Surname Sullinger - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sullinger: What does the surname Sullinger mean?
The surname Sullinger is of English origin, derived from a Midland place name. The word is thought to mean either ‘saltings or salter’s dwelling’, from the Old English ‘sealt’ meaning salt, and ‘inga’ meaning a meadow or pasture; or 'the sallow grove', from the Old English ‘sallowan’, meaning willow and ‘inga’ meaning a meadow or pasture. An alternative derivation is 'of an owl', from the Old English ‘sulh’ meaning owl and ‘inga’ meaning a meadow or pasture.
The Sullinger family are thought to have been originally from Derbyshire, England, where they settled in the 1100s. From there, they spread outward through England, and eventually to America with many of their descendants taking up residence in Kentucky and Virginia in the 1700s.
The Sullinger surname has appeared in various spellings over the centuries, including Sulinger, Sulingor, Sulingery, Sollynger and Solinger. It was also adopted as an Americanized name, becoming variously Sullock and Sallows.
Today, the surname can be found in both England and America, with many Sullinger family members of both nationalities still sharing the Sullinger surname. Though not too common, it is likely that others have adopted it as a first name too.
Order DNA origin analysisSullinger: Where does the name Sullinger come from?
The last name Sullinger is a fairly uncommon surname today. It is most common in the United States, where it originated, however there are a few pockets of this name in other parts of the world as well.
In the United States, Sullinger is most popular in the Midwest, South, and East Coast regions. Over 400 people living in the U.S. have the last name of Sullinger, most commonly clustered in states like North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Missouri, and Georgia.
It is thought that the surname Sullinger originated in Germany, or another German-speaking area. Although the name is rare in Germany today, it is still more common than in most other countries. It is also found in England, Ireland, Canada, and Australia.
The Sullinger family may have made its way to America via England, before settling in the Midwest and South. It is largely concentrated in rural and suburban areas rather than cities.
Sullinger is an unusual last name, but its presence in geography spanning across the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world shows a certain degree of uniqueness, with many people proudly carrying on the surname.
Variations of the surname Sullinger
The most common variants, spellings and surnames of Sullinger are Selliger, Sulzig, and Sulzinger.
Sullinger is a German surname and is derived from a Middle High German personal name Sulger or Sulleger. According to surnameweb.org, Sullinger is restricted to the areas of Rhineland-Palatinate, southern Hesse and western Bavaria. Other spelling variants of Sullinger may derive from a different German word with the same prefix "sul" (south).
The spelling variant, Selliger, comes from the Middle High German personal name Sulger or Sulleger, but with the changed to an 'e'. This spelling variation is seen more in the area of Baden-Württemberg and northern Switzerland.
The spelling variant, Sulzig, was first found in Bavaria, where the family made great contributions to the emerging medieval society. They held a family seat from very early times in the Nymphenburg district.
Sulzinger is the predominant spelling variant of the Sullinger surname in the United States. This variant was most likely introduced to the U.S. by immigrants from Bavaria.
All of the variants, spellings and surnames of Sullinger have the same origin, and are derived from Middle High German personal name "Sulger". Each of the various variants likely originated in different regions and was derived from different personal names or words. While it is unclear why the surname was spelled differently in each region, it is likely a result of regional influences, pronunciation, and spelling conventions.
Famous people with the name Sullinger
- Jared Sullinger: American professional basketball player
- J. J. Sullinger: American professional basketball player
- Jarnell Sullinger: American professional basketball player
- Kyle Sullinger: Former American professional basketball player
- Steven Sullinger: Former American professional basketball player
- Jessica Sullinger: American singer, songwriter and musician
- Priscilla Sullinger: American film producer
- John L. Sullinger: American former politician
- Michael Sullinger: Austrian film director
- Newman T. Sullinger: American politician
- Thomas H. Sullinger: American lawyer
- Barbara Sullinger: American author and folklorist
- Kenneth L. Sullinger: American architect
- Jack Sullinger: American clergyman and minister
- Patrick Sullinger: American songwriter and musician