Surname von Birgelen - Meaning and Origin
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von Birgelen: What does the surname von Birgelen mean?
The von Birgelen surname is derived from a location in Germany, near the Dutch border, which bears the same name. It is also spelled von Birgelsen or Birgelen.
The name is derived from the old German word berg, meaning "mountain," and the word lon, which literally translates to "meadow". In this context, the phrase "von Birgelen" can be translated to mean "from the mountain meadow". In other words, those who bear the von Birgelen name once lived near or in the mountain meadows of Germany.
The history of the von Birgelen family can be traced back to the year 1397, when they first appear in records. They are believed to have been a landed family, though this is not proven. This means that they may have held estates or other properties in Germany, or that they may have been involved in noble status or titles.
The von Birgelen name can now be found scattered across Germany and other parts of Europe. The members of the von Birgelen family have historically been involved in the military, and thus the surname can still be found in some of Germany's oldest and most renowned military institutions.
The von Birgelen family has a long and rich heritage in Germany and Europe and its members continue to contribute to society in meaningful ways. They have earned their place in history and continue to live up to their name with pride and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Birgelen: Where does the name von Birgelen come from?
The last name von Birgelen is a common German and Dutch surname. Today, it is primarily found in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe. The name can also be found in the United States and Canada, though it is much less prevalent in those countries.
The origin of the surname comes from the German word birgel, meaning “pottery kiln,” so it is likely that this is an occupational surname. This surname is more common in western Germany, particularly in the Rhine region, but there are also some families with this surname in eastern Germany. In the Netherlands, this is a fairly common surname and there are many families that have adopted it over the years.
Since German surnames were most commonly derived from locations, many people with the surname von Birgelen have adopted the name as a part of their identity. This is especially true in more traditional areas of Germany. There is also a skiing event named after this family, which may have helped to publicize the surname around the world.
In North America, the surname von Birgelen is much rarer than in Europe. The first recorded instance of the surname in Canada was in 1847, with a family of German migrants. In the United States, the first instance of the surname was in the 1880s. Today, there are still a handful of individuals in North America with the surname, but they are generally descendants of immigrants from Germany or the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname von Birgelen
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as von Birgelen all appear to stem from the same root name, Berger. The earliest known variant of this name appears as Bercher in Medieval German documents, while contemporary spellings and variants of the Berger name can be found in many languages, including French (Berger, Bérger, Bércier, Bourgeois), English (Barnes, Bergen, Burgeon, Burgess, Bergman), Dutch (Berg, Burgers, van Brugge, van Bergen), and Italian (Bergero, Bergeri, del Bergame).
Variants of the name von Birgelen, specifically, include van Bürgel, von Burgele, van Bürgelen, van Bergelein, van Byergelein, and van Berggelen. In the Netherlands, these variants of the name often appear to be derived from the name of cities of origin, such as van Bürgelen, which is derived from Buiksloot, a village in the Netherlands.
Historically, surnames derived from the Berger root were often used to denote people of prominence – merchants, artisans, local notables, or prominent citizens. Similarly to other surnames of German or Dutch origin, it is likely that the von Birgelen name originated as an occupational name of some sort, signifying people who were employed at, or near, a van Bürgelen estate. Today, this name is still used throughout Central and Western Europe, especially in Germany and the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name von Birgelen
- Count Leopold von Birgelen (1868-1944), German politician and historian.
- Baron Nicolaus von Birgelen (1735–1777), German Count in Cleve and a general in the army of the House of Orange-Nassau.
- Count Gebhard Cluir und von Birgelen (1829-1896), head of a famous branch of the von Birgelen family and German industrialist.
- Hans-Georg von Birgelen (1953-), German mathematician and politician.
- Margarethe von Birgelen (1783-1859), German historical novelist.
- Countess Anna von Birgelen (1827-1888), German noble and historian.
- Marc-Philippe von Birgelen (1969-), German actor and television presenter.
- Count Johann Wilhelm Maria von Birgelen (1957-), German business leader.
- Countess Elisabeth von Birgelen (1837-1919), German noble and court lady in the House of Orange-Nassau.
- Countess Christine von Birgelen (1912–2006), German noble and notable painter.