Surname Mengewein - Meaning and Origin
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Mengewein: What does the surname Mengewein mean?
Mengewein is a German-language surname of locative origin, derived from a placename located in the Lower Rhine region between Cologne and Krefeld which was originally called Menwegheim. The name is believed to be derived from the Germanic personal name Mano and wahlan or weilan meaning 'to chose' or 'to select'. This indicates that the original bearer of the name was likely a family of importance in the region who were chosen or selected to take up a position of responsibility, such as an administrative office.
The Mengewein family first appeared in records in 1711, where Johann Melchior Mengewein was listed as living in the small village of Flehe in the Duchy of Berg. From here, the family spread out to the surrounding villages and, in the late 17th century, some members moved to the larger cities, including Cologne and Frankfurt.
The surname Mengewein is still seen in the area today, mostly in the towns and villages of the Lower Rhine. It is a rare name, but not uncommon, and individuals bearing the name are likely the descendants of the original Mengewein families of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMengewein: Where does the name Mengewein come from?
The last name Mengewein is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria, primarily in the states of Schwabian Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia. It is a very old surname, which is documented as early as 1463 in Freiburg in Breisgau, and is likely of German origin. The surname is derived from the Middle High German term 'meingwein', which meant 'one who managed vineyards'. It is possible that the surname reflects a localised surname of people from a particular area, who held some authority in the care of vineyards.
The Mengewein surname can also be found in other parts of Europe, especially in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, where it is more prevalent. Furthermore, there are some Mengewein families in the United States, Canada and other parts of the world, primarily descended from Europeans who emigrated to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, Mengewein is a fairly rare surname, but the families who still bear it tend to be spread out in a number of countries. As an immigrant surname, is still carries with it a sense of identity and pride. Mengewein families can be sure that their surname is an important part of their personal and cultural heritage, and can take pride in the fact that they share a common connection to a sometimes distant past.
Variations of the surname Mengewein
Mengewein is a German-language surname of both patronymic and topographic origin. It appears in the records in various forms and spellings, including Monnewein, Mengenwein, Möngenwein, Mengwin, Mungbeen, and Minjewin.
The surname Mengewein is derived from ‘mong’, meaning ‘among’, and ‘win’, meaning ‘meadow’, indicating the family lived in a settlement between two meadows. Alternatively, it could have been derived from a German personal name ‘Man’ and ‘win’, meaning ‘win’ or ‘friend’.
Mengewein is a rare but geographically widespread surname found in both Germany and the USA. It can be found in the records in various places, including Nurnberg, Hesse, and Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany, as well as Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio in the USA.
The related patronymic surnames are Mangenwein, Monneweiner, and Monnewein - all derived from the surname Mengewein. The variants are Mengenwein, Mengwin, Möngenwein, Mungbeen, and Minjewin. All of these variants refer to the same surname.
Mengewein is still a relatively common surname today, particularly in Germany, and there are many related spellings and surnames with the same origin. Those who bear the Mengewein surname today may have ancestral roots in Germany, but some branches of the family have since migrated to other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Mengewein
- Otto Mengewein (1908-1958): was a Nazi concentration camp commandant from 1944-1945, who participated in the deportation of Austria’s Jewish population to concentration camps.
- Marvin Mengewein (born 1970): retired professional ice hockey player who played for several teams from 1988-2004, most notably with the New York Islanders.
- Franz Mingwenein (1890-1959): was an Austrian rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
- Jacob Menge-Wein (1768-1803): was a German Protestant theologian and pastor from Mecklenburg who was known for his reformist views.
- Gustav Mengenwielin (1873-1943): was a German general who served in World War I, worked in the Ministry of War and became a teacher in the military academy in 1929.
- Bernd Mengenwieler (born 1952): is a German professor of Architecture and Construction, and is the former President of the Technical University of Darmstadt.
- Fritz Heinz Mengewein (1902-1982): was a French-born German sculptor and graphic artist who is known for his bronze sculptures and woodcuts.
- Rudolf Mingewein (1876-c.1928): was a German architect who designed a number of buildings in Munich.
- Günther Mengenwieler (1930-2012): was a German athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres and 800 metres.
- Johannes Mingwien (1880-1952): was a German opera singer and actor who had major roles in operas and operettas between 1904-1933.