Surname Negelein - Meaning and Origin

Negelein: What does the surname Negelein mean?

The last name Negelein is a German name, derived from "negel," an old German word meaning "nail" or "claw." This could suggest that the original bearers of the name worked with metal or had some form of craftsmanship involving metal. It may also have been derived from an occupational name (i.e. a person who works with metal) or a nickname, such as a person with large, strong hands.

The Negelein surname first appears in Germany in the 15th century. During this time, Germany was largely rural and many people were employed in farming and other agricultural occupations, such as blacksmithing or carpentry. It is possible that the Negelein name may have been adopted by someone involved in such a craft.

The Negelein surname has spread widely in Germany and many other countries over the centuries, with records in the United States, Canada, and other countries from the 19th century onwards. It is likely that many of the bearers of this surname during the last centuries have branched out from working as a metal smith to other vocations.

Negelein: Where does the name Negelein come from?

The last name Negelein is most commonly found today among German immigrants in the US and their descendants. The surname originates from northern Germany, where it is still found today. It is also common in other European countries, including Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "Negelin," which means "neighbor," or "belonging to the village." This likely suggests that the name is associated with someone who was originally from a particular village.

Today, there are a great number of German-American families who carry the Negelein name. The Negelein surname can be found in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, where German immigration was prominent in the 19th century. Records show that there are also Negelein families in other states in the US, including California, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Furthermore, Negelein is also a common name outside of the US, including in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. In fact, it is possible to find references to the Negelein family in records from the 1800s in several of these countries.

Overall, the Negelein surname is common today in the United States and many European countries. Its origin in northern Germany likely provides an indication of the locations where its descendants are most likely to be found.

Variations of the surname Negelein

The Negelein surname is a German name that has several variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. In German, the name is spelled as "Negelein" though some variants include "Negel" or "Negle". The suffix "-lein" is a diminutive, or a form of address implying affection or endearment.

In the United States, the Negelein name is often Americanized to "Nagle". The spelling sometimes varies to "Naglein" or "Nagleen". The output of German immigration also includes variant names with the suffix "-in" in place of "-lein"; such as Negelin or Negelin.

In earlier examples of the Negelein name, the spelling may include an umlaut, which is an accent placed over the vowel "e" to represent a sound not found in the English language. Examples include "Negeleïn" and "Negelin".

Often surnames derived from Negelein include Negger, Negeler, Negel, Negelia, Negelien, Negelin, Negelio, Negele, Negeleon, Negelon, Neggian, Neglein, Negler, Neglin, Negloh, Nego, Negte, Nega, Negl, Neggie, Negle, Negka, Negke, Neglen, Neggli, Negish, Negunn, and Negunne.

As with many other German surnames, there is also a Jewish variant of Negelein, this being Nagel. Recent examples of this variant may be found in Israel.

Overall, it can be seen that the Negelein surname has various variants, differing spellings and numerous surnames of similar origin. Such variations could likely be attributed to the large influx of German-speaking immigrants and their descendants that have since spread around the world.

Famous people with the name Negelein

• Hugo Negelein (1885–1940), German art historian and curator
• Rudi Negelein (1888–1949), German athlete
• Fritz Negelein (1890–1941), German World War I flying ace
• Herbert Negelein (1894–1918), German World War I flying ace
• Edgar Negelein (1914–1987), East German painter
• Paul Negelein (1915–1945), German World War II flying ace
• Wolf Bauer Negelein (1917–2012), Nazi camp guard who served in Dachau and Buchenwald
• Hans-Joachim Negelein (b.1929), German theologian and philosopher
• Helmut Negelein (b.1935), German philosopher
• Jonathan Negelein (b.1980), German country singer and songwriter

Other surnames

Negele