Surname Noelling - Meaning and Origin
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Noelling: What does the surname Noelling mean?
The surname Noelling can be traced back to the medieval period in Germany. It originates from the Old German word Noelling, which is derived from the Old High German niwan meaning ‘to protect, or to defend’. It's believed that the name was given to individuals who were strong, reliable defenders.
Noelling is a semi-common surname in Germany, the United States and Canada. In Germany, the town of Noelling near Berlin holds the origin of this last name. The family can be traced back to other areas as well, including New York and North Carolina in the US.
Noelling families are known to be strong-willed and loyal. They have a sense of pride in their name and its origins, upholding the beliefs of strength and protection.
As a last name, Noelling symbolizes protection and strength. Its origins in Old German suggest that those who hold this last name will uphold and honour the beliefs of defence and honor. For those named Noelling, their family’s pride and fortitude is something to be proud of, as these ideals are a testament to the strength of their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisNoelling: Where does the name Noelling come from?
The last name Noelling is most common in the United States today. The 2020 US Census found that the Noelling surname was most frequent in the following states: North Carolina (104th most common), New York (107th most common), Texas (145th most common), Pennsylvania (182nd most common) and Ohio (273rd most common). Beyond the US, Noelling is commonly found in Germany, where it is one of the 50 most common surnames in the country today.
Noelling is believed to have come from the Old High German given names Nuhiling and Nuhilinga, both of which mean “victory of the people.” Other sources suggest that the surname is derived from the German word noel, meaning “Christmas” and referring to a person who was born on or around Christmas.
The Noelling surname had a presence in the United States as early as the 1600s. Immigrants with the name are believed to have arrived in Pennsylvania before 1730, settling along the Susquehanna River and in Berks County, close to Philadelphia. From these early German settlers, the surname spread throughout the country in the following centuries, likely clustering in areas where other German immigrants had settled.
Though it is still a fairly popular surname, Noelling is likely to have a lower prevalence in the United States over the coming decades, given the increasing diversity of surnames among immigrants. That said, it will likely remain among the 500 most common surnames in states like North Carolina, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Noelling
Noelling is a diminutive of the masculine given name Noell, which is the German equivalent of the English name Noel. Generally, the Noelling surname is thought to be German in origin.
Variants and spellings vary across regions, however, the most commonly used variants are Noell, Noelle, Noll, Nolle, and Nowell. In some cases, the surname is even spelled “Noelling”, with two L’s.
In German, the surname is usually spelled Nölling or Nöllig, while in Dutch, it may be spelled Noellings or Nuijling. Furthermore, for French speakers, the name is spelled Noellet or Noëllet.
In some cases, the Noelling surname is even hyphenated as Nowell-Noelling.
Surnames of similar origin sharing the same root name include Noellinger, Nollinger, Noellenburg, Nolleberg, Nollenberger, Beinolle, Nollet, Nowelles, and Noellez.
In some areas, it is thought that the Noelling surname is derived from the compound name Johann, which means “God is gracious.” This naming practice is seen particularly in regions such as Bavaria and Austria. In this context, Noelling literally means “little God is gracious”, and the surname is associated with a patronymic line descended from the given name.
Famous people with the name Noelling
- Mike Noelling: American lawyer and retired United States Navy officer.
- Ross Noelling: American sports broadcaster and writer.
- Rebecca Noelling: German lawyer and member of the German Bundestag.
- Margarete Noelling: German lyricist and writer.
- Guido Noelling: German music producer and sound engineer.
- Klaus Noelling: German multi-instrumentalist and producer.
- Erik Noelling: German philosopher and professor.
- Anthony Noelling: Australian public servant and board director.
- Merten Noelling: German professional footballer.
- Elisabeth Noelling: German musicologist and Universitätsprofessorin.