Surname Ringen - Meaning and Origin
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Ringen: What does the surname Ringen mean?
The last name "Ringen" originates from Northern Germany and Scandinavia. It is mostly a topographic name for someone who lived by a circular depression or a steep sided, flat-bottomed valley. It's derived from the Old Norse word "hringr" meaning "ring" and the German word "ringen" meaning "to wrestle". Therefore, it could also have been used an occupational or a nickname for someone who was a wrestler. Variations of this surname are common in many parts of Scandinavia, including Norway and Sweden, and it is also used as a first name. As with most surnames, without more specific regional or familial context, the exact meaning and origin can be challenging to pin down.
Order DNA origin analysisRingen: Where does the name Ringen come from?
The last name Ringen is most commonly associated with the Nordic countries of Scandinavia, particularily Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. This is due to the fact that the earliest known references to the name Ringen come from this region. In the early 20th century, many of the Nordic countries experienced mass emigration of people leaving for new lands, and as a result, the last name Ringen is now found in several other countries across the world.
The Ringen name is most commonly found in North America, with many immigrants taking the name to Canada and the United States. The majority of people with the last name living in the US are of Norwegian descent, and their presence here remains especially strong in the midwestern states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Additionally, some individuals with the last name, or a variant of the spelling, can be found in other states throughout the country, as well as in Canada and Mexico.
Outside of the Americas, Ringen can be found in a variety of countries, including Germany and England. However, most of these individuals are of Norwegian descent, or are from families that immigrated at some point from the Nordic countries.
Ultimately, the last name Ringen is most closely tied to Scandinavia, and from there it has spread to other parts of the world through immigration and emigration.
Variations of the surname Ringen
The surname Ringen is a German and Scandinavian surname that is derived from a word meaning “ring” or “encirclement.” As such, there are many different variants and spellings of this surname, including Ringe, Ringer, Ringler, Rinken, Ringenbach, Ringeisen, and Rinke. All of these variants likely derive from the same source, and likely all have the same meanings.
The German variants of the name tend to be spelled Ringen, Ringe, and Ringer. Ringer is the most common German variant, and is quite widespread in German-speaking countries. The Scandinavian variants of the surname are Ringen, Ringler, and Rinken. All of these variants are quite common in Sweden and Norway, and somewhat common in Denmark as well.
There are also a few surnames that are derived from the word “ringen,” such as Ringenbach and Ringeisen. These variants are more uncommon and are usually found in Germany and Austria. Lastly, there is the variant Rinke, which is mostly found in Holland and Germany.
Overall, the surname Ringen is quite common, and there are many variants and spellings of the name, which all likely derive from the same source. All of these variants and spellings are found in German-speaking countries, as well as Scandinavia and Holland.
Famous people with the name Ringen
- Some famous people with the last name Ringen include musician Tommy Ringen, a punk rock guitarist from Sweden;
- Peter Ringen, an American geographer;
- Quinn Ringen, a professional motorcycle racer;
- Ove Ringen, a business consultant from Norway;
- Lill-Heidi Ringen, a former Norwegian Member of Parliament;
- Rolf Ringen, a former Minister of Transport and Communications in Norway;
- Anders Ringen, a Norwegian author, editor and comic artist;
- Erik Ringen, a former Norwegian competitive swimmer;
- Mathias Ringen, a Norwegian kick boxer;
- Randi Ringen, a Norwegian artist and photographer.