Surname Rungen - Meaning and Origin
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Rungen: What does the surname Rungen mean?
The surname Rungen is a German name, derived from the Old High German words 'runge' or 'runa', meaning 'arable land' or 'clearing'. This toponymic surname was likely given to a family who originally lived on or near a patch of farmland or woodland that had recently been cleared for cultivation.
In some cases, the surname may have been derived from an old German given name 'Runhild', which was later shortened to 'Run' and eventually incorporated into the surname. In this case, the name would have been bestowed on an ancestor likely remembered for some characteristic—perhaps courage, strength, or fortitude—embodied by the original bearer of this rare given name.
Today, the last name Rungen is the 719th most common surname in Germany, with approximately 12,358 bearers found in the country. It is also found in a few other European countries, such as Norway, Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland. In terms of variants, Runge is the most common, followed by Runnin, Runcken, Rung, Rune, Runge, and Rungs. In the United States, the name is most thickly concentrated in New York, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Order DNA origin analysisRungen: Where does the name Rungen come from?
The last name Rungen is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "runge," which refers to a steward or an estate manager. The Rungen family appears to have originated in Germany, and can still be found in pockets of the country today.
This name is also found in countries around the world that once had significant German populations, particularly Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, and Uruguay. As the German diaspora carried the Rungen name to new lands, it often changed its spelling to suit the local language. In many countries, the name is now variously spelled Rungen, Runge, Rung, Ronge, and others.
In the United States, records show that the Rungen family migrated across the Atlantic in the 17th and 18th centuries, settling in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states. Later, the Rungens dispersed throughout the country and formed regional settlements in places such as Indiana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Today, the Rungen name remains somewhat common in Germany, where census data indicates that the name represents around 0.013% of the population — higher than average for surnames. In other countries around the world, there are still pockets of people with the Rungen last name, and many instances of it can be found in the US, according to the 2020 US census.
Variations of the surname Rungen
Rungen is a German surname of either West Slavonic or Saxon origin. It is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as other countries that have a large presence of German immigrants. Variants and spellings of Rungen can include Rungan, Runggen, Ronge, Rung, Runges, Rungg, and Rungges. In many cases, the spelling of this surname has been altered according to different regions, dialects, and other influences.
Surnames of the same origin as Rungen can include variants such as Runke, Runger, Ronker, Ronktop, Rönger, Röngen, and Önger. Some variations of the surname are anglicized and can be found in English-speaking countries as Run, Rung, and Rhunk. There are also Swedish surnames such as Rung, Runghen, and Rungne that come from the same origin as the German Rungen.
Rungen is also a Jewish surname that originated in Eastern Europe and Germany. Variant spellings and surnames of the same origin include Runke, Runger, Runkel, Runken, Runkes, and Runkevitz.
In addition to the spellings and surnames of similar origins, Rungen is also a nickname that has been adopted in many families, instead of passing on the original surname to further generations. Nicknames of Rungen can include Rungel, Rünggele, Rungg, and Runggi.
Famous people with the name Rungen
- Stefan Rungen: Former professional footballer from Germany.
- Håkan Rungen: Retired Swedish ice hockey player.
- Elin Rungen: Norwegian footballer who plays for the club Vålerenga in the Toppserien.
- Liv Rungen: Former Danish handball player.
- Andrea Rungen: Austrian para-equestrian dressage rider.
- Anita Rungen: Emirati singer and songwriter.
- Markus Rungen: German singer and songwriter.
- Holger Rungen: German pop and disco producer.
- Jan Rungen: Norwegian author and playwright.
- Huey Rungen: Australian actor, artist, and activist for disability and aboriginal rights.