Zeigle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Zeigle

What does the name Zeigle mean?

The ancestral home of the Zeigle family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Zeigle is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a brick maker. The name Zeigle is derived from the German word "ziegelbrenner," which means "brick maker." Although this name is quite common in Germany, it is most frequently found in the south and south-west of Germany, which are regions that were occupied by the Romans and had a strong house building industry.

Early Origins of the Zeigle family

The surname Zeigle was first found in Bavaria, where they were established in the Middle Ages. They became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some in the Bavarian cities of Noerdlingen, Nuremburg, and Munich, elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Chronicles first mention Ulreich der Zigler of the city Eger on the border between Bohemia and Bavaria around the year 1340.

Early History of the Zeigle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Zeigle research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1843 is included under the topic Early Zeigle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Zeigle Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Zeigle include Ziegler, Zieglauer, Zigler, Zeigler and many more.

Early Notables of the Zeigle family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Zeigle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Zeigle family

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Zeigle or a variant listed above: Andreas Ziegler, who came to Canada in 1783 with the United Empire Loyalists. Of the almost one hundred Zieglers who came to Philadelphia in the 18th century, we find George Phillip in 1753.