Surname Noll - Meaning and Origin
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read moreNoll: What does the surname Noll mean?
Noll is a German surname, originating in the Middle Ages. It is thought to have originated as a nickname for someone who was bald or in general looked like a ‘Knoll’ or small hill with their head. Other theories suggest it might be derived from the German words ‘knollen’, meaning ‘lumps’, or ‘Gnoul’, meaning ‘fool’. Over time, the surname became adopted throughout Europe, including the United States, where it can be found as Noll, Nolle, Noller or Knoll.
Noll is predominantly found in the German regions of Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, and Silesia. It is also seen in Austria, Netherlands and Switzerland. Today, it is estimated that there are around 4,500 people living with the Noll surname throughout the world. Despite being relatively uncommon, the Noll name has been borne by some notable individuals, including Joey Noll, a professional American football player, and Chinese artist Jacky Noll.
Noll is often associated with the Dutch and German words ‘Knolle’, meaning ‘lump’, or the German word ‘Gnolle’, meaning ‘fool’. However, it may simply be a variant of its English word counterpart, ‘knoll’, which can mean a small hill or mound. Whatever the original origin of Noll, it is clearly an ancient and noble name, rich in history.
Order DNA origin analysisNoll: Where does the name Noll come from?
The surname Noll is generally of German origin. It is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. According to records from the 1500s, Noll was an established heraldic house in Worms, Germany.
There is also a large concentration of Noll families living in the United States. The first Noll family to settle in the US was Anthony Jacob Noll, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732. It is believed he was of Swiss origin, but today there are Noll families in many areas of the US such as Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Iowa, and Nebraska.
A search of census records shows that Noll is most prevalent in Pennsylvania, with the highest concentrations being in Butler, Berks, Adams, and Lancaster Counties. Ohio and New York have the next highest counts of Noll families, followed by Indiana and Wisconsin.
Noll is a relatively uncommon name, but if you are looking for a place where you can find a larger population of Noll families, you can look in the areas previously mentioned.
Variations of the surname Noll
The surname Noll is a northern European surname, generally associated with Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. It is also found in the United States.
Variants of the surname Noll include Noell, Nöll, Nöhl, Noehl, Nohl, Noell, Noelle, Knoll, Knöll, Knöhl, and Knohler.
In Germany, the Noll surname is quite common. Spelling variations there include Nöll, Nöhl, Noehl, Nohl, Noell, and Noelle. In Austria, a variant of the name is Knoll, and in the Netherlands the variants consist of Knöll, Knöhl, and Knohler.
In the United States, the spelling is most commonly found as Noll. A small number of American families with the Noll name have spellings which derive from the German variants, such as Noell, Knoll, and Nohl.
The origin of the name is uncertain, but it likely derives from a Middle High German term meaning "cheerful", "comforting", or "soothing". Alternately, the term could be related to knoll, which means a small hill, or it could be derived from a nickname for an individual who was characterized as having the qualities associated with the term.
Significant individuals with the surname Noll include the German physicist Johannes Nöll, the Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon, and the American football coach H. William Noll.
It is also the surname of many unrelated families worldwide.
Famous people with the name Noll
- Bill Noll: American football coach and one of the pioneers of the sport. He is credited with creating the zone blocking schemes today used by almost every team in the NFL.
- Tim Noll: American Olympic swimmer who went to three Olympic Games and won two gold medals.
- Art Noll: American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies.
- Pete Noll: American soccer midfielder who played for numerous teams in the North American Soccer League as well as the original Major League Soccer.
- Nate Noll: American football player who played for the San Francisco 49ers and three other NFL teams during his career.
- Barbara Noll: Children's book author and illustrator who wrote more than 30 books over the course of her career.
- Bridget Noll: Professional equestrian and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
- Carl Noll: American inventor and technology entrepreneur who created the first electronic sewing machine.
- Diana Noll: German singer and actress who is best known for her role in the musical Der Augenblick.
- Emily Noll: American figure skater who made a triumphant return to competitive skating after battling a serious illness.