Surname Nagengast - Meaning and Origin
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Nagengast: What does the surname Nagengast mean?
The last name Nagengast is a German surname derived from the Old German 'nagel' which means 'nail'. It is likely that the first Nagengast ancestor earned the surname from their occupation of a nagelmaker, meaning 'nail maker'.
The Nagengast name can be traced back to the 17th century in Upper and Lower Austria, the border region of modern day Czech Republic and Austria. The name then spread to other parts of Europe, including the United States.
The Nagengast surname is known to mean 'master of the nail maker' or 'master of the smithy', which indicates that the first Nagengast ancestor likely worked as a blacksmith. This is reflected in multiple coat-of-arms designs featuring hammer and anvil images, two elements associated with the blacksmith's trade.
The surname 'Nagengast' is an important part of German and Austrian heritage. For those with this last name, the most meaningful way to celebrate it is to continue the legacy of craftsmanship by undertaking a trade or profession associated with the Nagengast family name.
Order DNA origin analysisNagengast: Where does the name Nagengast come from?
The surname Nagengast is commonly associated with German and Dutch families. In Germany, it is most prominently found in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. These states are located in the east of the country, close to the border with Poland. It is believed that families with this surname are descended from a man named Nagenigast who lived in this region during the Middle Ages.
In the Netherlands, the surname is most commonly found in the southeastern region surrounding the cities of Doetinchem, Nijmegen and Roermond. This area is close to the German border and it is believed that families with this surname had migrated from Germany, and may still be connected to relatives there.
In the United States, the last name Nagengast is quite uncommon. The last name can be found in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas. In general, those bearing the name come from German-American immigrants, indicating likely connections to families that have been in the region for generations.
Today, the last name is most prominently found in Germany, the Netherlands, as well as the United States. In these countries, the surname Nagengast still identifies certain families as connected to one another and to a common ancestor, going back hundreds of years.
Variations of the surname Nagengast
The surname Nagengast can also be spelled as Nagengaest, Negengast and Negengaest. It is derived from the Middle Dutch phrase 'Nagenaeghel', which means 'Night Crow'. This name was given to a person who was known to be active at night. It is believed that the Nagengast family originated from the Netherlands, where the surname is still prominent in the northern provinces such as Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. Variations of the surname Nagengast include Nagenst, Naginast, Agenast, Agenasten, Negense, Negen, Negenst and Negenhuis.
Some other surnames originating from the same Germanic root as Nagengast include Negenhuys, Nagenhaus, Negenhuyzen, Negens and Nagensteen. It is also worth noting that some of these names have also spread to the United States, particularly the Midwestern states of Michigan and Wisconsin. There, the surnames may be seen as Nagengast, Negenhaus, Negenhuyzen and Negenhuis.
One of the earliest records of the Nagengast surname is found in 17th-century Germany, where Michael Nagengast was documented in Perleberg in 1643. In the United States, the Nagengast family is known to have started in Wisconsin in the late 19th century. The earliest known Nagengast ancestor in the US was Christian Nagengast, who lived in Manitowoc county in 1880. His descendants still live in the Upper Midwest today.
Famous people with the name Nagengast
- Maggie Nagengast: an American novelist and creative writing professor.
- Laurie Nagengast: a professional storyteller, therapist, and facilitator who works with adults and children.
- Kyle Nagengast: a musician from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- Kirstie Nagengast: a former NFL wife and communications executive.
- Lisa Nagengast: a childbirth midwife, teacher, author, and speaker.
- Steve Nagengast: former mayor of Challis, Idaho.
- Richard Nagengast: a historian and author of several books about the American Revolution.
- Amy Nagengast: a professional bowler who competed in the Professional Bowlers Association.
- Julie Nagengast: a professional figure skater who has won gold medals at international competitions.
- Nicholas Nagengast: a former professional baseball player and scout who is now a coach at the University of Central Florida.