Surname Redepfenning - Meaning and Origin
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Redepfenning: What does the surname Redepfenning mean?
The German surname Redepfenning, is thought to be descended from the word 'Reddepfenning', which is an ancient field-name in Germany. The meaning of the word could have a number of interpretations, but the most likely one is that it was a type of local tax or tribute. The prefix ‘Rade’ may be from Old High German ‘rath’ meaning ‘council’ and the suffix ‘penning’ is believed to have derived from the Old High German ‘pfennig’, meaning ‘penny’.
Originally, a ‘Redepfenning’ was a toll paid by local inhabitants to the ruler of a territory. However, over time this term became associated with a rent paid to a landlord from farms and fields in a particular area. This rent may have been payable in either cash or goods, such as grain, but was collected in order to finance the cost of the local landlord’s administration.
Eventually, the term ‘Redepfenning’ was applied to families living in areas paying a rent like this. The people living on the Redepfenning lands eventually adopted the name ‘Redepfenning’, as surnames started to emerge in the Middle Ages.
The surname Redepfenning is still found throughout Germany, alongside people with similar surnames such as Reduperfenning, Reduppenfening and Redenperfenning. It is likely that many of these surnames share a similar root, and are descended from those paying rents to their local landlords centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisRedepfenning: Where does the name Redepfenning come from?
The last name Redepfenning is most commonly found in Germany, especially in the western region. It is generally believed to be linked to Old Germanic roots, and likely originated in that region.
In Germany, the prevalence of the Redepfenning surname is concentrated within the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. These areas are home to many of the larger cities in Germanic Europe, such as Hamburg, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt.
The name Redepfenning is also scattered across the United States. Areas with particularly high concentrations of people with the surname include Minnesota, New Jersey, and North Dakota. Smaller pockets can be found throughout Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
The name Redepfenning is also found in countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Canada in particular is home to many descendants of German settlers from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the name remains quite common throughout Germany and the United States; however, its prevalence outside of these two countries is relatively small.
Variations of the surname Redepfenning
The surname Redepfenning is an uncommon last name of Germanic or Dutch descent, and its variants, spellings, and other surnames of similar origin include Redepenning, Rederpenning, Redepenninge, Reddepenning, Silberger, and Sylbereger.
Redepfenning is a topographic surname which originated from any place called Redep or Reddop, most likely in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany. This surname likely started as a hereditary surname denoting the place where the bearer of the name dwelt. The Old German word “Red” or “Reder” means “cleared land” or “clearing” and “penning” or “bennig” means “field”. So the Redepfenning surname literally means “a field cleared of bush or scrubland”.
The Rederpenning variant can be broken down similarly, with “Reder” once again meaning “cleared land” and “penning” meaning “field” and the name interpreted as “a field cleared of bush or scrubland”.
The Redepenninge variant has Germanic or Dutch origins and is a house name, most likely derived from an actual dwelling. The Reddepenning variant is similar in that it is a house name derived from an actual dwelling, most likely in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany.
The Sylbereger surname has Dutch origins and is a fenning name, which originates from any place called Silberg, most likely in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany. The term “fenning” implies a clearing or open meadow.
Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin for Redepfenning share the same literal meaning of “a field cleared of bush or scrubland” and all have Germanic or Dutch origins, most likely deriving from specific places in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Famous people with the name Redepfenning
- Lynn Redepfenning: a talented American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Michigan USA in 1989.
- Kathryn Redepfenning: a renowned lawyer specializing in labor and employment law.
- Rudy Redepfenning: the youngest Wendy's All-American Track and Field athlete at age 16.
- Andrew Redepfenning: a philanthropist who founded The Redepfenning Foundation and the Kids Camps College fund.
- Jake Redepfenning: an All-Star Ice Hockey player and member of the U.S. National team.
- Conner Redepfenning: a professional golfer who has won many tournaments across the U.S.
- Tricia Redepfenning: an award-winning pastry chef and author of two best-selling cookbooks.
- Amy Redepfenning: a well known artist and sculptor whose work has been commissioned for permanent display in several major galleries.
- Brad Redepfenning: the only player among the top ten ranked public high schools in the US to make the National All-Star Lacrosse Team.
- Michael Redepfenning: an Olympic contender in the sport of water skiing.