Surname Hägeli - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hägeli: What does the surname Hägeli mean?
The last name Hägeli is derived from the German word "Hagel," which translates to hail in English. This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have come from an area where hailstorms were a common occurrence. Alternatively, the name could have come from the Old High German "hagal," meaning "hedge." In both cases, the original bearer of the name likely had an occupation or residence associated with either hailstorms or hedgerows.
The earliest known bearer of the Hägeli surname appears to have been a man by the name of Kolman Hägeli, who lived in the 16th century in what is now Switzerland. From what we know, he was a craftsman who worked with wood, which could suggest an association between his surname and the hedgerow origin. Other occurrences of the Hägeli surname are linked to areas of Switzerland as well as Germany.
Today, the Hägeli surname is still common in both Switzerland and Germany, with the name frequently occurring in records. Sometimes, the surname Hägeli is also spelt Haglei or Häglei. Regardless of the spelling, the origin and meaning of the name remain the same.
Order DNA origin analysisHägeli: Where does the name Hägeli come from?
The last name Hägeli has a long and varied history in Europe. Today it is most commonly found in its native Switzerland and in nearby Germany and Austria.
The name began in the canton of Glarus in eastern Switzerland, where a number of small farming settlements known as Hägeli were situated in the late Middle Ages. It is believed that the first recorded instance of the name in written form was in 1288 when a member of the local Hägelis was knighted by the Swiss king, Rudolf I von Habsburg.
Over time the family spread into other areas of Europe, including Germany and Austria. For example, a branch of the family can be found in Frankenland in Germany, where they adopted the spelling of ‘Haegele’.
In Switzerland the name remains very popular due to its strong regional roots. It is estimated that around 8,000 Swiss citizens currently bear the name Hägeli, which represents a significant proportion of the population for the country’s size.
Outside of Europe, the name Hägeli is found relatively rarely; it has been adopted by a few families in the United States and Australia, for example, but these numbers are comparatively small.
The name Hägeli may have changed over the centuries, but its popularity in Switzerland shows that it remains an important part of the country’s history and culture.
Variations of the surname Hägeli
Haegele, Hagel, Haegell, Hagel, Haegeli and Hägli are common variants and spellings of the surname Hägeli. It is usually an occupational surname of German origin, derived from a person who was employed as a hedge inspector in medieval times. The name literally translates to 'the hedge'.
The same surname can also be seen in other languages such as Dutch and Swiss-German, where it is spelled Hageli. Variants and spellings such as Haglie, Hagly, Hagley, Haugele, Hegele, Hegell, Hegeli, Hehli, Heygli, Heely, Haegely, Heegli, Hiegly, Hagelie, Haegly, Haegle, Haegeli and Hägl have also been found.
Surnames derived from the original Hägeli are found throughout Europe and in many countries around the world. This includes palindromic versions such as Leihäg, Elihäg, Elgihä and Elhäig, as well as variant spellings throughout the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, South Africa and more. Other surnames of similar origin include Hagley, Hagli, Haglin, Hagler, Hackle, Hackley, Hackellee, Heckle, Heckles and Haigle.
Famous people with the name Hägeli
- Eva Hägeli, Swiss tennis player
- Thomas Hägeli, Swiss footballer
- Renate Hägeli, Swiss alpine skier
- Greti Hägeli, Swiss Alpine Ski Racer
- Alex Hägeli, Swiss Paralympian
- Urs Hägeli, Swiss field hockey player
- Susanne Hägeli, Pan American gold medalist for swimming
- Michael Hägeli, Swiss modern pentathlon competitor
- Hans Hägeli, Swiss footballer
- Georg Hägeli, Swiss Olympic medallist in wrestling