spelled as Vogel or Vogler. Variants of the surname are also found with and without the terminal “er”, so for example one may encounter spelling such as Voegel and Vogeler.
It is also important to note that in some areas of Germany, the surname Völgel may also be found under different surnames. For example, in some parts of Germany, the surname could also sometimes be written as Vogelhaus, Voegelhauss, Foehlhauss, or Foelgue. Similarly, in some other parts of Germany, the surname could be anglicized to Foley or Fawley.
Overall, the surname Völgel is an old German surname which has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. All of these alternative spellings are closely related, yet serve to demonstrate the variance of the name throughout different regions.
Famous people with the name Völgel
- Julius Völgel (1898-1997), German businessman and conservationist
- Günther Völgel (1924-2002), German theologian
- Sonja Völgel (1923-1991), German photographer
- Gisa Völgel (b. 1955), German actress
- Marianne Völgel (b. 1958), East German sprint canoer
- Johannes Völgel (b. 1962), German opera singer
- Wolfgang Völgel (b. 1964), German painter
- Ralf Völgel (b. 1968), German swimmer
- Björn Völkel (b. 1981), German shot putter
- Patrick Völgel (b. 1987), German football player