Seigfried History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The German state of Bavariais the ancestral home of the Seigfried family. Hereditary surnames began to be used in Germany during the 12th century. Names like Seigfried, that came from the name of the job done by their initial bearer, were very popular. Seigfried is an occupational name for a maker or purveyor of wax seals of the type commonly used to certify the authenticity of letters and documents until early this century, or a person responsible for the sealing and signing of official documents, a position known as Siegelbeamter. The name comes from the German word "siegel," which means "seal."

Early Origins of the Seigfried family

The surname Seigfried was first found in Bavaria, where the family gained a significant reputation for its contributions to the emerging mediaeval society. The name became prominent as many branches of the family founded separate houses and acquired estates in various regions, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Individual bearers of the name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Tetmarus Sigeler of Stettin in Pomerania (c.1263,) and Sigler of Wuerzburg (c.1383). The name literally refers to the position of "Siegelbeamter," responsible for seals and the signing of documents.

Early History of the Seigfried family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Seigfried research. Another 251 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1774, 1777, 1807, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818 and 1862 are included under the topic Early Seigfried History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Seigfried Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Seigfried include Siegel, Sigel, Sigl, Siegl, Siegler, Sigler, Siglin, Sieglin, Siegelin, Sigelin, Siglen, Sieglen, Siegele and many more.

Early Notables of the Seigfried family

More information is included under the topic Early Seigfried Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Seigfried family

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Seigfried or a variant listed above: Jacob Siegel, who came to Pennsylvania in 1727. Johannes Siglin settled in Pennsylvania in 1753 with his wife and five children, as did John Siegel in 1765.

Contemporary Notables of the name Seigfried (post 1700) +

Karl E. H. Seigfried (b. 1973), American jazz, rock, and classical bassist