Slegel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Slegel

What does the name Slegel mean?

Saxony, one of the oldest and most beautiful regions of Germany, is the esteemed birthplace of the Slegel family. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. This happened later in Germany than in most other European countries and surnames were not introduced in the German duchies until after the 12th century. The manner in which Slegel became a hereditary surname is extremely interesting because it was initially a name of an occupation. Occupational surnames date back to the feudal era. However, under the Feudal System, occupational names did not become hereditary until the offices themselves became hereditary. It was only after an occupation was inherited by several generations in lineal descent, that occupational names came to be applied to entire families, and so became hereditary surnames.

Early Origins of the Slegel family

The surname Slegel was first found in the Anhalt region of ancient Saxony, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a major contributor to the political development of the nation. Chronicles first mention Wolbero Slegel of Cologne in 1142, and the knight Herman Slegel of Bavaria in 1309.

Early History of the Slegel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slegel research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1719, 1749, 1767, 1821, 1845 and 1868 are included under the topic Early Slegel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slegel Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Schlegel, Schlegell, Schlegele, Slegel and others.

Early Notables of the Slegel family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Slegel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slegel migration to the United States +

Slegel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johanis Slegel, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 1

Sources +

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)