Surname Reagel - Meaning and Origin

Reagel: What does the surname Reagel mean?

The last name Reagel is of German origin, stemming from the German words “Ragin” meaning “rule” and “Gel” meaning “people”. Translated, the surname literally means “ruling people” and is indicative of leadership or power.

Reagel is a relatively rare surname; tracing back to the late 1700s and only having a few hundred present-day families carrying the moniker. It is a hereditary surname and likely started with one ancestor and has passed through many generations since then.

Those with the last name Reagel tend to be generous and kind. They are often described as very organized and reliable people who have a strong sense of justice. They are often trustworthy and tend to take initiative and responsibility for difficult tasks. Due to their influence and leadership, those with the last name Reagel can often be found running a business or in an important or influential political position.

The Reagel family name has a long and distinguished history and is certainly a mark of honor passed down for generations. Those that have the surname are proud to bear its name, and those who have the opportunity to work with a Reagel should count themselves lucky to have such an influential and dependable person in their life.

Reagel: Where does the name Reagel come from?

The last name Reagel is most common in Germany. It is the 1700th most common name in that country, with roughly 1,700 bearers throughout the country. There are German Reagels living in most of the major cities, from Hamburg to Munich to Frankfurt. In the United States, it is much less common, with fewer than 100 bearers. The majority of these are found in the states of Pennsylvania and New York, but some are also found in California, Texas, and New Jersey. The last name is most likely of early German origin, derived from the Middle High German phrase "regella," meaning animal with four feet or quadruped.

The last name Reagel is most likely to be found among the descendants of German immigrants who arrived in America from the 1880's onwards. There may also be bearers of the name who emigrated to the United States from other areas of the world, such as Austria or Switzerland. There is also the possibility that the name Reagel originates from elsewhere, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Hungary, as well as the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe.

Although it is not particularly common outside of Germany, people with the last name Reagel are spread out throughout the globe, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and beyond.

Variations of the surname Reagel

Reagel is an English surname that is believed to originate from a locational name. This means that the name is derived from a particular geographical area. The variants, spellings, and surnames of Reagel are Regel, Reegel, Reagell, Raegell, Regell, Reegell, Regells, Regals, Reginae, Reagel.

Reagel is a surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Middle High German words “rage” and “gell”, which, together, mean “a small grove”. This suggests that the original bearers of the name Reagel were those from a small, wooded area.

The original form of the Reagel surname was Reigel. This form of the name can be found among records from 12th century Germany where, in 1155, the name appears as “Reigel of Lutterberg”. Over time, the surname Reagel changed in spelling over the following centuries to all of its variant forms.

By the 1700s, the Regel, Reegel, and Reagell variant names were beginning to appear. Meanwhile, in France, the Regell, Reegell, Regells, and Regals variants began to be used in relation to the Reagel surname. The Reginae variant of the name is a particular spelling used in France, referring to a former female bearers of the name.

The Reagel surname has extended to many different countries across the world. In England, the Reagel surname can be found frequently in records from the late 18th and early 19th century. In the United States, the surname is often seen as a phonetic spelling of Reigle. Finally, in Scandinavia, the Reagel surname has, in some cases, been replaced by the surname Ragel.

Famous people with the name Reagel

• Ronald Reagan: the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989, and previously Governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
• Maureen Reagan: the first daughter of President Ronald Reagan and first wife of Nancy Reagan.
• Michael Reagan: the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan and first wife Nany Davis Reagan, and the adoptive son of President Reagan and Nancy Reagan.
• Patti Davis: the daughter of President Ronald Reagan and his first wife Nancy. She is also an author and actress.
• Ron Reagan Jr.: the son of President Ronald Reagan and his first wife Nancy. He is an author, actor, and political commentator.
• Douglas MacArthur Reagan: a cousin of President Ronald Reagan, who was a lawyer, judge, Democratic Party activist, and the state attorney general of Oregon.
• Robert Reagel: a member of the Reagel family, who was a soldier in the Union Army and served as a Farrier Sergeant.
• William Reagel: a member of the Reagel family, who was a soldier in the Union Army and served as a private in Company H of the 11th Iowa Infantry Regiment.
• Melanie Reagel: a Broadway actress with the Reagel last name.
• David Reagel: an American music producer and musician with the Reagel last name.

Other surnames

Reager