Surname Vogelbein - Meaning and Origin
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Vogelbein: What does the surname Vogelbein mean?
The last name Vogelbein is derived from the German language and has a literal meaning, literally translating into "bird's leg" or "bird leg". Historically, the surname likely originally referred to the trade or occupation of a person who made bird-related items, such as cages or other bird-related accessories. Some records from the 16th century suggest that the surname was borne by individuals who may have been responsible for the maintenance of the local poultry flock.
In its modern usage, Vogelbein refers to a family of German origin but is found throughout Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the United States and elsewhere. Generally, those bearing this surname are proud of their German heritage and the meaning behind it; the sentiment related to the German words for “bird” and “leg” often serve as a tangible reminder of their ancestors’ labour and skills.
Additionally, Vogelbein is also used as a homonym in Germany for the phrase “loyal bird”, suggesting loyalty, faithfulness and reliability. This is especially true for the numerous German families that have borne the Vogelbein name over the centuries, with this trait continuing to be passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisVogelbein: Where does the name Vogelbein come from?
The last name Vogelbein is believed to originate from the German name Vögel Bein, which translates into "Bird Leg" or "Bird Foot" - likely referring to the specific type of bird or a trait associated with them. Today, the last name Vogelbein is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, and parts of Canada, with other countries likely having a small population of individuals carrying the name.
In Germany, the occurrence of the Vogelbein surname peaked in the early 19th century; with the nation forming, records being kept more regularly, and citizens taking on more formal names to document their lives, many individuals who otherwise bore the name Vogelbein adopted it as their last name. In Germany, the presence of the Vogelbein name is still concentrated in the northern, western, and eastern parts of the country.
In the United States, a large amount of Vogelbein immigrants can be traced to the country between 1880 and 1920 - a period which saw a mass influx of German immigrants. This concentration of expatriates led the namesake Vogelbein family to become mainly concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland, along with other pockets of German settlements across the country. Canadian records indicate the presence of a few Vogelbein families scattered throughout the provinces, with most being concentrated in Ontario.
Today, the Vogelbein surname is still present but, much like many other German surnames, not as prominent as it was during the 19th century. By utilising online resources such as ancestry websites, those interested in tracing their past can search for family members with the surname, along with their information, to help uncover their past.
Variations of the surname Vogelbein
The surname Vogelbein has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common of these are Vogelbeiner, Vogelbaum, Vogelbauer, Vogelbach, Vogelboom, Falkenbein, Falkebein, Fagelbein and Fortein.
Vogelbeiner is the most widespread variant of the surname and is a German surname derived from the Middle High German term "vogel," which means bird, and "bein," which means "bone." The name was probably derived from someone who worked with birds, such as a falconer, whose weapons would have been made of bird bones, or feathers.
Vogelbaum is another variant of the surname and also originates from German. The word "baum" translates to "tree," which means that this variant most likely referred to someone who lived near a tree.
Vogelbauer is a variant of the surname that originated from Austria. This variant most likely referred to someone who worked in the poultry industry, as "bauer" translates to "farmer" in German.
Vogelbach is another variant of the surname, which comes from the German word "bach," which means "stream" or "brook." This variant most likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or brook.
Vogelboom and Falkenbein are South African variants of the surname and are derived from the Dutch words ‘vogel’ (bird) and ‘boom’ (tree). This variant is the same as Vogelbaum, only it originates from South Africa.
Fagelbein is a variant of the surname derived from German and Dutch. The word "fogel" translates to "bird" in both languages, as does "vogel." This variant is most likely simply the Dutch and German version of the same name.
Fortein is a French variant of the surname and originates from an old French term "fort," which translates to "strong." This variant likely referred to someone who was strong, brave and powerful.
Overall, the surname Vogelbein has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, all of which derived from German, Dutch, French and South African words and terms. Each variant has a unique meaning and history and is an interesting part of the surname's history.
Famous people with the name Vogelbein
- Alex Vogelbein: Freelance journalist
- Jared Vogelbein: American longform sportswriter
- Christian Vogelbein: Executive Creative Director at Arnold Worldwide
- Stephanie Vogelbein: Senior Media Planner at McCann Worldgroup
- Frank Vogelbein: Founding principal of dream|house, a award winning architecture studio
- Martin Vogelbein: Retired German professor
- Henry Vogelbein: Retired Vice President at United Technologies
- Florian Vogelbein: German composer and pianist
- Johannes Vogelbein: German television personality and documentary filmmaker
- Gerd Vogelbein: German philosopher and president of the German Semiotic Society