Surname Tielking - Meaning and Origin
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Tielking: What does the surname Tielking mean?
The last name Tielking is of German and Dutch origin, and is believed to derive from the German word “teicheling” meaning “little pond”. This would suggest the surname is a topographical name for someone living near a pond or small lake.
In some cases, the last name could have derived from the personal name “Theobald” which is composed of the German words ‘theud’ meaning people and ‘bald’ meaning bold or brave. In this case, the surname may have been a patronymic name meaning “son of Theobald”.
In old German records, variations of the last name have been found, such as Tielken, Teilke, Teihling, Teilkling, Tielking, and Thielke, indicating the spelling might have changed over the centuries.
In some cases, the last name could be derived from the Celtic word ‘teillo’ meaning “sweeping” or “clearing away”, making the surname a nickname for someone who cleared away the land or swept up debris.
Regardless of the actual origin, there is one point on which all interpretations of the name agree; it is a last name indicative of strong, hardworking, and bold individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisTielking: Where does the name Tielking come from?
The last name Tielking is most common in Germany today. It is believed to have originated in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where its use is particularly frequent. It is also found in other areas of Germany, especially in the states of Bavaria, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony.
The etymology of the name has various possible roots. It may have derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘tielke’, which means ‘long-haired pile of cloth’. Alternatively, it may have originated from the word ‘tiel’, which denotes a type of fencing--suggestive of a ‘tielmaker’, a fence-maker.
The earliest record of the name in Germany dates back to the mid-1800s. According to available records, it was mainly used in small villages in and around the Rhine region, and later in other parts of the country. It was also adopted by some immigrants from Germany in the late 1800s.
Today, the name Tielking is mainly found in western and central Germany, as well as in parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States. It is most common in the German areas of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein.
Variations of the surname Tielking
The spelling and surname variants of the German name Tielking are numerous. These spellings range from Thyelking, Telkin, Teelkin, Thylkin and Tilken.
The original spelling of the name is Tilking, which was derived from a medieval personal name, Tillo. This was shortened to Tilo, and then at some point became Tilkin. This was then becoming known as Tilking.
In some parts of Germany, the spelling of Tilking evolved to Thyelking, Telkin and Thylkin. Another variation is Teelkin, which saw the ‘m’ at the end of the name replaced by an ‘e’.
Tielking itself may have then been developed from Thyelking, Telkin and Teelkin. This is all speculation, however, as there is no concrete evidence for when and why the spelling changed in certain parts of Germany.
Alternative forms of the name include Teelking and Teelkens, which are believed to have been from Dutch immigrants to the United States and Australia, respectively.
Finally, another related surname variant is Tickel, which is believed to have been brought from Germany to England by immigrants in the 1800s.
In conclusion, while the majority of the surname variants were derived from the Tilking spelling, there are a few others that had origin stories, such as Teelkinson from Dutch immigrants, and Tickel from immigrants in England.
Famous people with the name Tielking
- Meins Tielking: Meins Tielking is a German author, journalist, and occasional actor. He is best known for writing children's books.
- Hank Tielking: Hank Tielking is an American saxophonist and composer. He is a member of the jazz group Brightener.
- Jost Tielking: Jost Tielking is a German cyclist who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
- Laura Tielking: Laura Tielking is an American competitive swimmer. She is a four-time gold medalist at the U.S. National Championships.
- Frank Tielking: Frank Tielking is a German football manager currently in charge of German football club Fortuna Dusseldorf.
- Arnee Tielking: Arnee Tielking is an American professional wrestler. She is a former WWE wrestler and has also competed in Japan.
- Rudi Tielking: Rudi Tielking is a former German football player who played in the Bundesliga for several teams.
- Raymond A. Tielking: Raymond A. Tielking was a member of the United States Navy who served as an aviator during the World War II.
- Heinrich Tielking: Heinrich Tielking was a German painter, known for his landscape paintings.
- Enno Tielking: Enno Tielking is a German footballer who plays for Fortuna Dusseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga.