Surname Klingel - Meaning and Origin
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Klingel: What does the surname Klingel mean?
The surname Klingel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "klingel" which means "bell". The name might have been originally given to a bell maker or bell ringer. Alternatively, it could also have been used to refer to someone living near a bell. Similar to many old-world surnames, it is occupational, describing the occupation or trade of the original bearer of the name. It's important to note that surnames tend to change spelling over centuries and can differ greatly from their original versions, hence there might be other variations of the Klingel surname.
Order DNA origin analysisKlingel: Where does the name Klingel come from?
The last name Klingel is of German origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German term "klingel" which means small bell. It was originally used as a nickname for a bell ringer or perhaps a town crier, someone who used a bell to attract attention. Alternatively, it could have been applied as a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of small bells.
Today, the last name Klingel is far less common globally than many surnames, but it maintains a firm presence in Germany. Beyond Germany, it can also be found in the USA and Canada albeit less frequently. It may also be observed in countries like Argentina and Brazil because of German immigrants who relocated there in the past. Like many surnames, the frequency of Klingel differs greatly even within these countries, appearing more frequently in certain regions or cities than in others. Despite its relatively sparse occurrence, the enduring German connection remains apparent.
Variations of the surname Klingel
The surname Klingel originates from Germany and is associated with occupational background. It was used for individuals who were known as 'bell ringers' or 'town criers.' Variations and spelling variants of this same origin can include Klingle, Klingele, Klingler, Klingelhöfer, and Klingelhofer.
Moreover, surnames can vary by region and the language spoken there. Thus, in countries where languages other than German are spoken, the Klanname Klingel might be spelled differently due to phonetic transpositions, linguistic rules, or cultural preferences. However, the most common global variants still retain close phonetic similarity to the original name, such as Klyngel, Clingel, or Clinkel.
In some cases, the surname might also be subjected to simplifications or expansions over time, creating versions like Klngl or Klingelson respectively. Such versions, however, may not always trace back to the exact same lineage or family unlike the traditional variants.
The above-mentioned variants primarily operate within the German linguistic space. For broader surname adaptations, one should consider not only phonetic but also cultural, historical, and migrational aspects.
Famous people with the name Klingel
- Jeremias Klingel: A German landscape painter who specialized in depicting Romanesque architectures and ruins.
- Hermann Klingel: A German sculptor, born in 1907. He studied at the Berlin Art Academy and excelled in bronze and terracotta figurines, busts, bodhisattvas, and caryatids in the neo-classical style.
- Otto Klingel: A German soldier and recipient of the Iron Cross during World War II.
- Hermann Klingelhöfer: A German botany professor and horticulturist who is best known for his work cataloguing German flora.
- Phillip Klingel: An American politician from Iowa who served as the state's 14th Lieutenant Governor from 1932 to 1934.
- Herman Klingel: A German-American poet, public speaker, and editor.
- Eduard Klingel: A German chemist who is best known for inventing a method of distilling high-purity alcohol, known as the Klingel process.
- Erich Klingel: A German Nazi lawyer and SS officer who held various positions in the SS judicial system.
- Johannes Klingel: A German geographer and explorer who was one of the first Europeans to explore southwest Africa.
- Hugo Klingel: A German physician and historian who was best known for his works on medieval medical history.