Surname Nöllge - Meaning and Origin

Nöllge: What does the surname Nöllge mean?

The surname Nöllge is a toponymic, meaning it is derived from the name of a place. The suffix -ge, which is found in many German surnames, is derived from mittelhochdeutsch jage, which translates to "wood". Therefore, Nöllge literally translates to "in the woods".

The surname is believed to originate from the city of Nörlingen in Germany, located in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria. Although the city was first mentioned as "Northlingen" in 1256, place names ending in -ge suggest that the area was under Franconic rule since the 7th century.

Although the exact origin of the family is unknown, it appears likely that the name Nöllge was adopted by a family that lived in the woods of Nörlingen. Over time, as family members moved to different parts of Germany and beyond, the Nöllge surname was passed down through the generations.

Today, the surname is common throughout Germany and also found in other countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Although the exact origin of the name may never be known, it is a reminder of the family’s roots and a fascinating glimpse into the history of German surnames.

Nöllge: Where does the name Nöllge come from?

The last name Nöllge is most commonly found in Germany. According to the surname research website Forebears, it is most prevalent today in the northern region of Schleswig-Holstein, close to the Danish border. It is also popular in the adjacent state of Hamburg, and occurs in a few other areas of the country.

Nöllge is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of its original bearer's father or sometimes grandfather. It originates from the given name Noll, a diminutive form of Germanic names with the element 'folk', meaning 'people', such as Folker and Folkehard. The old German spelling for Noll was Nöll.

The name Nöllge still exists in Germany today, although it is not a particularly common last name, with around 160 citizens sharing the name. The number of people with the name has remained fairly constant since the 1800s, and is likely to remain stable in the coming years.

In other parts of the world, Nöllge can also be found, particularly in countries with significant German diaspora communities, such as the USA, Canada, and Brazil. The name is also relatively popular in the Netherlands and Switzerland. Ultimately, Nöllge is a very unique surname, although its occurrence is dependent upon the size and region of the population.

Variations of the surname Nöllge

The surname Nöllge is an old German name probably derived from a Germanic personal name beginning with Noth (grasp, assault) or Niw (noise, tumult). It has variations in many languages across the globe, most of them coming from its German origin.

The variant spellings of the Nöllge surname include Noellge, Noallge, Noale, Noellgen, and Nallgen. The surname is also spelled Nöller, Nöllen, and Nöllmann, with Noege, Nuillge, Noegge, and Nulege as additional variations.

In Dutch, the surname is spelled Nöllig, Nuiling, and Noelling. Other versions of the surname in Dutch include Nollig, Nulijng, and Noellig, while in French it is spelled Noelye and Nuelye.

In Ireland, the Nöllge surname is often spelled Nullge or Nole. In the United States, the variants include Nullge, Noelge, Nooge, and Noolge.

It is also common to find various combinations and hyphenated versions of the surname. Examples include Nuolle-Nolig, Nolle-Nölle, and Noele-Noellge.

In Switzerland, the surname is mainly spelled Nöllen or Nöllge, while in the Austrian states it can be spelled Nölligen and Nüllgen.

Overall, the most common surnames originating from the Nöllge name are Nolle, Nollen, Noelling, Noellig, Nooley, Nolig, Nuellgen, Noalge, and Nueling.

Famous people with the name Nöllge

• Martin Nöllge: a German football manager who has managed multiple teams in the Bundesliga.
• Erich Nöllge: a German politician who served as a member of the German Bundestag from 1987–1994.
• Heinz Nöllge: a German politician and President of the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from 1966–1978.
• Domke Nöllge: a German football player who made over 70 appearances for Fortuna Düsseldorf.
• Bruno Nöllge: a professional ludo player and coach from East Germany, winner of multiple awards.
• Bert Nöllge: a German author and journalist who wrote multiple books about German politics and culture.
• Margarete Nöllge: a German opera singer who has performed with the Leipzig Opera and other notable venues.
• Klaus Nöllge: a German zoologist and professor at the University of Kiel who wrote extensively on ecology and animal behavior.
• Anita Nöllge: a German politician who served as mayor of the city of Neu-Ulm from 1990–2008.
• Emil Nöllge: a German lawyer who was active in the Nazi party during World War II and was involved in the deportations of Jewish people from Vienna.

Other surnames

Nöllgen