Surname Thieleker - Meaning and Origin

Thieleker: What does the surname Thieleker mean?

The last name Thieleker is of German origin and means "tailor". This surname likely originated from an individual or group of people who worked as tailors, either as their profession or a hobby. Tailoring was traditionally an important craft in Germany, and many families specialized in this trade and passed it down through the generations. Tailors were highly valued for their skills in designing and creating garments, and even today, their services remain just as essential.

The Thieleker surname is relatively rare, but is still found in areas of Germany, as well as in countries such as the United States, Canada, and England. It is thought to be occupational in nature, which means that individuals with the name Thieleker likely descended from a tailor.

The Thieleker surname can be found in many different variations, such as Thielicher, Thielke, Thielker, Thielkötter, Thilke, Thilker, and Thüleker. It can even be seen in more modern variations, such as Thyelakar and Thielecke.

For those who bear the Thieleker surname, it often brings a sense of pride to know that their ancestors were master craftsmen, and held an important role in society. This symbolizes the value of hard work, skill, and dedication, and makes the family name even more special.

Thieleker: Where does the name Thieleker come from?

The last name Thieleker is most common in Germany, making up about 1 in 7,271 of the population. Records suggest the name originated in the North German region of East Prussia as a variant of the more commonly seen Thielecke. In the late 1800s, it was primarily located in the area around the modern-day regions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Saxony.

Today, the Thieleker surname is found mainly in Germany, with a sizable population in the U.S. as well. In Germany, the majority of Thielekers are concentrated in the northern states of Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Most of those with the surname in the U.S. can be found in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.

The Thieleker surname is relatively rare outside of Germany and the U.S., May indicating migrating families originated in one of the two countries. This is also seen in the fact that the majority of Thielekers in Germany are of Catholic faith, while those in the U.S. tend to be of German Lutheran faith, with some small pockets of Mennonite and Brethren adherents.

Due to the relatively sparse distribution of Thielekers in other countries, it appears the surname has largely remained in the same region it originated in centuries ago.

A few descendants of the name may have branched out in recent years, as some recent records have noted minor populations in Peru, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. A few Thielekers have also been mentioned in the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Thieleker

The surname Thieleker is of German origin, derived from 'theil' meaning 'part' and 'ker' meaning 'cutter'. It was likely originally adopted as an occupational surname to denote someone who 'cut apart' or divided things.

The main spelling and variant of Thieleker is Thielecke, of which there are also variant spellings. These are Thielke, Thielcke, Thielke, Thielki, Thieleck, Thielecki, Thieleke, Thieleki, Thielekke and Thielekki.

The surname often appears as a patronym or variant of Thiele, and is sometimes anglicised as Theelke.

There are some other surnames of similar origin that are also derived from the German word 'theil', meaning 'part'. These include: Teile, Theil, Theile, Theill, Theiller, Thiel, Thiele, Thiels, Thieler, Thiell, Thil, Thill, Til, Till, and Tillman.

In some cases, the surname Thieleker might also be the combination of two German surnames; Thiele and Ker. Together, they mean 'cutter of the part'. The surnames Thiele and Ker also have their own individual variants and spelling, such as: Thiel, Thieler, Thielke, Theile, Theil, Theill, Theiller, Thill, Thil, Til, Till, Tillman, and Ker.

Famous people with the name Thieleker

• Ulrich Thieleker: An opera singer and often cited as the “first” German Film Star in 1919. He had a successful acting and singing career, appearing in numerous films between 1915 and 1924.
• Albert Thieleker: A pioneer in early cinema in Germany, he is credited with helping to develop German Cinema during the 1910s. He is best known for his work with director Ernst Lubitsch, collaborating on three films during the 1910s.
• Tom Thieleker: A World War II prisoner of war, he is considered one of the most famous war heroes of his time. He is credited with participating in a daring escape from a Japanese POW camp in 1945.
• Lars Thieleker: A former professional football player in the German Bundesliga, he also represented West Germany at the 1974 World Cup.
• Christian Thieleker: German theater actor and singer. He has performed in a range of musicals such as Cats, Elisabeth, Jesus Christ Superstar and Rocky.
• Andreas Thieleker: An architect who designed some of the most impressive buildings in Dresden, Germany. He also designed the Royal Court Theatre in Dresden and his work was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site register.
• William Thieleker: An American painter and printmaker best known for his vivid landscapes, his body of work consists of prints, drawings, and illustrations.
• Sven Thieleker: A former football player who played for the German club side Bayer Leverkusen and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1988.
• Ingrid Thieleker: A German author best known for her children's literature. She was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize and she won the German Book Prize in 2012.
• Johanna Thieleker: A German doctor and medical researcher who has worked on several studies in molecular virology. She also published the book entitled "Molecular Virology" in 2013.

Other surnames

ThielekeThieleking