Surname Teufele - Meaning and Origin

Teufele: What does the surname Teufele mean?

The last name Teufele is a German surname derived from a nickname meaning 'devil'. The use of nicknames to create a last name was common in medieval Germany and the Teufele surname may have been given to a person with a bad temper, a sharp wit, or a propensity for mischief. It could also have been an occupational name for a professional entertainer, such as a jester or apprentice wizard.

The Teufele surname has roots in Old German, with the first recorded use of the surname being in Germany in 1413. Over time, the spelling of the name has varied due to local dialects and phonetic changes. Variations of the surname today include Taifel, Teifel, Teifeler, Teifert, Teifler, Teufel, Teufl, Teuflin, Teufling, Tyffle, and Tiefil.

The Teufele surname has spread across the world, appearing in records from North America, South America, Europe, and Australia, among other places. In modern times, Teufele is a rare surname used by families and sometimes appears with connections to various professions. Some notable people bearing the Teufele name include the biologist Paul Teufel, the writer Roland Teufele, and the German business executive Franz Teufele.

Teufele: Where does the name Teufele come from?

The last name Teufele is most commonly found in Germany today, where it is spelled slightly differently as Teufel. The surname originated as an occupational or family name and can be found in records dating back as far as the mid-1300s.

The most common regions for the surname Teufele in Germany typically include Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, and the Rhineland region. This is likely due to the high concentration of German-speakers in these areas, which has allowed the surname to be handed down through the generations.

Teufele is also becoming increasingly common in the United States. As immigrants from Germany moved to America, the surname spread quickly and can now be found in almost every state. Some of the states that have seen the highest increase have been Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, and Texas – largely due to the fact that these are areas that have seen an influx of German immigrants over the past two centuries.

The Teufele name may also be seen in other countries that have ties to Germany, including Canada, Austria, and Switzerland. In modern times the surname is likely to be found in any country with a high concentration of German-speaking people.

Variations of the surname Teufele

The surname Teufele is a German surname of patronymic origin, derived from the nickname "Tewfel" or "Tewfling", meaning "small devil". Variants of this surname include Teuffel, Teufel, Teufelmann, Teufelin, Teüfel, Teufell, Teuffell, Teufen, Taafel, Toefel, Toefell, Tewfell, Töffel, Töffeling, Töffmann, Töppelman, Tüffel, Tüffell, and Tüffelman.

The German-language versions of the surname are quite widespread and can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and other German-speaking parts of Europe. It has also spread to other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

Surnames derived from German nicknames typically reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the originator, and in this case, the nickname may have referred to someone's temper or attributes, rather than a physical feature. It could have been an indication of someone with a fiery or passionate personality.

Other surnames of similar origin used by descendants of Teufele may include Taffel, Taafe, Thoepfer, Thoepffel, Thoepfler, Theophilus, Teubel, Tapeller, Tapfer, Tewes, Tevfik, Tefeler, Tefely, Teufer, Teufert, Teuffer, Teweel, Taeuffer, Thoepffer, Theoepfel, Teupen, Teusinger, Teuwen, and Teepe.

Famous people with the name Teufele

• Alex Teufel: professional ice hockey defenceman
• Troy Teufel: former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Jim Teufel: former Major League Baseball coach
• David Teufel: Austrian handballer
• Jeff Teufel: former minor league baseball player
• Peter Teufel: Austrian architect
• Richard Teufel: former Austrian footballer
• Tassilo Teufel: German judge
• Julian Teufel: German musician
• Werner Teufel: German politician

Other surnames

Teufel