Surname Spannagel - Meaning and Origin

Spannagel: What does the surname Spannagel mean?

The last name Spannagel is of German origin and is derived from the Low German form of the word 'spannen,' which translates to 'span' in English. The name was likely created to denote a family of joiners or cabinet makers, as spannen refers to the beams and boards used in carpentry.

The Spannagel surname is believed to have first appeared in medieval records in the East German area of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where records indicate a family of construction workers named Spannagel had been in place since at least 1536. The most famous bearer of the last name is probably American engineer David Spannagel, who worked on the International Space Station and was involved in the design of the Hubble Telescope.

Today, the name Spannagel is widely spread throughout Germany, the United States, and beyond. Evidence suggests that the name was adopted by many non-related families over the years, usually being associated with those who were employed in trades such as carpentry or engineering.

Spannagel: Where does the name Spannagel come from?

The last name Spannagel is most commonly associated with Germany and German-speaking countries. It is a surname derived from the Middle High German words "span" and "angil," meaning "shield" and "angel" or "messenger," respectively. According to records from German genealogical websites, Spannagel families emerged in parts of Germany as early as the 1600s, primarily from villages located in Saxony, Westphalia, and Bavaria.

Today, the surname Spannagel remains fairly common in Germany, and can be found in the historic German-speaking regions of Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Additionally, Spannagels have established roots in the United States, primarily in the midwestern and southern states of Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, where a large German-speaking population was present during the mid-to-late 19th century.

In terms of other countries, Spannagels can be found in small numbers across Central and Western Europe, including France, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. There are also records of the surname in Canada, as well as in Argentina and Australia, though these are sparse.

Regardless of place, the last name Spannagel has a long and proud history. It is a testament to the important contributions made by German immigrants all around the world, especially in the United States.

Variations of the surname Spannagel

The surname Spannagel is a German family name, most commonly derived from the word Spang, which means “joint”. Because this name has various spellings, variants, and surnames of similar origin, it can be difficult to differentiate between them all.

The most popular variations of the Spannagel surname are Spang, Spangl, Spengel, and Spangel. Variant spellings, which all stem from the same origin, include Spannagel, Spinagel, Spenagel, Spanagel, and Spannagle.

Other surnames of similar origin include Spandig, Spandau, Spandauer, and Spandoo. These surnames all share a common root in the word “spand”, which means “striped” or “ironworker”.

Other surnames that may be related to the Spannagel surname include Spahn, Spahr, Spar, Spaeth, Spaid, Spaethmann, and Sparr. All of these names are derived from the word “Span”, which means “rod”, “builder”, or “architect”.

In addition to the above-mentioned surnames, there are also versions of the Spannagel family name found in other countries, including Spain (Spanagel), Austria (Spehngl), and Poland (Spengel).

Ultimately, regardless of the spelling or origin, the Spannagel surname is rooted in the German word Spang, which means “joint”. Despite the various versions, the core meaning of the name remains the same.

Famous people with the name Spannagel

• Paul Spannagel (American soccer coach)
• Christian Spannagel (German politician)
• Cynthia Spannagel (American clinical psychologist)
• Iris Spannagel (German opera singer)
• Charles Spannagel (American concert pianist and composer)
• Hans-Jörg Spannagel (Swiss ski mountaineer)
• Robert Spannagel (German football goalkeeper)
• Christoph Spannagel (German sculptor)
• Bernhard Spannagel (German astronomer)
• Maria Spannagel (German physician and President of the Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung)
• Richard Spannagel (American gold mining executive)
• Régis Spannagel (French politician)
• Karl Spannagel (German botanist)
• Reinhold Spannagel (Austrian biochemist)
• Ralf Spannagel (German photographer)
• Anthony Spannagel (American photographer and wildlife artist)
• Maximilian Spannagel (German Hispanist and classicist)
• Nelly Spannagel (Austrian artist and refugee)
• Reinhart Spannagel (German musicologist and educator)
• Ekkehard Spannagel (German machine engineer)

Other surnames

Spannagl