Surname Tegen - Meaning and Origin

Tegen: What does the surname Tegen mean?

The last name Tegen is of Dutch origin and is a topographic name for someone who lived on the edge of town or at a crossroads. It can also be derived from the Danish word for 'near', 'close', or 'beside', suggesting someone who literally lived by the side of someone else. It began as a patronymic surname, created from the father's given name and suffix -szen/-sen.

The name Tegen is derived from the Old Norse ‘tegen’, meaning 'threshold'. This is a very old word of Proto-Germanic origin, which is found throughout the Germanic language family. Thresholds were important to Scandinavian culture, being often referred to in Norse mythology.

The Tegen surname is believed to have initially referred to a person who lived at the edge of a town, near the limits of the area or on the fringe. This suggests that the wielder of the name was one of the original settlers of the area, having claimed and developed land on the margins of society.

The given name Tegen also exists in Scandinavian and Dutch cultures, making it a fairly common name. In modern times, it may be interpreted to mean 'patient' and 'diligent', which could be a reflection of the strong work ethic of people whose heritage lies in the Nordic regions.

Tegen: Where does the name Tegen come from?

The last name Tegen is a Dutch-German last name that is widespread throughout Europe today, especially in Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to have derived from the Ancient Germanic word ‘tegan’, meaning ‘to bring’.

The most common place to find people with the last name Tegen is actually Germany– according to current census estimates, around 12,000 people in Germany carry the Tegen name. However, the name is also common in Dutch areas such as the northern Dutch province of Drenthe and in cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam. An increasing number of Tegens can also be found in the United Kingdom, where more than 600 Tegens are recorded in the 2011 census.

You can also find Tegens in other European countries, such as Switzerland, France and Hungary, alongside others outside Europe – including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

In conclusion, the last name Tegen is a common one today, with many people around the world carrying the name. It may be more popular in some countries than others, but it is a name that is widely represented throughout Europe and beyond.

Variations of the surname Tegen

Tegen is a surname of Dutch origin, derived from the Old High German word ‘Tegin’, meaning ‘hard worker’. Different variants, spellings and surnames with this same origin include:

Tagin, Tegan, Tegenkamp, Tegener, Teggen, Tegning, Tegenbach, Tegenhold, Tegenwalter, Taggen, Teginger, Tagen, Tegenken, Tegentin, Tagel, Tagenborg, Tagenberg and Tegenaar.

The variants of Tegen that are spelled similar include Tegan, Tegen and Tegin. Examples of these spellings can be seen in the surnames Tegenkamp and Tegener.

Other surnames with the same origin may have slight variations on the spelling, such as Teggen, Tegning, Tegenbach or Tegenhold. These surnames usually contain a different letter between the two ‘e’s, such as a ‘g’, a ‘n’ or a ‘b’.

Other variations of the surname include Taggen, Teginger, Tagen, Tegenken, Tegentin, Tagel, Tagenborg, Tagenberg and Tegenaar.

In many parts of Europe, spellings of names, including surnames, have changed and evolved over time. So, the spelling of Tegen has in some cases been replaced with different, but still related, surnames. Although the spelling of the surname might have changed, its origin and meaning remain the same.

Famous people with the name Tegen

• Peter Tegen: producer, executive, husband of Christina Applegate.
• Christopher Tegen: artist whose works have been featured in the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection, the Library of Congress, and other venues.
• Torsten Tegen: German-born professor of anaesthetics at Imperial College London.
• Carl Christian Tegen: Norwegian military officer who served as a general during World War II.
• Leif Tegen: professor of plant pathology, University of Minnesota, known for his pioneering work in plant virology.
• Gustav Tegen: Swedish-born sailor who represented Denmark in the Olympic Games of 1924.
• Jan Tegen: Dutch footballer who made over 200 appearances in the Dutch leagues during his career.
• Erik Tegen: Norwegian physicist and politician who played an important role in the establishment of the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
• Steve Tegen: American woodworker and furniture maker known for his use of exotic hardwoods.
• Carsten Tegen: German author and psychotherapist, known for his books on Eastern European cultures.
• Olof Tegen: Swedish-born philologist and writer who made important contributions to the study of Old Norse literature.
• Betteanne Tegen: American theatrical designer, scenic painter, lighting designer, actor, and director.
• Dennis Tegen: Virtual reality entrepreneur and scientist who co-founded the company 8i.
• Miel Tegen: Dutch illustrator and author of children's books.
• Stephan Tegen: German broker who established a private wealth management firm in Hanover.

Other surnames

TegeTegederTegelTegelbeckersTegelbekkersTegelerTegenerTegenkampTegenthoffTegerTegetbühringTegethofTegethoffTegetmeierTegetmeyer