Surname Vögelin - Meaning and Origin

Vögelin: What does the surname Vögelin mean?

The last name Vögelin is a German surname derived from the Middle High German name Vogelino, meaning a “little bird”. It was likely first adopted as a given name during the Middle Ages in northern Germany and eventually developed into a surname. It is likely that the name originated as an occupational name referring to a bird catcher, occupational variation of the name “Fowler”. The surname Vögelin is not common or widely used, but it is found within Germany and other German-speaking countries.

Throughout time, the name Vögelin has been adopted into several other languages and versions, including Vogel, Vogelin, Vogelmann, Vogelmann, Vogeler, Vogelheim, Vogelsang, and Vogeler. Out of these variants, the most commonly used variants were Vogel, Vogeler, and Vogelsang. It is believed that most bearers of this last name are either direct or related to immigrants from the Netherlands, Central and Eastern Europe, or the Rhineland. The name is likely Slavonic in origin.

Although the name is rare in the United States, it has been adopted by many noteworthy people, including a professional football player from Manchester United, a successful German gardener, and a Malawi-based singer-songwriter.

Vögelin: Where does the name Vögelin come from?

The last name Vögelin is most commonly found in Germany and Switzerland today. According to Houseofnames.com, Vögelin is a surname of German origin, which is derived from the word "vogel," meaning bird. The surname Vögelin is thought to have some connection to a nickname or description of a person who is associated with birds, perhaps referring to someone who enjoys their company or was related to the hunting of birds.

Vögelin is a relatively rare surname in comparison to other names, and it is found in much smaller numbers outside of German and Swiss contexts. Records show that the name is primarily found in various areas in the German-speaking world, mainly in the northern and western states of Germany, such as Lower Saxony, Westphalia, and various other regions of Rhineland. Additionally, the name appears in Austria, Luxembourg, and a few other German-speaking countries, as well as Switzerland.

In the US, the Census Bureau reported over 700 individuals with the last name Vögelin living in the country in the year 2000. Although the name is not overly common in the US, the database indicated that individuals with this last name are concentrated in various states including California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts and Texas.

Today, the surname Vögelin is still employed by many people in the German-speaking world, and thanks to emigration in more recent years, the name can be found living in various other parts of the globe, too, including the United States.

Variations of the surname Vögelin

The surname Vögelin is known to be a very old German surname with numerous variants and spellings. It is a toponymic name meaning “at the bird(s) place”, derived from the Middle High German word ‘vogel’ for ‘bird’.

Variants and spellings of the surname Vögelin include Vogl, Vogel, Vogeler, Vogelin, Vogelmann, Vogelman, Vogelsang, Vogelzang, Vogelbacher, Vogelbach, Vogelzanger, Fogl, Fogell, Vogeli, Vogelmann, Fuegelin, Voglar, Vogele, and Vogelzang.

Surnames of the same origin include Vogel, Vogler, Vogt, Vogele, Fogel, Fogle, Fogell, and Fygel.

Variants and spellings of the Vögelin surname date back several centuries. For example, in the 11th century records of the Bavarian town of Aachen, the Latinized version of the name ‘Vogelinus’ appears as a witness to a charter. The name variations of this original surname were later developed in different areas of Germany over time, and spread across Europe as the German diaspora moved west.

Today, the surname Vögelin exists all across the globe, and variants can be found in Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Switzerland, and other countries.

Famous people with the name Vögelin

• Bernd Vögelin: a German story artist and illustrator known for his fantastic tales with a touch of magic.
• Ellen Vögelin: an American author and adapter of children's books, including a series about Aileen the animal mom.
• Christine Vögelin: a Swiss singer who has released several albums in both French and German.
• Thomas Vögelin: a Swiss politician of the right-wing Swiss People's Party who served as a member of the Council of States from 2003 to 2007.
• Ernst Vögelin: a German theologian, philosopher, and author who wrote books on early Christianity and the Gnostic movement.
• Karl Vögelin: a Swiss Impressionist painter and sculptor who is known for his views of the Alps and cities throughout Europe.
• Hermann Vögelin: a German actor who appeared in numerous TV and film productions. Notable roles include his performances in the film A Simple Story and the German TV series Der 19.
• Alfred Vögelin: a Swiss zoologist and paleontologist who was the first to describe fossil bones found in Kalkschieferformations in the Jura Mountains.
• Bernhard Vögelin: a German artist whose work has been featured in galleries across Europe.
• Ernestine Vögelin: a German politician who served as a member of the German Bundestag from 1987 to 1990 and a member of the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus from 1991 to 1999.

Other surnames

VogeliVögeli