Surname Niegerl - Meaning and Origin
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Niegerl: What does the surname Niegerl mean?
The surname Niegerl is of German origin and can be traced to medieval times. It is believed to have started as a nickname for a person of dark complexion, derived from the German words "nig" (black) and "wirl" (man or person); it is also possible that the name has roots in the Germanic language, meaning "black man".
The earliest recorded use of the name in Germany dates back to 1320, when a Niclaus Niger was mentioned in documents from Worms, Germany. Since then, the name has spread across Europe. The variant spellings of this surname include Niegerl, Neerl, Niegel, and Neyerl.
People with the name Niegerl are known as strong, independent individuals who are driven to succeed and never take no for an answer. A person named Niegerl may also have a deep-seated sense of justice, and be strongly committed to fairness in all matters. Additionally, they may have an inquisitive nature and enjoy learning new things.
Overall, people with the Niegerl surname may have a variety of personality traits, but they all share one thing in common: a proud link to their German heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisNiegerl: Where does the name Niegerl come from?
The last name Niegerl is derived from the German and Austrian words “Niger” or “Neger,” which both mean “negro” or “black.” Today, the last name Niegerl is most commonly found in German-speaking countries. In Germany alone, records show that almost 55,000 people carry the last name, making it one of the most frequently found names in the country.
The name is also present in Austria, Switzerland, and some other European countries and is believed to have originated during the medieval period, according to the genealogical website MeineStemma. Niegerls likely began to appear in the region in the fifteenth century due to intermarriage between Europeans and African slaves.
The name has also spread to other parts of the world, such as the United States, where nearly 200 people with the last name live, and Canada. Outside of Europe, Niegerls are often believed to have migrated to the United States during the waves of German-speaking immigrants who sought a better life in the New World during the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
In addition, the name has also extended to Argentina, where some German-speaking immigrants settled after World War II. Though the name "Niegerl" is rare in the United States, its popularity and prevalence in German-speaking countries speaks to its German and Austrian origins.
Variations of the surname Niegerl
Niegerl is a German surname that is derived from the Middle High German words nige, which means “dwarf” or “pygmy”, and -erl, which is a diminutive suffix. The variant spellings and surnames derived from Niegerl would include Niegerle, Niegerlein, Nieckarle, Nikarle, Nikarli, and Niggel.
Niegerl and Niegerle can both be translated as “little dwarf” or “little pygmy”. In some cases, the surname appears with a double “g” in the form of Niggel, a spelling variant that is employed mainly as a nickname. Niggel is an altered version of Niegerl, which is often associated with a diminutive term of endearment.
The "-erl" suffix is common in German surnames and often indicates a patronymic root. A patronymic surname is derived from the masculine first name of an ancestor and typically ends in ‑erl, ‑le, or ‑lein. In the case of Niegerl, its patronymic form is derived from the first name Nico, which has its roots in the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people”. It is likely that the surname Niegerl was derived from a combination of the root “Nico” and the diminutive suffix “‑erl”.
Other surnames derived from Niegerl may include Nikarli, which is a further diminutive of the original variation Niegerlein, as well as Nieckarle, another variation of Niegerl. Both of these spellings are commonly found in southwestern Germany, particularly in the city of Würzburg.
In summary, the surname Niegerl and its variants are derived from the Middle High German words nige, which means “dwarf” or “pygmy”, and ‑erl, which is a diminutive suffix. The variants, spellings, and surnames derived from Niegerl include Niegerle, Niegerlein, Nieckarle, Nikarle, Nikarli, and Niggel.
Famous people with the name Niegerl
- Rainer Niegerl, former member of the CDU in the Bavarian Landtag
- Darius Niegerl, a German astrophysicist
- Ernst Niegerl, a former Member of Parliament in Germany
- Alfred Niegerl, a German sculptor
- Charlotte Niegerl, a French actress
- Paul Niegerl, a Swiss composer
- Walter Niegerl, a German football player
- Franz Karl Niegerl, a German theologian and theologian
- Johann Jakob Niegerl, an Austrian painter
- Andreas Niegerl, an Austrian philologist
- Ludwig Niegerl, a German historian and zoologist
- Karl Niegerl, a German doctor
- Bruno Niegerl, a German countertenor
- Thomas Niegerl, a German musician and composer