Show ContentsMengel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished and ancient German surname Mengel is derived from the Middle High German word "mangaere," meaning "trader, peddler." It is likely that the progenitor of the name was one who held this occupation.

Early Origins of the Mengel family

The surname Mengel was first found in Bavaria, Franconia, and Hessen, where the name is thought to have first emerged. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Mengelo de Nuenheim, who lived in Hessen in 1288. The young Mengel family became prominent in Bavaria during this early period, figuring prominently in the history of the region and contributing greatly to the development of medieval Bavarian society.

Early History of the Mengel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mengel research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1288, 1361, 1465, 1517, 1612, 1667 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Mengel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mengel Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mengel, Menger, Mengeler, Mengler and others.

Early Notables of the Mengel family

Prominent among members of the name Mengel in this period include

  • Georg Mengel (1612-1667), German composer, Kapellmeister to Fürstbischof Melchior Otto Voit von Salzburg

Mengel Ranking

In the United States, the name Mengel is the 14,542nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Mengel migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mengel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Jorg Mengel, who landed in New York in 1709 2
  • Friederich Mengel, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1742 2
  • Friedrich Mengel, who arrived in America in 1742 2
  • Frietz Mengel, who landed in America in 1742 2
  • Johan Wilhelm Mengel, aged 42, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mengel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Chr Mengel, aged 25, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • Catharine Mengel, aged 24, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • Lorenz Mengel, who arrived in America in 1832 2
  • Johann Heinrich Mengel, who landed in America in 1832 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Mengel (post 1700) +

  • Gail E. Mengel, American apostle and member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the Community of Christ from 1998 to 2005
  • Levi Walter Mengel (1868-1941), American entomologist, Director of the Reading Public Museum, Member of the Peary expedition to Greenland of 1891-92
  • Hans Mengel (1917-1941), German international footballer


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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