Surname Ingalls - Meaning and Origin
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Tracing the Ingalls Lineage: An iGENEA DNA Test Journey Through Time
I recently took an iGENEA DNA test to explore the origins and history of the Ingalls surname. The findings were unexpected, yet illuminating. They revealed a strong Germanic heritage, with connections to the Celts, Vikings, and even Native Americans, painting a fascinating picture of the diverse history of the Ingalls surname.
F. Ingalls
read moreIngalls: What does the surname Ingalls mean?
The last name Ingalls is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the ancient Old English personal name 'Engel'. It typically refers to "the son of Engel". The name Engel comes from the Old English “engel” and the Old High German “Engil”, both referring to an angel or messenger. Over time, it evolved into various forms as it entered different languages, becoming Engel, Engels, and Ingalls. The "s" at the end of Ingalls signifies possession or son of, following a common naming tradition. So, the name could be understood as "Engel's son" or "descendant of Engel". The name became more widely known due to Laura Ingalls Wilder, the American author who wrote the "Little House on the Prairie" series, drawing from her childhood in a pioneer family.
Order DNA origin analysisIngalls: Where does the name Ingalls come from?
The surname Ingalls is of Anglo-Saxon origin, first brought to England by the Vikings. It is largely a locational surname, derived from places known as Ingleby, Ingoldby, or Ingoldsby. These places get their name from the Old Norse 'Engil,' a personal name, and 'by,' which means settlement or village. Thus, the name translates to the "settlement of Engil"
In its original form, the surname Ingalls appears in ancient chronicles in Lincolnshire, England, and from there moved gradually northward owing to Viking influence. Post the Norman conquest, the Viking names became more common.
Today, the surname Ingalls is most prevalent in the United States, according to Forebears website. It is also fairly common in England, Canada, and Australia. However, by sheer numbers, the United States has the highest population of people with the Ingalls surname. This could be partially due to the influence of the famous Ingalls family depicted in Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" book series.
Variations of the surname Ingalls
The surname Ingalls has multiple variants and spellings due to regional dialects, immigration patterns, and phonetic similarities. Variants include Ingle, Ingall, Ingles, Ingal, Engle and Engles, which arose due to different pronunciation styles. The surname can also be found as Ingolls, Ingoles, Ingoules, and Ingoe in some regions.
In the case of Ingalls, it is a patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. In this case, the name comes from "Ingel", which is an Old English personal name. In Old Norse, "ing" was a popular prefix for given names, and "gall" could mean something like "foreigner" or "stranger", so the full surname could have meant "son of the foreigner".
Surnames of the same origin could potentially include anything with the "ing" prefix or "gall"/"gaul" suffix, although this would depend heavily on regional differences and name evolution.
Hereditary surnames were first used in England, and comprised several types including locative, occupational and patronymic names. The surname Ingalls has seen various changes over centuries, which has resulted in the number of its current-day variants.
Famous people with the name Ingalls
- Laura Ingalls Wilder: a popular American writer best known for her 'Little House on the Prairie' series of books that depict the adventures of the Ingalls family in the American Midwest during the 19th century.
- Caroline Ingalls: a character in the 'Little House on the Prairie’ series and mother of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
- Robert Ingalls: a character in the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ series and father of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
- Frederick Ingalls: a character in the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ series and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s older brother.
- Mary Ingalls: a character in the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ series and Laura Ingalls Wilder's older sister.
- Charles Ingalls: a character in the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ series and Laura Ingalls Wilder's younger brother.
- Carrie Ingalls: a character in the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ series and Laura Ingalls Wilder's youngest sister.
- Jonathan Mark Ingalls: an American actor and television director.
- Hilary Ingalls: an American actress.
- Alistair Ingalls: an American actor and director.