Surname Breitung - Meaning and Origin
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Breitung: What does the surname Breitung mean?
The last name Breitung is of German origin and has multiple meanings. In German, the word “breit” can mean “wide, broad, ample” and “ung” is a suffix meaning “descendants of”. Therefore, Breitung could mean “wide descendants” in the most basic translation.
The name Breitung may also mean “the one from the wide place” if it is a topographical name referring to someone who was from an area of wide land or a wide village. In this case, “ung” refers to “from” or “inhabiting”. This translation seems to fit the origin of the surname, as it is very common in areas of the German state of Saxony such as Meissen and Gorlitz.
Breitung could also be derived from the Middle High German “breitling”, meaning “berry bush”. If this is the case, it is likely that the original bearer of the name lived on or near a large berry bush.
Finally, the surname could also come from the German word “breite” meaning “shy” or “timid”.
Whichever meaning the name Breitung holds, it is certain that there is no one exact definition for it. Its meanings may vary depending on where it originates.
Order DNA origin analysisBreitung: Where does the name Breitung come from?
The last name of Breitung is commonly found across Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This can mostly be attributed to the German origin of the surname Breitung. Also, due to its Germanic roots, this surname is among the most popular surnames in the Netherlands and Belgium.
In the United States, Breitung is primarily concentrated in Wisconsin and Michigan, although records of the surname can be found in other states such as New York, Minnesota, and Missouri. Records have also been found in California, Texas, and Florida.
The United Kingdom also has records of this name, although it appears to be less common in the UK than in the US. It is found mostly in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Additionally, Breitung can be found in the Philippines, as records from German immigrants who settled there during the colonial era still exist.
The age of social media has made the name Breitung even more widespread because the internet allows people from all around the world to connect and trace their family heritage. In this way, a variety of countries have records of the last name Breitung.
Variations of the surname Breitung
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Breitung are Brietung, Breetung, Bhriethung, Breitenbach, Breithung, Brighting, Brightung, Breiting, and Breitinger.
The Breitung surname is a variation of the Frankish name Breiting, which was derived from the Old High German word breit, meaning "broad, wide or extensive." This surname was developed by various families throughout Europe during the Middle Ages.
Breitung was likely adopted by Germanic families in the areas of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is possible that some families who adopted the Breitung spelling had originally settled in the eastern part of Germany before immigrating to the United States.
The Breitung surname later spread to other countries, including the United States. In the early 19th century, many German immigrants carrying the surname Breitung arrived in the United States. These immigrants mainly settled in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York.
The sound of the surname has been used to evolve many variations and spellings of the surname. The spelling of Breitung has several variants including Brietung, Breetung, Bhriethung, and Breithung. Other spellings such as Brighting, Brightung, Breiting and Breitinger are also variant spellings of Breitung. The surname Breitenbach is also related to Breitung, but is of slightly different origin.
Famous people with the name Breitung
- Gustav Breitung (1902: 1992), German journalist, musicologist and music critics
- Sunny Breitung-Clayton (born 1988), American Olympic and Paralympic swimmer
- Clara Wilson Breitung (1867: 1962), American lawyer
- Arthur Breitung (1874: 1935), American politician
- Fritz Breitung (1890: 1950), German politician
- John Breitung (1875: 1961), American politician
- John N. Breitung (1830: 1890), American politician
- August Breitung (1869: 1945), American politician
- Robert Breitung (1891: 1962), American political science professor
- Agnes Breitung (1899: 1976), American educator