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Re: Nöldeke
in reply to a message by Anon.
I have looked on the Dictionary of german surnames:
If I have well understood all these names come from the german first name Arnold, see also Nolde.
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That would make sense. The -eke ending would be a diminutive (as in Hoffke: little 'Hoff', Wiske: little 'Wiese')
I now think Nöldner (Noeldner) may be from the word 'Noldner', meaning maker of needles. Many German names ending in -ner are occupational.

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