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Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • German : nickname from Middle High German nachtegal ‘nightingale’ (from Old High German galan ‘to sing’), probably denoting a good singer, or possibly for a birdcatcher, birdseller, or birdlover.
  • Jewish (Ashkenazic) : ornamental name from German Nachtigall ‘nightingale’.

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