Surname Thelen - Meaning and Origin

Thelen: What does the surname Thelen mean?

The surname Thelen is derived from the old Germanic name Thilo, stemming from the ancient Germanic word meaning "people". It is a name that can be found throughout Germany, but is especially common in the German state of Bavaria.

Thelen typically refers to people of noble extraction, with its earliest records dating back to the 11th century. Thelen families are usually of noble status, with many having held powerful positions of aristocratic power in the region. The Thelen coat of arms, a shield divided into four parts with three crossed swords and a horse at its center, is most likely indicative of the status of Thelen families at the time.

So while the origin of Thelen is unknown, its meaning can definitely be inferred. Thelen likely refers to people of noble stock, who have a long history of generations in positions of power. The strong imagery of the coat of arms also suggests the presence of valor and strength within the family.

Thelen: Where does the name Thelen come from?

Thelen is a surname commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States today. In Germany, Thelen is the 7,426th most common surname, with approximately 17,000 people sharing the surname. Within the Netherlands, Thelen is the 977th most common name, with approximately 10,800 people. In the US, about 11,000 people share the surname. It is the 5,788th most common name, but is primarily found in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Illinois.

Many of the Americans who share the surname descend from the German immigrants that arrived in the US during the early 19th century, primarily settling into German-American communities of the midwest. Thelen is also among the top surnames of the Palatine German-American Thelen family, which makes up a large part of the Thelen population in the region of the US.

The surname Thelen is actually derived from the German word 'theile', which means a 'slice' or 'quarter'. The surname Thelen is likely a locational name taken from a place where a family lived or owned land. Some Thelens may also have derived the name from the German word 'Theil' meaning 'part'.

Variations of the surname Thelen

Thelen is a German surname that derives from the Middle High German word ‘telen’. This means ‘tiller’ and describes a labourer or farmer who worked with a plough to prepare land for crops.

Thelen is often seen with spelling variations such as: Dellen, Thielen, Tielen, Tealen, Thiele, Teller, Tellen, Tilen, Dellen, Dallen, Delman, Delmann, Tullman, and Tilleman.

Thelen is also seen with various surname changes and derivatives throughout North America, such as: Talen, Tellan, Talin, Thaalen, Thalan, Thaelen, Thelan, Thulan, and Thilan.

In some cases, those with the Thelen surname may have also adopted various spellings to better fit their local language or culture. For example, in the Netherlands it is sometimes seen as Thiel. In some places like Norway and Denmark, it may be seen as Thialen. In parts of Germany, Thelen may be found spelled as Tüllen.

People with the Thelen family name can also be located in the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, Australia, Estonia, and Sweden.

Famous people with the name Thelen

• Eric Thelen: American basketball player from the University of Arkansas.
• Noah Thelen: professional ice hockey player with the Michigan Warriors in the North American Hockey League.
• Keith Thelen: Major League Baseball pitcher from the 1950 and 1960s.
• Joan Thelen: former Miss USA from the 1950s.
• David Thelen: American historian who specialized in the study of American social history.
• Jim Thelen: former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals.
• Kurt Thelen: former U.S. Navy SEAL and the first Member of the Navy to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Iraq War.
• Mary Thelen: former professional golfer and winner of the 1977 U.S. Women's Open.
• Ryan Thelen: American television personality and singer who appeared on reality shows like The Bachelor.
• Rombold Thelen: Belgian electronic music artist who released several albums and EPs.

Other surnames

TheleThelemann