Surname Deegen - Meaning and Origin

Deegen: What does the surname Deegen mean?

The last name Deegen is of German origin and has several possible meanings. A possible origin of the surname could be the German word "degen" which means "dagger," referring to a person who may have made or used daggers for a living. The surname could also be derived from the German word "teegen," meaning "carter," or "deoghen," meaning "mason." It is also possible that the name comes from the place Deegen, which was located in Westphalia.

Another meaning of Deegen could be derived from the German word "deege," meaning "small," which could indicate a person of small stature or a nickname for someone who was considered "small" compared to others.

Regardless of the origin of the name, Deegen has become a common and recognizable last name in present day Germany. Today, the name denotes a strong sense of hospitality and kindness, and is an instantly recognizable part of German culture.

Deegen: Where does the name Deegen come from?

The last name Deegen is most commonly found today in Germany, specifically in the northern part of the country. Records indicate that the name has been in the same area since the mid 1600s. It is most likely derived from the German word "Degen," which means "Knight" or "Swordsman."

Though wider distribution of the name is not known, due to the close proximity of its origins and the family's connection to nobility, it is believed to have remained in the same area since its inception. The town of Celle, in Lower Saxony, is the most likely place for the surname Deegen to have originated.

Deegen families are thought to have shown loyalty to the nobility and landlords by providing protection and other services in return for land over the years. They were also known to be pious, hard working, and generous and many have since become important figures in their communities.

Now, the last name is commonly found in the areas of north and central Germany, with a concentration in Hanover, Bremen, and smaller villages in the former East Germany. Most Deegen families still reside in the same amount of land which their ancestors had held in the mid-1700s.

Variations of the surname Deegen

The surname Deegen is a locational surname derived from the Old Germanic elements "tigi" which means "house" and the suffix "-heim" which means "home". There variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin for it are "Deaghen", "Deig", "Deigan", "Deigin", "Deggen", "Deggin", "Degen", "Degin", "Deggan", "Degon", "Defgen", "Dehen", "Deghen" and "Deege".

The earliest written record of the surname Deegen is found in a manuscript from 1109 called the Sheet Charter of Königsfeld which records a gifting of land to Emperor Heinrich IV by a "Lantbroadh Deigin". The spelling of the name changed over time due to different dialects and regional accents. The variations of this name located in Germany are typically spelled "Deegen" while in the Netherlands "Deegen" is often found spelled as "Deeghen", "Dega" or "Teegen".

Variations of the surname Deegen can also be found in the United States. The spelling of the surname often changed upon the family's entry into the country. Common variants found in the United States include "Deig" or "Deigh", "Deaghen" and "Deggin".

The variations of the surname Deegen can be further broken down into patronymic surnames. Patronymic surnames are derived from an ancestor's given name. Common patronymic surnames associated with the surname Deegen include "Degenschon", "Degenbah" and "Degenhardt".

Overall, the surname Deegen has many variations and spellings throughout countries and regions, as well as different types of surnames derived from the original.

Famous people with the name Deegen

• Erwin Deegen: German professional footballer
• Stephan Deegen: theatre director and film producer
• Astrid Deegen: German printmaking artist
• Jan Deegen: German former professional footballer
• Egbert Deegen: German competitive rower
• Nickle Deegen: German professional volleyball player
• Jürgen Deegen: German hurdler
• Granz Deegen: former football player
• Alex Deegen: German former professional footballer
• Diana Deegen: German Businesswoman and CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Dessau
• Martin Deegen: German painter and graphic artist
• Uwe Deegen: German clarinetist and saxophonist, member of the pre-war band “The Sentimental Six”
• Hermann-Josef Deegen: German entrepreneur and founder of logistics firm “Loadme”
• Jürgen Deegen: German competitive rower.

Other surnames

Deegener