A German surname meaning 'angel,' also referring to Friedrich Engels, the German philosopher and collaborator with Karl Marx. Used as both a surname and given name.
From Middle High German 'engel', from Latin 'angelus', ultimately from Greek 'angelos' meaning 'messenger'. As a surname, it likely originated as a nickname for someone considered angelic or possibly for someone who played an angel in religious dramas.
Friedrich Engels co-authored 'The Communist Manifesto' with Marx and financially supported Marx's family for decades, making their revolutionary partnership possible. The surname Engel/Engels is common throughout German-speaking regions and often indicates medieval ancestors associated with religious activities or characteristics.
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