Surname Telemann - Meaning and Origin
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Telemann: What does the surname Telemann mean?
Telemann is a large German family name, derived from the old German words “tel” and “mann.” In English, the meaning of the surname “Telemann” is “far man” or “distant man.” The surname likely originated as a nickname, eventually becoming a hereditary family name.
The Telemann family has a long and complicated history. Their first known ancestor was Johannes Telemann, a large landowner from East Prussia. Johannes was a member of a class of Germans known as the Junkers, a very small and elite class of nobility that held a great deal of political and economic power. The Telemanns followed in their ancestor's footsteps and became small nobility, holding titles and lands of their own.
The Telemanns have made themselves famous in many ways, including the famous German composer, Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767). He was a prolific composer of Baroque music, and is today known as the "grandfather of German music." The Telemann family also includes Wilhelm Karl von Telemann, who served as a German general during World War II and Wilhelm Telemann, a famous Nazi propaganda minister.
The surname Telemann has remained popular in Germany, with an estimated 270,000 individuals living in Germany with this name. Beyond this, the name can also be found in various parts of the world including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden and more. The name is considered quite prestigious, symbolizing a history of nobility and accomplishment 9within the Telemann family).
Order DNA origin analysisTelemann: Where does the name Telemann come from?
The last name Telemann is most commonly found today in Germany, where the family has its roots. Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel are both distant relatives of the Telemann family, which has been traced back to the area of Thuringia in Germany in the 1400s.
The Telemann family flourished from its earliest stages, with family members often holding high positions in society, most notably as musicians and teachers, including classical music composer and violinist Georg Philipp Telemann.
The Telemanns scattered around Europe, most notably in the regions of Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Denmark were able to stay connected through a series of marriage alliances amongst prominent families, all of whom were involved in the arts. During the mid-19th century, an increasing number of Telemanns began to immigrate to the United States, particularly in the Midwest, most notably Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, while some others settled in Canada.
Today, the last name Telemann is most commonly found among families living in Germany and is not particularly prevalent outside of the country. In Germany, the last name appears most frequently in the western region of Germany, especially around Thuringia. It has been estimated that there are around 11,000 people in Germany either directly or indirectly related to the Telemann family, making it one of the more prominent last names found there.
Variations of the surname Telemann
The surname Telemann is of German origin and is a variation of the German surname “Tillmann”. Variants of this surname include Teleman, Telemans, Tellmann, Tellmanns, Tillmann and Tilmanns.
The surname Telemann could also be a variation of the German name “Telner”, derived from the German word “dellner” which means “dell maker”, making this surname occupational in origin. Variants of this surname include Teller, Tellner, Telen and Dellner.
The surname Telemann could also be related to the German name “Thielmann”, derived from the German word “Thiel” which means “protector”. Variants of this surname include Thielman, Thielmans, Thielmeier, Thilman and Thilmann.
The surname Telemann could also be related to the German name “Tapelman”, derived from the German word “taper” which means “tentmaker”, making this surname also occupational in origin. Variants of this surname include Tapelmans, Tillman, Tilmans and Tilmanns.
Finally, the surname Telemann could also be related to the German name “Tanel”, derived from the German word “tanzen” which means “dance”. Variants of this surname include Tanell, Tanelmann and Tanelman.
Famous people with the name Telemann
- Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767): a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist
- Gottfried Telemann (1722-1776): Georg’s son; a composer son and a well-known organist
- Christian Godfrey Telemann (1770-1836): Georg’s grandchild; a cantor, photographer, tattoos artist and music teacher
- Wilhelm Friedemann Telemann (1756–1831): Georg’s eldest son; an organist who composed in the late Classical period
- Christine Telemann-Neuhaus (born 1944): a German soprano
- Sophia Maria Telemann (born 1962): a German television presenter and actress
- Karl Telemann (born 1970): a German-based British composer
- Johannes Telemann (born 1973): a German classical bassoonist
- Felix Telemann (born 1979): a German jazz musician and composer
- Julius Telemann (born 1996): German soccer player