Surname Pfluegel - Meaning and Origin
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Pfluegel: What does the surname Pfluegel mean?
The surname Pfluegel is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German words "pflug" and "gäl" which mean plough and gallow or a device for carrying out the death penalty, respectively. The combination of these two elements could signify either a ploughman or a hangman.
An alternative theory suggests that the surname may be derived from the German word “Pflegel” which had a meaning of walks with a stick in one hand and a sack in the other, which could suggest a travelling merchant.
Whichever one of these interpretations is correct, the name would most likely have derived as an occupational surname from a profession held by one of the family’s early ancestors.
The earliest recorded mention of the name dates back to 1570 in the city of Loeck in Germany, where Petter Pfluegel and his family had settled. Since this time, the surname has spread far and wide across Europe and the United States due to migration.
The Pfluegel surname has endured centuries so there is no doubt that its roots must have been of great significance to the holders of this surname. The mysterious and powerful combination of the words ‘plough’ and ‘gallow’ not only represent an ancient occupation but they also provide an intriguing link to the family’s past.
Order DNA origin analysisPfluegel: Where does the name Pfluegel come from?
The last name Pfluegel is most commonly found in Germany today. According to records kept by the Genealogical Society of Germany, it is the 687th most popular name in the country. In the year 2018, there were an estimated 7,330 people with the last name living in Germany.
In recent generations, the Pfluegels have spread beyond Germany. Pfluegel can now be found in places like the United States, Canada, Australia, and Argentina due to emigration.
The earliest known mention of the Pfluegel surname was in the German town of Kreis Neustadt an der Aisch. It is mentioned in a landowner’s register in 1464, indicating that the Pfluegel family may have lived in the area for centuries or more. Though the name may have also been used elsewhere in Europe, its primary roots are in Germany.
Many people with the last name of Pfluegel live in traditional German areas, such as Bavaria or Berlin, but they can also be found in less expected places like Baden-Wurttemberg or North Rhine-Westphalia. This is likely due to their gradual dispersion from their ancestral homeland over the centuries.
The Pfluegel name has survived all of these years and continues to be seen in Germany today. Its international spread has successfully helped the name endure and, for those with this surname, it is a proud testament to the success story of their ancestors.
Variations of the surname Pfluegel
Pfluegel is a German surname of uncertain origin. It may be derived from a number of different sources, including an old German phrase meaning "swinging gate" or a job title of "gate keeping" or a topographical name for someone who lived by such a gate. It can also be an archaic spelling of Pflegel, which is an occupational name for a groom or tutor, derived from the personal name Pflegel.
Variants of the surname Pfluegel include Pflegel, Pflegeler, Pfleger, Pfuegel, Phleger, Fleger, Flegel and Flegler. Common spellings of the surname include Pflegel, Pfleger, Pfuegel and Pflegler.
Surnames of similar spelling and origin include Flegel, Flegler, Pflegle, Pflescher, Pflisher, Plescher, Pluescher, Pleger, Pfeger, Fleger, and Flescher.
The Pfluegel surname is quite rare and mainly confined to Germany, as well as Austria and Switzerland. In the United States, there are less than 200 people with this surname. Most of those with the Pfluegel surname live in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
Famous people with the name Pfluegel
- Wolfgang Pflügel: German artist, sculptor, experimental filmmaker and professor.
- Maximilian Pflügel: German physicist specializing in high pressure and optics.
- Carl Friedrich Pflügel: German pianist, composer, choirmaster and music teacher.
- Friedrich Pflügel: German classical philologist.
- Karl Pflügel: German librarian, pastor and editor.
- Erich Pflügel: German sports shooter and Olympic Champion.
- Bernd Pflügel: German politician and previous member of the German Bundestag.
- Jakob Friedrich Pflüger: German Protestant theologian.
- Sander Pfluegel: Dutch hockey player.
- Stephanie Pflügel: German football player.