Surname Stängel - Meaning and Origin

Stängel: What does the surname Stängel mean?

The last name Stängel is a German surname that probably originated in an area bounded by modern-day Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Poland. It is likely derived from the German verb "stängeln," which means "to fasten or stop something." As a result, the name may have referred to a person who was an expert in fastening and stopping things.

The surname Stängel may have been originally an occupational name indicating a person who made tools or locks, a profession that was often revered in Medieval Europe. It may also have referred to a trader who exchanged goods on a regular basis.

The name Stängel is also believed to be derived from an old German name, Stengel, which means "staff" or "pole." This could have indicated a person who was strong, organized, and orderly.

It is likely that the Stangels of today are descended from people who originated in the area around modern-day Germany, Austria, and so on. Over the centuries, these people moved to other parts of the world, settling in other countries like the United States, Australia, and Canada. No matter where they ended up, the Stängel family name has likely persevered.

Stängel: Where does the name Stängel come from?

The surname Stängel is most likely of German origin, though the exact origin of the surname is unclear. Today, the surname Stängel is still quite common in Germany, especially in the states of Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. It is also common in Switzerland, though not as common as it is in Germany.

In addition to Germany and Switzerland, the surname Stängel can be found in Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic, though much less frequently than in Germany and Switzerland. It has also been recorded in Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, and the United Kingdom, though it is rare in these countries.

Outside of Europe, the surname is recorded in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The earliest recorded instance of the surname is found in the United States, in 1857, though its presence in other countries is more likely to date from much later.

In general, the surname Stängel is most common in German-speaking countries, though it can be found in other countries as well. It is likely to have originated from the German word “Stänge,” which means “pole” in English, though the exact origin of the name is not known.

Variations of the surname Stängel

Stängel is an uncommon German surname. This name originated from the Middle German and Old High German word "Stengel," which means "stalk or stem." As well as its more common variants of Stengel and Stängle, it also appears as Stangle, Stangel, Stengler, Stöngel, and Steinngel. It may have appeared in other forms in other countries, such as Starkl in Austria, and Strängl in Hungary, as many immigrant families chose to anglicize their surnames.

The spelling of Stängel may also have been altered in the past as the letter ä (Umlaut) is not traditionally used in English, so Stengel, Stangle or Stangel were more commonly used in English-speaking countries.

In Switzerland, unrelated families with surnames such as Stängeli, Strängeli and Strängle are found, but these all originate from the name Sträng, which means ‘a strong-rope’ in Switzerland's Alemannic language. In Frisian, the surname Stenkels or Stienkels is derived from steenkel, meaning a ‘little stick’.

With multiple spellings and variations, Stängel can trace its roots to an eclectic array of languages, all of which have one thing in common: the word stem, stalk, or stick. It is a testament to the ability of the human name to be transformed across languages, countries, and centuries.

Famous people with the name Stängel

• Victoria Stängel: German field hockey player
• Hermann Stängel: German former actor
• Frank Stängel: German former football player
• Edwin Stängel: Swedish former speed skater
• Johan Stängel: Swedish former skier
• Amelie Stängel: German fashion model
• Erik Stängel: Swedish skier
• Justin Stängel: German wheelchair curler
• Poul Stängel: Danish former cyclist
• Jan Stängel: Swedish former footballer
• Elisabeth Stängel: German former skater
• Franziska Stängel: German former skater
• Ester Stängel: Swedish former javelin thrower
• Gustav Stängel: German former wrestler
• Bo Stängel: Swedish former orienteering competitor
• Rosa Stängel: German singer
• Helmut Stängel: German former rower
• Heinz Stängel: German former rower
• Gerd Stängel: German former football referee
• Ricardo Stängel: German swimmer

Other surnames

StangeStangelandStängele