Surname Mengel - Meaning and Origin

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S. Mengel

Mengel: What does the surname Mengel mean?

The last name Mengel is of German origin and may have originated from the Middle High German word "mangel" which means "handmill" or, more commonly, "millstone". Other possible sources are the Old High German verb "mengen" which means "to mix" or the Middle High German word "mengel" meaning "servant".

The surname Mengel can be found in various countries, particularly those of German, Austrian and Dutch descent. It is typically a patronymic name, meaning derived from that of one's father or ancestor, and so is often shared by many families.

The meaning of Mengel has changed over the years. It once referred to someone who worked in a millstone and seen as an occupation akin to a mill owner or servant. It has since transformed to refer to someone who is mixed culturally, typically of both German and Dutch descent. Alternatively, Mengel can also be derived from the German word 'Mängel' which means 'defect or fault', and in this context, the name would refer to someone with 'faulty' characteristics.

Although the surname does not have a concrete meaning, the various possible sources suggest that it is likely derived from an occupational and/or geographic source. Therefore, the surname Mengel may represent a family whose roots are deeply connected to the German, Austrian, or Dutch culture and country.

Mengel: Where does the name Mengel come from?

Mengel is a surname of Germanic origin, with the earliest recorded usage being in England during the 12th century. This surname is now most common in Germany, with significant populations in Switzerland and Austria. The largest populations of people with the surname Mengel can be found in states like North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg. Migration during the 19th and 20th centuries also resulted in Mengel being a common surname in the United States and Canada. It can also be found in smaller numbers in other countries like France, Netherlands, Finland, and Israel.

The population of Mengel continues to grow thanks to immigration and migration as well as large European families. In some areas, it is one of the most popular surnames. Many people with the surname Mengel are dispersed across the world, with breakaway branches established in countries like the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. A few people may have adopted the surname over the years, especially places like the United States where the surname is pronounced differently from the native German.

Mengel is a surname which is associated with craftsmanship and skill, and its owners were expert weavers, tailors, millers, metal workers or poets from centuries past. One famous bearer of the surname was German physicist and mathematician known as Johann Heinrich Mengel. He was the first scientist to accurately predict the size of the sun in relation to the earth.

Today, though usually spelled differently, the surname Mengel continues to represent a proud family name wherever it is found around the world.

Variations of the surname Mengel

Mengel is a surname of German, Swiss and Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'mengel', which means mongrel or mix. This surname is often found spelled as Mengel,Mingel, Menkel, Meingel, Mankel, Mengelmann, Mangle, Mengelberg, Menegel, Mengeling, Mingeling, Mingelmann, Menkels, Mennegel and Mengelmann.

In Germany, the name is most commonly found in eastern and central areas such as Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In Switzerland it is most common in the canton of Bern and Aargau.

Mengel has also seen various alternate spellings in the Netherlands such as Mankel, Mangels and Mennekel, but the version Mingel is most commonly used in the area near Nort-Holland. It has also been found as Mungel in the Netherlands.

Though the spelling of this name may vary depending on the country in which it is found, the origin of all of these surnames is the same: Middle High German meingel.

Famous people with the name Mengel

• Adalbert Mengel (1864-1942), Croatian diplomat
• Franz Anton Mengel (1769-1837), German poet
• Georg Mengel (1916-1979), German footballer
• Hermann Mengel (1910-2008), German entomologist
• Jens Mengel (born 1968), Danish lawyer
• John W. Mengel (1920-2014), American naval officer
• Karl Mengel (1820-1890), German nephrologist
• Kurt Mengel (1891-1966), German engineer
• Michaela Mengel (born 1973), German swimmer
• Thomas Mengel (born 1970), German musician
• Vincent Mengel (born 1975), American short track speed skater
• Wilfried Mengel (1901-1970), German actor

Other surnames

MengeMengebierMengedeMengerMengesMengewein