Surname Centner - Meaning and Origin
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Centner: What does the surname Centner mean?
The origin of the last name Centner is a German or Yiddish word meaning "counternance." This surname is likely derived from the Old High German word kunt, which indicates a person who lives near or near to the counter or trunk of a dwelling. This last name is likely an occupational name having to be with a merchant and would indicate a dealer or seller of goods, likely of some valuable or exotic goods.
Centner is thought to have originated as a nickname for someone who worked in a shop or store that had counters and chests of merchandise, or someone who collected debts. This surname is also likely derived from a medieval profession, as the same vocations were referred to with various names throughout Europe.
Centner is a common Germanic surname which is found in Germany, Austria, and some countries of the former Yugoslavia. It is not clear as to when the surname first appeared in German records, but it had multiple variations, including Kentner, Kenter, Sentner, Zentner and Zantner. In the United States, the surname was first recorded in 1851, with the early American immigrants bearing the surname being Frederick Zentner and Philip Sentner.
Today, Centner is a fairly uncommon surname in the United States and it is thought to have about 1,000 bearers in the US today. This surname still has a strong presence in Germany and Austria, but its other variations are found across the world, such as in the Netherlands, Israel, and India.
Order DNA origin analysisCentner: Where does the name Centner come from?
The surname Centner can be found in a few countries around the world today. The majority of people bearing the name are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and the name itself is a German name derived from the Middle High German word "zentner" meaning "centner". The origins of the surname date all the way back to the 13th century in Germany and is found in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Within recent years, there has been a diaspora of Jewish families bearing the last name Centner from countries such as Hungary, Poland, Russia and the Ukraine, and it can be found primarily in countries that allowed for the immigration of Jewish people following World War II. Today, some of the largest population pockets of Centner are located in North America and Israel. There are small pockets in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and some British overseas territories. Additionally, you can find some Centner’s located in countries such as France, Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. As with many Jewish names, it is common to find variations of the surname, such as Centner, Zenner and Zenner.
Variations of the surname Centner
The surname Centner is generally derived from the Middle High German name Zentner, which originally meant a “person who was a counted”. This name evolved over the centuries in different parts of Europe, and today it is found in many spellings, some of which are still fairly common in various parts of the world.
The most common variants of the name Centner are Centener, Centina, Centin, Zentner, Zentnero, and Zintner. In some countries, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the spelling is usually Czentner. In the United States, the variants Centner and Zentner are most common.
Various other spellings of this surname also exist including Zentnor, Zentina, Centna, Sentna, Sentner, Sintner, and Kentna. The Italian version of the name is Centanari, while in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, it is usually spelled Centnern or Centina. In the Netherlands, the spelling is usually Centenier.
Other surnames that can be traced back to the original Centner are sentanz, zentanzi, santanzi, zentiner, kentaner, cetaner, and cetiner. In some cases, the spelling has changed over time, leading to further variations such as Centsner, Zenner, Sentner, Kantner, Zinnner, and Kintner. In Spain, it is sometimes spelled as Centenar, while in France, it is sometimes spelled Centner.
Finally, there are some surnames derived from this same name that are not spelled as Centner or Zentner, such as Zentaro, Cenzer, Senzer, and Centro. These spellings can be found in some countries or regions, and they all come from the same original surname.
Famous people with the name Centner
- Philip Centner, Director of the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University
- Daniel Centner, CEO of private equity firm Polsky Holdings LLC
- Robert Centner, Business Professor at the University of Miami
- August Centner, Entrepreneur and Investor
- Miguel Centner, Award-winning Latin American Singer
- John Centner, English Television Presenter on "The One Show"
- Caroline Centner, British Politician
- Patrick Centner, German Film Producer
- David Centner, Military Veteran and Windsor University Professor
- Marike Centner, Dutch Analyst and Entrepreneur