Surname Teopold - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Teopold: What does the surname Teopold mean?
The surname Teopold is of Germanic origin and is derived from the personal name Theodulf, which was composed of the elements theod, meaning "people", and wulf, meaning "wolf". As a personal and family name, it was particularly popular among the ruling classes of Germany in the Middle Ages.
Today Teopold is most common in Germany, where it ranks roughly in the top 500 surnames. It also appears in Austria and Switzerland, while fewer records indicate that it was historically found in Spain, France and the Netherlands as well.
English-language counterparts of Teopold include Theobald, as well as its variants such as Diebold, Diebald, and Teubald.
The evidence suggests that the surname Teopold first originated as an occupational nickname for a skilled blacksmith or armorer derived from the Old German name Theodulf: the personal name is composed of the elements theod, meaning "people", and wulf, meaning "wolf". Over time,Teopold became an established hereditary surname for descendants of Theodulf in some parts of Germany.
However, it is also possible that the Teopold surname is derived from the Old German names Theodulf or Theodolv, or Thiodolf, meaning "the people's wolf". This suggests that the name originally belonged to a ruler, someone of noble blood, or a leader of a people, rather than a mere craftsman.
It is clear that the surname Teopold has a long and varied history, and its original meaning is now lost to time. Whatever its origin, it continues to be a relatively common surname in many European countries today.
Order DNA origin analysisTeopold: Where does the name Teopold come from?
The last name Teopold is most commonly found today in countries including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It is also prevalent in some parts of the United States and Canada.
In Germany, Teopold is mainly found in the western and northern towns of the country where it is the 11th most common last name throughout the region. In Austria, Teopold is also the 11th most common surname and is primarily used in Vienna, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg.
In the Netherlands, the Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics found that there were 645 households sharing this last name in 2014 with the majority being located in North Holland, South Holland, and Friesland. Over in the Czech Republic, 9.7% of the population in 2008 reported having Teopold as their last name and this percentage has remained relatively stable over the years.
In Slovakia, Teopold is one of the most common vacuum last names with 5.4% of the population claiming it in 2019. It is also used in some areas of the United States and Canada such as Wisconsin and Ontario where it is a relatively uncommon name.
Overall, Teopold is most prevalent in western and northern Europe, but there are pockets of this surname scattered throughout the United States and Canada as well.
Variations of the surname Teopold
The surname Teopold is derived from the Latin name “Theophilus” which is made of two ancient Greek words: Theos (“God”) and Philippos (“beloved” or “friend”). The surname Teopold can be found in various different spellings and variants including Tepold, Teopolt, Tipold, Teppold and Teppolt. It can also be seen in more modernised versions such as Teeple, Teppelin, Teppelman, Teuffel and even Teofilo.
The surname Teopold can also have regional and international variants. For example, the Italian variations of the surname Teopold are Tefalone and Tefoly, while in Spanish-speaking countries, the surname is commonly spelt Tefoll. In Germany, the Siebmachers Wappenbuch (national armorial book) records the name as Teuffel or Teufel. In Russia and Austria, the surname is known as Teplitsky or Teplitzky. In Scandinavian countries, the surname Teopold has been corrupted to Teval, Tendahl, Tieplen, Tefflen and Tyeflen.
Furthermore, the surname Teopold has been further altered and converted to other surnames such as Topliss, Telfair, Tolley, Telio and Tellico.
In conclusion, the surname Teopold has numerous spellings, variants and derivatives which can be found in multiple countries. While many of these versions of the same surname come from regional customs and languages, some of them come from immigration.
Famous people with the name Teopold
- Gail Devers-Three-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field commonly known as "Gail Devers Teopold".
- Jack "Bull" Teopold: Member of North Dakota House of Representatives.
- Joe Teopold: Professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1959 to 1963.
- Robert Teopold: Jazz musician.
- Thomas Teopold: Contemporary visual artist.
- Walter Teopold: American entomologist, academic, and author.
- Wilfred Teopold: Australian politician.
- Karel Teopold: Czechspeed painter.
- Al Teopold: First ever hockey player to wear a helmet.
- Fritz Teopold: Austrian philologist and professor.