Surname Redepenning - Meaning and Origin

Redepenning: What does the surname Redepenning mean?

The last name Redepenning is of German origin and means “ruling over the meadows.” It comes from the German word "reden", which means "to rule" and "pennin", which means "meadows". This surname would have been borne by high-class German landowners.

These landowners would have owned large tracts of land, usually containing meadows and likely more than one dwelling. As a result, they would have been responsible for the management and taxation of their land, and would also have been in charge of local judicial activities in their territory. This role as an overseer gave them the title “Redepenning” and more authority than other peasants.

The Redepenning surname is still used today in Germany. Over time, however, the family’s association with ruling over the meadows has faded. The surname has been adopted by many other families, whose members are unrelated to the original Redepennings and do not necessarily share the same history. Today, the Redepenning surname is mostly associated with a strong sense of duty and responsibility, rather than with a privileged aristocratic background.

Redepenning: Where does the name Redepenning come from?

The last name Redepenning is primarily found in Germany today. The name was historically associated with Germany’s Lower Saxony region, and was likely an early variation of the German name Riedeman or Riedenmunn. It is believed to have originated in the 16th century.

Redepenning is an uncommon name today, with only 500 to 1000 individuals bearing it in Germany. Most of the individuals bearing this last name are concentrated in the western states, particularly the area surrounding the city of Hanover. Redepenning is also relatively uncommon in other European countries, such as Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands.

The Redepenning surname can be found on records from numerous German states. Furthermore, this surname is also found in America, primarily among individuals of German heritage. Some American citizens of this surname trace their ancestry back to the 1700s, when a number of Redepennings emigrated from Hanover to the United States.

Other than Germany, Redepenning can also be found in parts of South America, Asia, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. It is particularly prevalent in Brazil and Venezuela, where some families either adopted or created the surname. The name is often transliterated as Redepenning or Riedpening in these countries.

Variations of the surname Redepenning

The surname Redepenning is a patronymic surname derived from the Germanic personal name Redepenning, which is composed of two distinct components, rede and penning.

The surname has a variety of different spelling variants, such as Redepening, Riedeping, Riedepening, Riedepeninger, and Redepennig. The surnames Rietepenning, Rothpennig, Redepenninger and Riedepennek also exist and are derived from the same origin.

Variations of the patronymic surname include Redepenne, Redepens, Redepen, Redeping and Redepennig. The spelling variant Redppennig may have also resulted from a misspelling, as this spelling does not accurately reflect the proper pronunciation of the surname.

In some cases, the surname may also be seen as a double patronymic, with suffixes of -inger and -ing, such as Riedepeninger and Redepenninger. This is a type of surname that is formed from the name of an ancestor's parent.

In addition, some variants of the surname exist in other countries, such as Redepenninckx in Belgium, and Redepenninghausen in Germany.

In a few rare cases, the surname can be found with the spelling variant Redepenninghaus, which is most likely a misspelling of Redepenninghausen. This variation might erroneously refer to a small settlement with the same name.

Famous people with the name Redepenning

• John Redepenning: John Redepenning is an American football coach and former player. Redepenning played college football at the University of Oregon and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1973 NFL draft. He later became the defensive line coach at the University of California, Berkeley.
• Bill Redepenning: Bill Redepenning is a former professional football player. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets as a linebacker in 1978. He appeared in four NFL games.
• Michael Redepenning: Michael Redepenning is a former NFL linebacker. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft and played two seasons in the league.
• Mary Redepenning: Mary Redepenning is a former collegiate basketball player and assistant coach. She played college basketball at the University of North Carolina, and was an assistant coach for the men's team at St. Cloud State University.
• Jim Redepenning: Jim Redepenning is a former professional football player. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons in 1977. Redepenning was also a member of the United States Navy.

Other surnames

Redepennig