Surname Bisswanger - Meaning and Origin
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Bisswanger: What does the surname Bisswanger mean?
The last name Bisswanger is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German root word “wanger” which roughly translates to “keeper of”. As such, it is an occupational surname, referring to the job of a wang, a local official who was in charge of “guarding” or “maintaining” the well-being of an area within a local community. This could have been a specific area of land, or anything from inner city walls to resident’s homes. The wanger was often considered an important role as it required a great deal of responsibility, such as collecting taxes for the State or helping to keep the peace during times of conflict.
The wanger could also be responsible for forming alliances between communities and thus their role was essential in keeping the social structure of towns and cities intact. In some cases, the position of wanger was so important that the term became a title of nobility, which granted its holder certain rights and privileges.
The last name Bisswanger is believed to have originated from someone who was employed as a wanger, or who was associated with or descended from someone who held the title. As such, it has become an important part of German history, helping to symbolize the culture and traditions of the nation.
Order DNA origin analysisBisswanger: Where does the name Bisswanger come from?
The last name Bisswanger is most commonly found in several countries in Europe. It is most frequently seen in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, the name is believed to have originated in the Southwest region of the country. Researchers have also found that the name is occasionally seen in other parts of Europe like the Netherlands and Denmark.
In the United States, the number of people with the last name Bisswanger is fairly limited. Records indicate that it can be found in small numbers in some of the major cities such as Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020 there were roughly 173 people with the last name Bisswanger in the United States. It is typically found among immigrants or descendants of German and Swiss immigrants who immigrated to the U.S.
The vast majority of individuals with the last name Bisswanger are believed to be of German descent. There are also believed to be some individuals with the surname who are of Swiss descent. The surname may have been derived from a place name or a personal name like Bischof, Bishop, or Margrave. Researchers have yet to uncover the precise origin of the surname.
Variations of the surname Bisswanger
The surname Bisswanger has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is an occupational surname, derived from Middle High German bise meaning “bees” and wangare, meaning “keeper of” or the occupier of land. It originated in what is now Germany, Switzerland and Austria and spread to other countries as migrants moved around.
The most common variants of Bisswanger are Bissinger, Biswanger, Bienzwanger and Bizwanger. Less common variants include Bisenwanger, Bcode dezs/?>, Bissenwang, Bissheimer, Bissinherr, Bissinger, Bisseiger, Bitswanger and Biszops.
Related surnames of the same origin include Beisser, Pfister, Biers and Biesser. Surnames of a similar appearance but a different origin include Bessinger, Buedinger, Besinger, Biddinger, Besser, Baehringer and Bissinger.
Often, the spellings have been anglicized to versions such as Byssenger, Bisenger and Bisinger.
The German word for beekeeper is bienenzuchter, which could also account for some of the different versions of the surname.
In some cases, different spelling variations of the same name can be found within the same family. Bisswanger can also be found spelled with and without the final “er”.
Famous people with the name Bisswanger
- Andrew Bisswanger: Andrew Bisswanger is an American cinematographer and film director from New York City. He is best known for directing the short film, Bad Pheromones, which has received several awards on the international film festival circuit.
- Frank Bisswanger: Frank Bisswanger is an American lawyer and former federal judge. He was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan, and served until 2006.
- William Bisswanger: William Bisswanger is a professional chef from the United States. He was the winner of Bravo's Top Chef Season 3.
- Sarah Bisswanger: Sarah Bisswanger is an American professional ballerina. She is currently the Artist Director of Kansas City Ballet in the United States.
- John Bisswanger: John Bisswanger is an American performer, songwriter and producer. He is currently working with the Latin Grammy-nominated band, Tesla Quintette.
- Lisa Bisswanger: Lisa Bisswanger is an American television producer and writer. She has written or produced for shows such as NCIS: Los Angeles and Mad Men.
- Steve Bisswanger: Steve Bisswanger is an American media entrepreneur. He is the Co-Founder and CEO at Bisswanger Digital, a content and marketing production company that specializes in creating stories for digital media.