Show ContentsNagel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Nagel is derived from the Norman surname de Angulo. The Gaelic form of this surname is de Nógla.

Early Origins of the Nagel family

The surname Nagel was first found in at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, SW Wales, where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. The Nagel surname arrived Cork, where Gilbert D'Angulo accompanied Strongbow into Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Nagel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nagel research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1508, 1536, 1541, 1636, 1686, 1689, 1691, 1699, 1719, 1757, 1784 and 1830 are included under the topic Early Nagel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nagel Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes and church officials spelt names simply the way they sounded, which explains the various name spelling variations of the name Nagel that were encountered when researching that surname. The many spelling variations included: Nagle, Nangle, Neagle, Naigle, Naegle, Naigel, Nagell, Nagele, Naegell, Naigel, Naigell, Nagale, Naigall, Nanegle, Nangel, Nangell, Nangale, Naingale, Naingel, Naingle, O'Nagel, O'Nagle, O'Naigle and many more.

Early Notables of the Nagel family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Thomas Nangle, 15th Baron of Navan; and his son, John Nangle, 16th Baron of Navan (died before 1508), an Irish nobleman and courageous soldier who fought with distinction at the Battle of Knockdoe; Richard Nangle D.D., Irish prelate of the Provincial of the Order of Saint Augustine, Bishop of Clonfert (1536-1541); Nano...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nagel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nagel Ranking

In the United States, the name Nagel is the 3,196th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. [1] However, in Netherlands, the name Nagel is ranked the 783rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,456 people with that name. [2]


United States Nagel migration to the United States +

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Nagel:

Nagel Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Margaritje Nagel, who landed in America in 1649 [3]
  • Margaritje Denys Nagel, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1649 [3]
  • Jurriaen Jansen Nagel, aged 5, who landed in New York in 1658 [3]
Nagel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Herman Nagel, who landed in New York in 1709 [3]
  • Hans Jacob Nagel, who landed in New York in 1709 [3]
  • Jacob Nagel, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1730
  • Jacob Nagel, who arrived in America in 1730 [3]
  • Johannes Nagel, who landed in North Carolina in 1732 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Nagel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Antony Nagel, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 [3]
  • Johanes Nagel, aged 19, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 [3]
  • Heinnch Nagel, aged 27, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 [3]
  • Johann Karl Nagel, who landed in North America in 1843 [3]
  • Adam Nagel, who settled in Illinois in 1844
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Nagel migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nagel Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • George Nagel, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Matthias Nagel, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752

Contemporary Notables of the name Nagel (post 1700) +

  • Conrad Nagel (b. 1897), American screen actor and matinee idol of the silent film era
  • Joseph F. Nagel (1902-1984), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 1st District, 1946
  • Stuart Nagel (1934-2001), Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Ernest Nagel (1901-1985), Czech-born, American philosopher of science
  • Charles Nagel (1849-1940), United States politician and lawyer from St. Louis, Missouri, Secretary of Commerce and Labor (1909 to 1913)
  • Anne Nagel (1915-1966), born Anne Dolan in Boston, an American actress, best known for her appearance with W.C. Fields and Mae West in My Little Chickadee (1940)
  • Steven R Nagel (1946-2014), American Colonel in the USAF and a former NASA astronaut
  • Thomas Nagel (b. 1937), American professor of Philosophy and Law awarded a Rolf Schock Prize in 2008 for his work in philosophy as well as the Balzan prize the same year
  • Patrick Nagel (1945-1984), American artist
  • David J. Nagel, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Genesee County 1st District, 1942
  • ... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Nagel Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non vox sed votum
Motto Translation: Not in voice but a wish.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  3. 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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