Surname Mangelsdorf - Meaning and Origin

Mangelsdorf: What does the surname Mangelsdorf mean?

Mangelsdorf is an English and German surname of Anglo-Saxon origins. It is derived from the German words “mangel”, meaning “miser” or “miserable” and “dorf”, meaning “village”. Combined, the name can be interpreted as “miserable village”.

The meaning behind the name Mangelsdorf is likely that it was originally a place name, referring to a location that was seen as less than desirable. It could have been a place that was deemed to be a bad place to live, perhaps due to poor soil or a lack of resources. It is assumed that the person who adopted the name had some connection to this location, and decided to use the name to denote their home town.

There are numerous spelling variants of the name, including Magelsdorf, Mangelesdorf, and Mangoldsdorf. The present-day Mangelsdorf family is likely descended from those who adopted this name in response to coming from a less auspicious home.

Today, the Mangelsdorf surname is still in use, primarily found in English and German-speaking countries.It is associated with those who are loyal and reliable, with a sense of tradition underpinning their everyday life.

Mangelsdorf: Where does the name Mangelsdorf come from?

The last name Mangelsdorf can be found primarily in Germany, particularly in the north-central region. It is also common in certain areas of Europe such as Denmark, Austria, and the Netherlands. Mangelsdorf is the 11th most popular surname in Germany, with over 110,000 individuals across the country bearing the name.

Mangelsdorf is thought to be a patronymic, or surname derived from a personal name, derived from the German phrase ‘mancels-vater’, literally translating into English as ‘life-father’. This phrase is derived from the old Germanic word ‘mancill’, which meant man or father. This suggests that the surname was originally used to distinguish children whose father was unknown.

It is also believed that the surname could be derived from the geographical location of Mangelsdorf, a small village located in the Mecklenburg district of Germany. Residents of the village may have adopted the last name as their own, as was done in many other parts of the country.

Today, the majority of Mangelsdorfs can be found in Germany, particularly in Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, and Lower Saxony. The surname is far less common in other parts of the world, but a small number of Mangelsdorfs can also be found in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Mangelsdorf

The surname Mangelsdorf has various variants and spellings, all of which can be traced back to the same origin. The primary variant of the surname is Mangelsdorf, which has other variations such as Mangelsen, Mangleson, Mangoldorf and Mangelsdorff. Other close variants of the original surname include Mangel, Mangelsohn, Manglewitz, Mangelsdorfer and Mangelsdorff, among others.

Most of these variants originate from two distinct locations in Germany. The first is Mangelsdorf, which is a small village located in the Lüneburg Heath in Germany. The second is Mangel, which is an old Jewish family name known to have originated in Niedermerz, a small village south of Limburg, Germany. The name Mangelsdorf was likely taken upon by the people from the village of Mangel, which is why it shares some of the same spelling variants.

The surname Mangelsdorf also has several other variations which are distributed to many Jewish and Christian families throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Some of these variations include Mangalisky, Mangeles, Mengers, Menges, Minges, Mangold and Mangus.

Variations of Mangelsdorf can also be found in the United States. In some cases, the name has evolved into its own distinct family name, such as Mengel and Manginelli. Other times, the original name has been simplified to Manning or Mengel, but these spellings continue to share a common ancestry.

Overall, the surname Mangelsdorf has many variants and spellings, and all are traceable back to the same origin. While it is now found in many different countries around the world, its heritage lies in two small German towns.

Famous people with the name Mangelsdorf

• Richard Mangelsdorf: A notable wildlife photographer who specializes in photographing aquatic life such as fish and whales.
• Faye Mangelsdorf: A Canadian actress, best known for her role in the 20th Century Fox film Wild Hogs.
• Jörg Mangelsdorf: A German computer programmer and founder of the software company Mangelsdorf Software.
• Mia Mangelsdorf: A Danish executive and the current CEO of the Nordea Bank in Denmark.
• Ed Mangelsdorf: An American electronics engineer and founder of the company Mangelsdorf Instruments.
• Paul Mangelsdorf: An American music producer who has produced music for artists such as Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake.
• Erich Mangelsdorf: An Austrian physicist who was a leading expert on atomic physics and quantum theory.
• Frank Mangelsdorf: An American composer and conductor, best known for his work with the New York Philharmonic.
• Barbara Mangelsdorf: An American folk singer, songwriter and author.
• Mark Mangelsdorf: An American actor, best known for his role on the TV series Desperate Housewives.

Other surnames

Mangelsdorff