Surname Irrgang - Meaning and Origin
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Irrgang: What does the surname Irrgang mean?
The last name Irrgang is a German occupational surname derived from the old German word "arg" meaning "work" or "labour". It was used to identify an individual who worked as an irrigation worker - someone who worked with an irrigation system to ensure a plentiful water supply for crops. It likely originated in central Europe in the middle ages when important irrigation projects were being undertaken. Irrgang is derived from the Middle High German "irrogen" meaning "irrigation" and is often associated with towns and cities in which irrigation systems were constructed and maintained.
The Irrgang surname has a link to the Free Imperial City of Speyer, Germany. The city of Speyer has had a number of historic irrigation systems, with an Irrgang family of farm workers that worked to maintain them, going back to at least 1410. They were responsible for maintaining the canals and ditches that ensured an adequate water supply for the city's crops and gardens.
Today the Irrgang surname is found in various parts of Germany and Europe. In some regions it has been shorted to Irg or Erg. It is not a particularly common last name, although there are some people carrying the name that can be found around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisIrrgang: Where does the name Irrgang come from?
The last name Irrgang is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a German name that originated in Bavaria, a state located in the southeast region of the country populated by the Bavarian people. The name itself translates to “herd of eagles”, likely referring to a strong connection to hunting or some other outdoor activity.
Irrgang is not a very common name in Germany but there are quite a few people bearing the name in various regions. For example, in the city of Dortmund there is a street and small neighborhood named Irrgang and the suburb of Rahlstedt near Hamburg is home to another street with the name Irrgang. In 2013, the Irrgang name was found to be the 600th most common last name in Germany.
There are very few people bearing the Irrgang name outside of Germany. This is most likely a reflection of the fact that, historically, this name was only used within the Bavarian region of the country and wasn’t widely adopted outside of that region until more recently. Today, you can find people with the Irrgang name scattered across the globe, but they will be primarily concentrated in the German-speaking population.
Variations of the surname Irrgang
Irrgang is a very old Germanic surname that originally comes from the Middle High German word "irgang", which means “outcome, return or achievement”.
The most common variants of the surname Irrgang are Irngang, Irrganck, Irrgonek, Irrgank, Irrgankin, Ergank, Ergonek, Ergankin, Errgoonk, Erganken and Erganker.
In terms of spelling variations, some of the more popular variants are Irganck, Irgank, Irgonek, Irrganck, Erganck, Ergank, Erggonek and Erganicken.
Other related surnames include Irrgones, Ergentz, Ergentes, Irgantz, Ergantz, Erganten, Ergantz, Ergente, Ergentz, Ergan, Erganke, Ergeke, Irgel, Ergeke, Irger, Erger, Irigen, Erigen and Irigen.
Over the centuries, some of the other surnames that evolved from the original Irrgang form have also become quite common. These include Erbst, Erkens, Erwin, Erenson, Erikson, Erikson, Eryn and Irbil.
As you can see, there are numerous spellings and surnames of the same origin for Irrgang. Some of these surnames have been in use in Germany since the Middle Ages and have evolved due to differences in regional dialects. Others are probably the result of mistranslations or phonetic spellings of the same original surname. Ultimately, the origin of the Irrgang surname can be traced back to its Middle High German roots.
Famous people with the name Irrgang
- Karl Irrgang: An American-born, German film producer and studio executive. He worked in the South German Film Collective's office in Berlin in the early 20th century.
- Waldemar Irrgang: A German Generaloberst who was the longest serving Chief of Staff of the Army High Command (OKH) during World War II.
- Kurt Irrgang: A German conductor, composer and pianist best known for creating some of the earliest recordings of German opera and lieder.
- Ernst Irrgang: Former Mayor of Hamburg, Germany, from 1938 until his death in 1941, and a prominent member of the Nazi party prior to and during World War II.
- Will Irrgang: A German entrepreneur and long-time CEO of German toymaker Schuco.
- Gottfried Irrgang: A German author, photographer, and journalist who wrote numerous works documenting the culture and history of the Berlin area.