Surname Teegen - Meaning and Origin

Teegen: What does the surname Teegen mean?

The surname Teegen is of German origin and is thought to have originated from the Medieval German given name Tegin. It is a toponymic name, derived from a place name, likely referring to a Germanic settlement in a valley or “Teg” in the Middle Ages or before. This place name would have referred to a geographical feature such as a small valley, ravine or gully, and may have been derived from the Old High German word ‘tegin’ meaning ‘covered area’.

The surname is likely first recorded in the area of Oldenburg, Germany in the 14th century. During this time period, surnames were typically formed as nicknames or descriptors based on a geographical location or the physical characteristics of the person. Examples of this type of surname formation can be found in Frohlauf (‘flee from’), Nagel (‘nail’) and Pfund (‘pound’).

It is believed that the Teegen surname first emerged amongst a group of individuals living in the same localised area who, having previously been known simply as 'Tegin' eventually took on the surname 'Teegen' as a form of identification. The name has since spread across Germany and is also found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

Despite its geographical spread, Teegen is still a relatively rare surname. As of 2020, there were only an estimated 2000 people worldwide with the Teegen surname.

Teegen: Where does the name Teegen come from?

The last name Teegen is most commonly found in Northern Europe today, specifically in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. In the Netherlands, the surname has its roots in the Low German language, meaning ‘tea cup’. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 bearers of the surname living in the Netherlands today.

In Germany, the last name Teegen is primarily concentrated around the area of Lower Saxony. There it is a shortened form of the name Teutgen, deriving from the Teutonic tribes who inhabited the region centuries ago. The name is generally associated with the knighthood of Teutonic knights, and there are reportedly thousands of Teegens living in Germany today.

In Denmark, Teegen is found predominantly in southwestern Jutland. It has its roots in the Old Norse language, deriving from the word 'Tegn', also meaning 'tea cup'. There are currently around 5,000 bearers of the surname living in Denmark today.

Overall, the last name Teegen is most commonly found in Northern Europe today, particularly the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. It is estimated that there are over 20,000 individuals bearing this surname living in these countries, all of whom are likely descendants of the first Teegens who lived in the region centuries ago.

Variations of the surname Teegen

Teegen is a German surname with variants that are primarily found in Germany, the Netherlands, Flanders, Poland, and Luxembourg. Most variants of the Teegen surname are derived from the given name Teige.

The spelling and various surnames of the same origin for Teegen include:

• Teechen and Techen

• Teeken and Teken

• Tecken

• Tegen and Teghen

• Teige

• Teigens

• Tigken

• Tycken

• Tygen

• Tyghen

• Tyken

• Tykken

The most common spelling of the Teegen surname in Germany, The Netherlands, and Flanders, is Teechen. However, Tegen is the most prevalent spelling in Poland and Luxembourg. Similarly, Tygen is the most common variant of the Teegen surname in North America, especially in the U.S. and Canada.

The Teegen surname has spread throughout the world, and is now found even in the former British colonies, including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Tycken and Tyghen are also common variants of the Teegen surname in these countries.

Regardless of the spelling or variant of the Teegen surname, the name is traditionally derived from the given name Teige, and all these surnames from Teegen are interrelated in some way.

Famous people with the name Teegen

• Una Teegen: German actress and author.
• Joakim Teegen: Norwegian football player.
• Patrick Teegen: German media entrepreneur and podcaster.
• Oliver Teegen: German actor and comedian.
• Henrik Teegen: Danish football player.
• Laurence Teegen: British journalist and editor.
• Rowen Teegen: Canadian film and television actress.
• Robert Teegen: German actor and performance artist.
• Norbert Teegen: German cinematographer and film director.
• Heinz-Ludwig Teegen: German jurist and academic.
• Heinz Teegen: German engineer and businessman.
• Andrea Teegen: German artistic director.
• Charlotte Teegen: American actress and singer.
• Richard Teegen: German composer and conductor.
• Hilmar Teegen: German conductor and composer.

Other surnames

TeegeTeegelbeckers