Surname Kregeloh - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kregeloh: What does the surname Kregeloh mean?
The last name Kregeloh is of German descent and comes from an old German place name. The prefix “Kre”, or Krä, found in the name Kregeloh, is derived from a German word meaning “edge” or “border”, indicating that the original place name held some great significance, such as being located at a geographic or political boundary. The suffix “geloh” is believed to come from an old German word meaning “clearing” or “meadow”. Put together, a literal translation of Kregeloh is “at the border of the clearing.”
Throughout history, many people have taken on a last name from one of a family's ancestral places of origin. It is likely that individuals with the last name Kregeloh inherited it from a relative who lived near this clearing and bore the name as a mark of distinction.
Since many of the places involved in the origination of surnames have changed over time due to a variety of reasons including war, the name Kregeloh is likely to be found among various different geographical regions. Today, individuals with the last name Kregeloh can be found throughout Germany and other countries in Europe and beyond.
Given the definition behind the name, individuals with the last name Kregeloh might consider it a point of pride to have descended from a line of ancestors who place such importance on their ancestral home. They may be relieved to know that the roots of their name are associated with a geographic area with grand significance.
Order DNA origin analysisKregeloh: Where does the name Kregeloh come from?
The last name Kregeloh is most commonly found throughout Germany, with some scattered occurrences in Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, and the United States of America.
In Germany, records of the Kregeloh family date back to 1500. Back then, the name referred to people who worked in agricultural fields as well as the furnishing of meadows. As a result, the name was most common in East Prussia and Prussia, but there have been Kregelohs in every part of Germany.
In modern times, the name persists in many parts of Germany with the highest concentrations being in western areas such as Rhineland Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony.
In the United States of America, the earliest known Kregelohs arrived in the early 1900s. The majority of them settled in New York, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. There were also a handful of Kregelohs who moved to California. Many Kregelohs today still live in these states, and the name is particularly associated with the town of Newburg, Wisconsin, where the first Kregelohs settled.
Lastly, there are some individual Kregeloh families living in Austria, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg, though the name remains quite rare.
Variations of the surname Kregeloh
The surname Kregeloh is of German origin, however there are various variants, spellings and surnames from different cultures that are derived from it. Its variants and spellings include:
Cregelow, Kregelow, Kregger, Krigerloh, Kregerlow, Kriggerow, Kregelowe, Kreggerlow, Kregerohl and Kragele.
Surnames of other cultures derived from the surname Kregeloh are: Krawczyk (Polish), Kravcovs (Latvian), Krako (Belarusian) and Krakov (Russian).
Kregeloh is believed to be derived from the Old Germanic elements standard 'Kriric' meaning 'rule' and standard 'Lauha' meaning 'Prairie' or 'Grassland'. Therefore, it can be interpreted as 'ruler of the prairie or grassland'.
Historically, Kregeloh is believed to be an occupational surname derived from a person who is occupied as a 'governor of grassland'.
The variant Kregerlow is believed to be derived from pre-Christian god, 'Krigor' which is the Old German term for 'lord'. This variant is found mostly as a surname in parts of the former USSR.
Kriggerow is believed to be derived from the elements 'Krieger' meaning 'warrior' and 'Lud' meaning 'people'. This translated meaning gives a sense of ' warriors of the people'.
Kregelowe is believed to be associated with a group or settlement of prairieland.
Kregerohl is believed to be derived from the pre-Christian god 'Krigorl'. This is a combination of the elements 'Krigor' and 'Wolf' meaning 'lord of the wolves'.
Kragele is derived from two elements - 'Krag' meaning 'crook stick' or 'land district' and 'Loh' meaning 'clearing or meadow'. Therefore, it can be translated as the 'the ruler of the land district or clearing'.
Famous people with the name Kregeloh
- Christian Kregeloh: a German footballer who has played for several teams in the German 3. Liga, Oberliga, and U17 National Team.
- Melina Kregeloh: a German writer and editor with a focus on philosophy and history. She has published numerous books on German history, including The History of Germany Before 1945.
- Ursula Kregeloh-Bette: a German professor, lecturer, and critique of modern art. Her works revolve around postmodernist trends in German and international art.
- Johannes Kregeloh: a German professor and teacher of Latin and Medieval History at the University of Münster. He has also written several books on the politics and culture of the Middle Ages.
- Johannes Kregeloh-Maurer: a German historian and theologian with a focus on the history of religious thought and practice in the Protestant Reformation. He has published numerous books on the history of Protestantism in Germany and beyond.
- Heiner Kregeloh: a German journalist and political commentator who writes for numerous prominent German newspapers and magazines. He has written several books on German politics and international affairs.
- Claudia Kregeloh: a German businesswoman and founder of the software company InoSoft GmbH. She has also been active in the development of software solutions for the financial industry.
- Wolfram Kregeloh: a German director and producer who has made several films, including the award-winning documentary “Nuremberg: Night of the Long Knives” about the Nazi purge in 1934.
- Anke Kregeloh: an Austrian performance artist who works with sculpture, photography, and performance. She has exhibited her work in numerous galleries both in Germany and abroad.
- Eric Kregeloh: an American film editor, director, and producer. He has worked on several films, including the award-winning “The Pursuit of Happyness” and “The Shawshank Redemption”.