Surname Kneitinger - Meaning and Origin
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Kneitinger: What does the surname Kneitinger mean?
The origin of the last name Kneitinger has been researched by etymologists and linguists and has been found to be a German surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word “Kneit”, meaning a knitter or someone who knits. This profession was common in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, and such a surname appeared in documents from around the late 13th century.
The Kneitinger surname is an occupational surname, which refers to someone’s profession or the profession of their family. Family members of a knitter who were related by blood likely began using the surname to denote their relationship. For example, Kneitinger may have been used to differentiate the sons of a knitter from the sons of someone with a different profession who happened to have the same given name.
The surname has been found in documents from various locations in Germany, so it is likely that the Kneitingers were mainly concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country. Today, the surname can still be found in parts of Germany, as well as in other countries such as Austria, Hungary, and The Netherlands.
Due to its rich history, the surname Kneitinger is sure to endure through generations to come and serve as a reminder of the important and varied contributions that the German knitter profession had on the course of modern German culture.
Order DNA origin analysisKneitinger: Where does the name Kneitinger come from?
The last name Kneitinger is a German surname today, and is most commonly found in southern Germany in states including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, and Thuringia. It is usually spelled Knöttinger, Kneitinger, or Knittinger in Germany, although variations in spelling are not uncommon.
Today, Kneitinger is rare outside of Germany. It is found in various countries in Europe and America, but there are much fewer Kneitingers in these areas. In the United States, the majority of Kneitinger families come from German-speaking countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. This migration was mainly due to the period of German immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries when people looked for new opportunities in the New World.
The highest concentration of Kneitinger families in the the US can be found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states that were part of the Pennsylvania Dutch community, but there are also some in other states including Illinois, Texas, and California. Outside of Germany, Kneitinger families can be found in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Family researchers have found that the Kneitinger family is one of the oldest German families in Europe, with records of the family dating back to the 13th century in Germany. The Greek and Latin roots of the name indicate that the name almost certainly originated in Germany.
Variations of the surname Kneitinger
Kneitinger is a surname with several different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of this surname is Kneitinger, but other variations may include Knaitinger, Knittinger, Knietinger, Knetimeter, Knetig, Knieting, Kneitig, and Kniebinger.
The origin of the Kneitinger surname stems from the German language, specifically West and South Germany. The surname has links to Old German roots and is derived from the word ‘Kneihte’, which means servant or knight. This implies that the individuals with the Kneitinger surname were perhaps once protecting members of a noble family or estate.
The Kneitinger surname has traveled from its German origins and spread to several countries and cultures including modern day Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and other parts of Central Europe. In the United States, the surname is somewhat less common, however there are still pockets of communities with the Kneitinger surname.
The variations of the Kneitinger surname also have local derivations in different parts of Germany and Europe. These variations include ‘Knitinger’ in Bavaria, ‘Kniezinger’ in Switzerland, and ‘Kneting’ in Hungary.
All in all, the Kneitinger surname has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is an old Germanic name with roots in both provinces of Germany, as well as in Austria, Hungary, and other parts of Central Europe.
Famous people with the name Kneitinger
- Marlene Kneitinger: Marlene Kneitinger is a German actress, born in 1962 in Neustadt an der Aisch, Bavaria, Germany. She is best known for her work in films such as Inglourious Basterds, Dark, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Lives of Others.
- Alan Kneitinger: Alan Kneitinger is an American actor and voice actor, best known for voicing some of the characters in Cartoon Network’s popular Cartoon Network series, The Amazing World of Gumball.
- Konrad Kneitinger: Konrad Kneitinger is an Austrian footballer who currently plays for SVDPK Hartberg in the Austrian second division. He is a left-footed midfielder and has represented Austria in various youth international tournaments.
- Zoltan Kneitinger: Zoltan Kneitinger is a Hungarian professional basketball player for the Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany.
- Francis Kneitinger: Francis Kneitinger is a Swiss curler who competed in the World Curling Federation's Championships in 1972 and 1975. He is currently a director of the Swiss Curling Federation, and is the father of two current ice hockey players, Pavel and Juraj Kneitinger.
- Anja Kneitinger: Anja Kneitinger is a German curler who has competed in the European Championships as well as in World Curling Tour events. She is a member of the German National Team and is currently competing in her second Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.
- Pavel Kneitinger: Pavel Kneitinger is a Swiss professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Eisbären Berlin of the German DEL league. He is the son of Francis Kneitinger.
- Juraj Kneitinger: Juraj Kneitinger is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Eisbären Berlin of the German DEL league. He is the son of Francis Kneitinger.