Surname Telger - Meaning and Origin
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Telger: What does the surname Telger mean?
The last name Telger is a habitational surname derived from the old Norse word “telg” meaning “trough” or “channel.” The occupants of the lands later known as Telger likely sold agricultural products to other nearby settlements and were most likely located near a body of natural water. People associated with the Telger name were likely merchants, farmers and fishermen, as the surname is most commonly linked to these professions.
The Telger surname began to be used in some places as early as the 11th century, though it had not yet become permanent across the British Isles at that time. By the 13th century, the name had become regularized in regions of southern Scotland and northern England. This likely indicates early migrations of people from those areas, with their ancestors carrying the Telger last name with them as they moved.
The Telger surname has a strong French influence, likely due to the waves of French immigrants to the British Isles in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some alternate spellings of the surname, such as Telgaire, Telgur, Telgar and Telgera, have been documented in this time period and suggest a strong French influence on the Telger name.
Today, there are likely fewer than 5,000 people in the United Kingdom with the last name Telger, with the majority of those being located in Scotland and England. However, due to the waves of immigration from the British Isles, this surname can now be found on several continents, though few Telger families have remained in the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisTelger: Where does the name Telger come from?
The last name Telger can be found around the world today. There are small concentrations of the name in the United States and the United Kingdom, particularly in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. The United Kingdom has a few small pockets in East Anglia, London, and Scotland. Telger is also present in various European countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Other countries such as Israel, South Africa, and Canada, have small concentrations of Telger. In South Africa, most Telger families are found in the KwaZulu-Natal region. Lastly, there are also isolated families in Australia and New Zealand.
The origin of the name Telger is unknown. However, some believe it is derived from the German/European name Telger, which means “tiller.” The original Telgers were possibly German farmers who emigrated in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.
The spelling of the name Telger is not always consistent. In some cases, it is spelled Tälger, Tallger, and Tälgär, among other variations. As time passes, the name is becoming more and more uniform worldwide.
It’s likely that the last name Telger will continue to spread around the globe as time goes on. Its small family groups make it quite likely that Telger families will continue to be found in new nations and regions for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Telger
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Telger include Tegler, Telgerd, Telgord, Telgers, Telgart, Tilger, Tilgert, Tuelger, and Tuerger.
The original form of the Telger surname is believed to be derived from the old-Germanic given name "Tilger" or "Tilgher", which means arrow. This suggests that the original user of the name was someone skilled with the bow and arrow. The surname potentially could have been prominent in a military context, as this was a much used weapon in the medieval period.
Subsequently, when surnames became more common in the late Middle Ages, the surname was commonly found in areas such as Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to have first become Telger in Holland, as Germanic languages and dialects can become heavily anglicized in certain areas. From those locations, the surname spread to other areas through migration.
The different spellings of the name also likely originated in different places, as the spelling conventions of a language can have a drastic influence on the spelling of a name. Furthermore, it is very common for surnames to change with the passage of time, resulting in mutated spellings and variations of the same name.
Overall, the surname Telger is a fascinating part of history, tracing back to arrow-wielding medieval warriors. Through the myriad spelling variations, the pointers to the etiology of the name remain the same. It is also a reminder of the ever-changing nature of language and how it affects the transcription of names.
Famous people with the name Telger
- Wilson Telger, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates who served from 2003 to 2007.
- Eugene O. Telger, a decorated World War II aviator who served as a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.
- Abiud Telger, an asset manager and financial professional from Kenya.
- Viktor Telger, a Ukrainian mathematician and scientist.
- Alexei Telger, a Russian-born actor best known for his recurring role in the TV series Vinnyy Passy.
- Adrei Telger, a Belarusian film director who has created several critically acclaimed films.
- Péter Telger, a Hungarian Olympic badminton player who represented his country at the 2008 Beijing Games.
- Pavlo Telger, a Ukrainian journalist and media personality.
- Oleg Telger, a Belarusian author and literary critic.
- Mikalai Telger, a Belarusian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released several solo albums.