Surname Tielken - Meaning and Origin
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Tielken: What does the surname Tielken mean?
The last name Tielken is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from the given name Teunis or Theodorus, both derived from the Greek name Theodoros, which means "gift of god". It is also possible that the name Tielken can be traced back to an older Germanic personal name, Tibbo or Thiebo.
The name is typical of the kind of surnames that were very popular in both Germany and the Netherlands in the late Middle Ages. These types of names were formed when a person was known by his or her given name plus the addition of either the father's name, the place of origin, or some prominent characteristic of the family.
As well as being used as an independent surname, Tielken is also found in the patronymic family names of Tielkenzen, Tielkensberg, Tielkent, Taylorikens, and Tielkema.
Tielken families are most numerous in the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Friesland, as well as in the German states of Lower Saxony and Hamburg. Two notable individuals with the surname Tielken are Johannes Tielken, the 15th-century mayor of Bremen, and Johann Tielken, who developed a method of grinding porcelain enamels in 1888.
Order DNA origin analysisTielken: Where does the name Tielken come from?
Although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the most common last name today, the name Tielken is believed to be of German-origin and is still found in the North German region. There are also records of it being used in the Netherlands and in countries such as Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as other parts of Europe.
In Germany, the Tielken family had a particularly strong presence in the region of Schleswig-Holstein in the late 1800s, which is an area that borders the North Sea. They were primarily farmers and traders. Some descendants of this family still remain in the area, but many have since migrated to other parts of Germany as well as to other parts of the world.
In the United States, many Tielken descendants are believed to have arrived in the 1800s, presumably from Germany. Today, Tielken is still a fairly common last name across the country, particularly in areas that have a large population of German immigrants such as Pennsylvania and California.
Similarly, Tielken is also commonly seen in other regions in the world, such as Australia and Canada, with many immigrants and descendants of immigrants in those countries.
Overall, the last name Tielken is still used commonly today, and its origins, although mostly originating in Germany, can be found in various parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Tielken
The surname Tielken is of German origin and it has been found throughout Europe for over eight centuries. Variations of the surname are Tielcken, Tielkins, Teilken, Teilkennes, Tieleken, Tilken, Tilcken, Tillekens, and Tillkens. It is also found as an anglicized spelling as Tielman, Tielmann, Tilman, Tilmann, and Tillman.
The most common origin for the surname Tielken is from the Middle Low German personal name ‘Tilken’, itself deriving originally from the Germanic first name ‘Thilko’, a combination of the words ‘thio’ meaning ‘people’ and ‘kon’ meaning ‘bold’ or ‘brave’.
The oldest recorded form of the surname Tielken dates back to 1217 in Brandenburg, Germany, when Adelrat Tilken was mentioned in a document. Over the centuries, the surname became spread to France, Belgium, Holland, and other German speaking areas.
It is also found in Dutch speaking parts of Europe, as Tielken, Tilken, Teilkens, Teilkennes, and Tieleken. In the Netherlands it was first recorded in 1588 in Zwolle, Overijssel, when a family named Tilkens was documented in the region.
The name is also found in England, where people with the name Teilkens/Tilkene are recorded in the county of Suffolk in 1581. The name has changed and evolved over the centuries, leading to a multitude of variants.
Famous people with the name Tielken
- Tom Tielken, German judoka and Olympian
- Cathrin Tielken, German painter
- Jacob Tielken, Dutch politician
- Bart Tielken, Dutch sculptor
- Joe Tielken, American competitive eater
- Drum Tielken, Canadian actor and playwright
- Guildo Tielken, German footballer
- Anna Tielken, Dutch painter
- Lena Tielken, German opera singer
- Molly Tielken, American model