Degen

Etymology

 * As a and  surname, from the noun.
 * As a German and surname, shortened from names like, , etc., with the same meaning as the above.

In isolated cases it can also be from, for someone who made or wore such weapons, and from (“dean”, modern 🇨🇬).

Statistics

 * According to the 2010 United States Census, Degen is the 14838th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 1997 individuals. Degen is most common among White (94.24%) individuals.

Etymology 1


Since ca. 1400, at first as, but also , ,. Usually derived from, but the origin of the e-vocalism is unclear. An eastern dialectal is possible, but apparently unattested, whereas 🇨🇬 is considered a borrowing from German. See 🇨🇬 and 🇨🇬 for more. Probably also related with the family of 🇨🇬.

From the 17th century, the sense “dagger” is restricted to, while comes to refer to longer weapons, especially thrust-oriented dueling swords. By the 18th century it was used of any sword worn as part of a uniform.

Noun

 * 1) rapier, smallsword
 * 2)  épée
 * 3)  dagger

Etymology 2
From, from.

Cognate with 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬. The word had become archaic by 1500, but was revived in poetic style since the later 18th century. This use may be a as there appear to be no attestations between ca. 1650 and 1750.

Noun

 * 1)   hero, warrior, soldier