Surname Thele - Meaning and Origin

Thele: What does the surname Thele mean?

The last name Thele is of German origin and is believed to have two distinct origins. The first origin is thought to be from the Medieval German “thal” which means valley, and suggests the bearer of this surname was someone from a vale, or steep-sided hollow in a mountain range. Another origin of the last name Thele is thought to be from German “Theil” which was a form of the old Germanic first name Theodelindis or variants thereof. This would suggest someone who was, literally, part of a royalty.

Thele is a fairly common surname, found mainly in Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and throughout Northwest Europe. Historically, Thele has been awarded some level of colonial coat of arms, although specific information about any such distinction is difficult to track. Variants of this family name include Thal, Theel, Thiel, Theil, Teil and Tiel.

In modern times, Thele is an unusual but not unheard of surname. Thele family members still carry on a shared sense of ancestry and community, as well as pride in their name, though there is believed to be no single organized association that unites people of the Thele name.

Thele: Where does the name Thele come from?

Thele is a surname of Germanic origin and is common in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Thele is also found in the United States, primarily in communities of immigrants from Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and other parts of Northern Europe. Immigrants to America have kept the last name Thele alive as they have passed it down to their descendants. Records indicate that individuals with the name Thele first arrived in the United States as early as the eighteenth century.

Variations of the name Thele include Thelen, Thelens, Thielen, Thule, Thal, Tal, Thiel, and Thyl. The earliest instances of the name Thele can be traced to the ancient region of Germany known as Thuringia, which was located in what is now the state of Thuringia, Germany. Records indicate that families bearing the surname Thele first resided in this region during the twelfth century. In the United States, many German immigrants named Thele settled in the colonial states of Pennsylvania and New York in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Thele is also found in Canada, where it is particularly common in Ontario and Quebec, having been carried there by German- and Scandinavian-descended immigrants. The name is common in France, but is generally spelled Thélé. Thele is also found in countries such as Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, as well as in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. In these countries, the name Thele was likely brought by European immigrants, particularly those of German, Dutch, and Scandinavian origin.

Variations of the surname Thele

The surname Thele is one of many variants that can trace its roots to German origins. A couple of other common variants of this surname are Thale, Theel, and Thiel.

Additionally, Thell, Thiele, Thiell, and Thiellen are also commonly used variants of this surname. All of these variants of Thele can be found in different parts of the world including in countries such as Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Other spellings of this surname include Theil, Theile, Teel, Teal, Teile, and Teilen, which are mainly used in regions such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

At some point in time, this surname was often used as an Anglo-Saxon form of the given name Theodore, as well as a shortening of the Germanic surname Dietzel or Dietzler.

In some regions, Thele may be found with additional suffixes such as -mann, -er, -feld, and -bach, all of which are common variants of this surname.

In other regions, this surname may also be found as alternate surnames such as Tiel, Teil, Thielemann, Dietzel, Dietzler, or Theilmann.

Today, many families with the surname Thele are spread across the globe and this surname is found in many variations.

Famous people with the name Thele

• Raquel Thele: a film, television, and stage actress from Brazil.
• Andreas Thele: a German professional footballer.
• Robert Thele: an American television, film, and stage actor.
• Edgar Thele: a Swiss footballer.
• Sharon Thele: an American star of the reality television series Big Brother.
• Johan Thele: a Swedish economist and former President of the Nordic Council.
• Peter Thele: a Danish former professional football player.
• Jens Thele: a German sculptor.
• Anna Thele: a Swedish figure skater.
• Maria Thele: a Danish novelist.
• Wilfried Thele: a German former professional football player.
• Dieter Thele: a German sculptor and installation artist.
• Michael Thele: a German musician known for his work with the bands The Sisters of Mercy and Psychic TV.
• Vera Thele: a Swedish author, historian, and television presenter.
• Veronika Thele: a German actress and singer.
• Kristina Thele: a Swedish journalist and television host.
• Christina Thele: an Australian contemporary artist and printmaker.
• Filip Thele: a Danish composer and trombonist.
• Kristina Thele-Knüppler: a German politician.
• Lars Thele: a Norwegian graphic artist and illustrator.

Other surnames

ThelemannThelenThellmannTheloh