Surname Telle - Meaning and Origin

Telle: What does the surname Telle mean?

The surname Telle is of German and French origin, and is derived from the word ‘Telle’ which is derived from the Middle High German word ‘telle’, meaning ‘prosperous’. It is also derived from the Old French word ‘telle’, meaning ‘harvest’ or ‘reaping’, and the Old French word ‘teler’, meaning ‘to challenge’ or ‘to order’.

Those who originally bore the surname Telle were Medieval farmers likely hailing from northern Germany and France. The designations ‘teler’ and ‘telle’ were occupational names because such individuals were responsible for harvesting crops. Telle became a common name amongst peasants and smallhold farmers, who flourished in both France and Germany over the centuries.

In modern times, the surname Telle is one of the most common last names found in Germany. It has also gained prominence in other countries, with notable Telles in the United States, Canada, Brasil, Mexico, Argentina, and Peru.

The surname Telle is symbolic of those who worked steadily and achieved great prosperity. These individuals held strong beliefs, inspired and encouraged others, and displayed immense trustworthiness along the way.

Telle: Where does the name Telle come from?

The last name Telle is most commonly found in Germany today. In fact, the name is found in enough areas of the country that its origin is unclear. One theory is that it is a combination of two common German surnames, Telleman and Tellen.

Telle is derived from a combination of German words “thal” and “mann”, both meaning “man of the valley”. It is believed that the name was given to those who lived in sloped valley locations or who generally had an affiliation with a valley of some kind.

Telle is often found among people who have ancestral origins in Germany, but it is also present in other places as well. For example, it is fairly common in the United States, particularly in the mid-West where it was brought by German immigrants. It is also seen in countries like Sweden, Norway, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg where the Germans have had an extended influence in culture and genealogy.

Telle is a rather unusual name, but those who bear it might take comfort in knowing that they are part of such a broad and unique family group.

Variations of the surname Telle

Telle is a habitational surname of French origins, derived from various places named Tello, such as in the ancient province of Vienne. The variant spellings and surnames for Telle are Tell, Telles, Teulle., and Tel.

The Telle surname derived from the Latin word tela, meaning a fabric, or web. As a surname, it is believed to have been given to a person who worked, or spun cloth.

In the Middle Ages, the Telle suffix was often used in reference to a person's profession. Those who used the Telle suffix were typically clothiers, tailors or cloth-merchants. Another interpretation of the spelling is that it came from a place of residence - much like other habitational surnames.

Various other spellings and surnames derived from Telle include Taille, Talle, Thalle, Tale, Telli, Tellis, Telleis and Tellus.

In France, variants of the Telle surname are very common, and it is believed to have originated in the Normandy region. It can also be found in the Mediterranean basin, with individuals claiming the Telle surname found in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium.

Other variants of the Telle surname can be found in the United States, where it has been anglicized via immigration to various spellings, such as Tylle, Tyler, Teler, Tyller, O'Tilley, O'Tillie and O'Millie.

Famous people with the name Telle

• Chris Telle: professional soccer player
• Tobias Telle: Norwegian actor
• David Telle: sound engineering technician
• Mads Telle: Norwegian writer and author
• Erlend Telle: Norwegian racer and cyclist
• Per Telle: former Premier of Norway
• Jamie Telle: American professional downhill mountain biker
• Ida Telle: Norwegian journalist and author
• Marius Telle: Norwegian footballer
• Torbjoern Telle: President of Norges Bank (Central Bank of Norway)

Other surnames

TellTellatinTellbrüggeTellbüscherTellenTellenbrockTellenbröckerTellenbrökerTellerTellermannTellgeTellgmannTellingerTellinghartTellinghastTellinghostTellinghurstTelljohannTellkampTellkampfTellmannTellner