Surname Angerstein - Meaning and Origin

Angerstein: What does the surname Angerstein mean?

The surname Angerstein is of German origin, and is derived from a pre-medieval personal name derived from the Germanic element "angar" meaning "strong." As a habitational name, it likely originated from several places in Germany and Scandinavia, such as Angerstein and Angersten in Sweden and jurisdictions of Angerstein, Asanger, and Altanger in Germany.

Angerstein as a surname generally has two distinct branches. One branch is found mainly in north-west Germany, tracing its roots to the Uckermark region in what is now the north-eastern part of Brandenburg. The other branch originates from the region of western Saxony, modernly known as Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany, around the towns of Nienburg, Mastricht, Nassau, and Osterode. It is likely that the two branches are related to one another, having spread between the two regions during the 14th century.

Individuals with the Angerstein surname are often believed to be descended from a knightly and noble lineage, although the evidence for this is scarce beyond speculation and the fact that Angerstein was found as a locality surname in many areas. Angersteins are often found in records of Prussian, German, and Dutch nobility, and were also scribes of the Hanseatic cities such as Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck in the late Middle Ages. Some of the most notable bearers of this surname are Johann Wilhelm von Angerstein, a German-Russian merchant and banker, and Johann Ludwig von Angerstein, an 18th-century philanthropist and art collector.

Angerstein: Where does the name Angerstein come from?

The last name Angerstein is mainly found in Germany today. According to the 1990 census, the surname was the 5,065th most common last name in Germany. It is particularly concentrated in the North Rhine-Westphalia state which is located in western Germany. The meaning behind the name is derived from the words "Anger", meaning "meadow", and "stein", meaning "stone".

The surname has a long history and can be traced back to the 12th century when it originated in Westphalia, Germany. It has been found in various documents, including church records which indicate that the Angersteins were working as traders and merchants in the 16th century.

It is assumed that many people who bear the Angerstein name today are descendants of the Angerstein family from Westphalia, although many have since spread to other parts of Germany and beyond.

In addition to Germany, the name can also be found in other parts of Europe, and in the United States and Canada. In North America, there are members of the Angerstein family in Texas, New York, and California. It is estimated that around 1,500 people in North America share the last name Angerstein.

Variations of the surname Angerstein

The Angerstein surname has a number of variants and spellings and is quite common in some countries around the world.

The most common variants of Angerstein are Angerstine, Angenstein, Angersteen, Angerstien, Angert, Anghart, Angiersten, Engert, Engertsen, Engestin, Engersin, Engelsin, Enggertsen, Enggert, and Eingart.

In some countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, the surname has become Angler and Enhler. Other variations may be found in the Czech Republic, where it is written as Andgystin, and parts of Poland, where it is sometimes written as Ostry.

Surnames of similar origin or sound to Angerstein include Aengst, Angar, Angst, Angster, Angor, Anguisser, Engels, Ingels, and Enkels.

Angerstein is an archaic Germanic name that has been around since the Middle Ages. It may have derived from the Old High German "angar", which means "spear" or "shaft". The surname may have referred to someone who worked as a spearmaker or smith, or someone particularly skilled with a spear or bow. It can also be found in the form of names such as Engelsman, which translates to "spearman".

Famous people with the name Angerstein

• John Julius Angerstein (1732–1822), a Russian-born British subject, an amateur artist, banker and clearway founder.
• William Angerstein (1927–2016), American football coach.
• Marie Angerstein (1874–1958), German actress
• Ralf Angerstein (b. 1962), German actor
• Jana Angerstein (1930–2011), Austrian actress
• Jacob Angerstein (1728–1808), Swedish painter
• Herbert Angerstein (1924–2016), German philosopher

Other surnames

Angerstorfer