Surname Thielen - Meaning and Origin
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T. Thielen
read moreThielen: What does the surname Thielen mean?
The last name Thielen is a German name, deriving from the word ‘Theil’, meaning ‘part, piece, or split’. The name likely originated as a form of regional identification, referring to a person who was from a certain area.
Historically, the name was common in the Norther Rhineland, where it has been linked with the geographical area known as ‘Theilendorf’, a small village which existed as early as the 12th century. It’s possible that the name is derived from the word ‘Theilen’, which means ‘dividing’ and likely refers to the division of property or land in this area.
The spelling of the name has changed over the centuries, and in some parts of Germany, it is still pronounced as ‘Theilen’. In other places, it has evolved to become ‘Thielen’ or even ‘Tielen’.
Today, the last name is fairly common in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland. It is embodied by many notable individuals, including the American reporter Rachel Thielen, the German singer Lars Thielen, and the Norwegian actor Gunnar Thiele.
In the United States, Thielen is also the surname of many athletes, particularly in the National Football League. Wide receiver Adam Thielen has enjoyed significant success with the Minnesota Vikings, while another footballer called Matthew Thielen plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Thus, the last name Thielen has come to represent a range of achievements, and a spirit of achievement, across many different countries.
Order DNA origin analysisThielen: Where does the name Thielen come from?
The last name Thielen is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the last census taken in 2019, there were approximately 10,450 people with the last name Thielen living in Germany. Outside of Germany, Thielen can be found in many places, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States.
In the US, there are currently around 2,000 people with the last name Thielen. The majority of these individuals can be found in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, where the name is most concentrated. Within these states, cities such as Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Madison have high populations of people with the last name Thielen.
Interestingly, the name Thielen originated in Belgium in the 1500s. This is likely due to the fact that in the late fifteenth century the region now comprising Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and parts of France and Germany was called ‘The Eighteen Provinces’ and was part of the Spanish Netherlands. This suggests that the name Thielen was most likely adopted in parts of modern Germany as people moved throughout Europe over the years.
Today, the last name Thielen is most closely associated with Germany, but can be found in many countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Thielen
The surname Thielen is of German origin and has derived or alternative surnames that arose from the same root. These include Theilen, Thiele, Thiel, Teilen, Tilland, Tilen, and Thielmann.
The German language spelling for the surname Thielen is often varied into the spelling of Theilen. It is a version of the same root but simply the German expressive version. The spelling of Thiele is the Dutch version of this surname. It is likely to be found in the Netherlands in abundance and likely migrated from its German origins.
The surname Thielmann uses the same root but adds the -mann suffix which implies the bearer of the name is a descendent of a man named "Thiel", a shortened form of Thielen. The spelling of Tegelen has also emerged from the German origin of this surname.
The surnames of Tilland and Tilen have both arisen from the same origin. They may be derived from the more frequent spelling of Thielen where the 'ie' in 'Thielen' was changed to a 'y', thus changing 'Thielen' to 'Tilland' and 'Tilen'.
Needless to say, a wide variety of variants, spellings and derivatives, have evolved from the same root of the surname Thielen, be it from spelling issues or modification of the main name itself. Furthermore, many of these may have often been used interchangeably in search of the same individual.
Famous people with the name Thielen
- Adam Thielen: an American football player who plays for the Minnesota Vikings.
- Lindsey Nelson Thielen: an American politician who is currently the United States Representative for Minnesota's 6th congressional district.
- Kane Gregory Thielen: an American real estate and entertainment investor and the founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital.
- Michael Thielen: a German politician, who represented the CDU in the German Bundestag from 1976 to 1994.
- André Thielen: a German footballer who plays for SV Meppen as a defender.
- Darren Thielen: an American-born Canadian actor who is best known for his role as Serac Desault in the television series "Haven" and as Officer Bressler in the FX television series "Fargo".
- Maurice Thielen: a German artist, sculptor and musician, best known for his abstract bronze sculptures.
- J.R. Thielen: an American artist and sculptor, best known for his bronze and steel sculptures of animals.
- Marc Thielen: a German entrepreneur and the founder of Thielen Culinary Consultancy.
- Henry Thielen: a Dutch architect who was a committed modernist, best known for his work on large office blocks.