Surname Zängel - Meaning and Origin
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Zängel: What does the surname Zängel mean?
The last name Zängel is thought to be of German origin. It is likely derived from the German word 'Zängen', meaning 'pinchers' or 'tongs'. The name is thought to have originally referred to a person or family who possessed such items. Over time, it has become the last name of many German-speaking people.
The literal translation of Zängel is 'small pincher' or 'small tongs'. This could refer to a family who owned smaller items of this type, or it could be a nickname given to someone who may have been unusually good at using the items. The last name has also been distinguished by different German dialects, such as the Bavarian 'Tsängel', meaning 'small tongs'.
Zängel is an uncommon name today, but it is still found in some areas of German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. It is also found in pockets of the United States and Canada where families of German origin have settled.
Overall, the Zängel last name is likely derived from the German word 'Zängen', meaning 'pinchers' or 'tongs', and is a reminder of the history and culture of those who have adopted it.
Order DNA origin analysisZängel: Where does the name Zängel come from?
The last name Zängel is most commonly found in Germany. According to the 1995 census, approximately 14,700 people reported having the last name Zängel living in Germany. Most people with the last name live in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia (6,000+ people), Hesse (3,000+ people), Baden-Württemberg (2,200+ people), Bavaria (1,800+ people), and Lower Saxony (1,000+ people). According to DNA analysis, the last name Zängel is also commonly found in the neighboring countries of Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
In the United States, around 1,100 people reported having the last name Zängel in the 2010 census. Most of them live in California (around 400 people), followed by Florida (200+ people), New York (100+ people), Washington (100+ people), Pennsylvania (100+ people), and Illinois (100+ people).
The last name Zängel is likely derived from the German word Zänglein, meaning "little tongs". Back in the 1200s, this would likely have been a nickname for people who made or used tongs as their profession.
Variations of the surname Zängel
The surname Zängel has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of Zängel are Zangl, Zängl, Zangle, Zengel, and Zengl. These variants are all derived from the German name Zängl, which itself is derived from the Middle High German word “zangl”, meaning “tongs” or “pincers”. It is thought that the surname refers to an occupation such as blacksmithing or metalworking, as these occupations often required the use of tongs or pincers.
The other surnames of the same origin as Zängel include Zanger, Zänger, and Z pointers. These are all derived from the German name Zanger, which translates to “avian”, or “someone who handles birds”. This may indicate that the original bearer of the surname was a bird handler, a bird catcher, or a falconer.
The variant forms of the name Zängel are also found in other countries, such as Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. In these countries, the surname may be rendered as Zengerle, Zengrele, Sengel, and Sangerly. These variants all have the same origin as the German name Zängel.
In addition to the variant spellings of Zängel, there are also variants of the surname from other languages, such as Zengerle (Swiss-German), Zengrle (Austrian-German), and Zángel (Hungarian). All of these surnames are of the same origin and have the same meaning as the Germanname Zängel.
Famous people with the name Zängel
- Jason Zängel: German actor best known for his role in the television show “Berlin Station”
- Tobias Zängel: German actor and stuntman
- Matthias Zängel: former German footballer
- Günter Zängel: German footballer and manager
- Joachim Zängel: German sprinter
- Peter Zängel: German racing driver
- Werner Zängel: German actor
- Silvia Zängel: German actress
- Martin Zängel: German sports reporter
- Steffen Zängel: German painter and sculptor