Surname Repenning - Meaning and Origin

Repenning: What does the surname Repenning mean?

The last name Repenning (also spelled Repenig, Repening, Repeninger, Repéninger, etc.) is of German origin and is believed to have originally been an occupational name given to a person who was a tailor or tailor-repairer. It is derived from the Old High German word "reponon," which translates to "repair." The name is geographically most common in parts of Germany, most notably in the area around the cities of Emden and Leer in Lower Saxony.

Repenning is believed to have originated in the Saxony region of northern Germany and then spread outwards. It is thought that the name would have been adopted by many people in the 17th and 18th centuries, as the area was the site of frequent war and displacement due to the Thirty Years’ War. This could explain why the name has been found in many locations outside of German-speaking areas, such as North America.

Having an ancestor with the last name Repenning could show that they have Germanic roots, and the name may even be a clue to the location of the ancestor’s place of origin. Researching the history of the Repenning name could also give clues to the ancestor’s occupation and status. For example, the Repenning name may be linked with those of nobility or with one of many influential families in the area, as the name was more common among the wealthier and better-educated people.

Repenning: Where does the name Repenning come from?

The last name Repenning is a family name originating in parts of Germany. It is believed to come from the name derived from a nickname for a person from the Rheinischen lowlands, which is situated between the Rhine and the Lippe Rivers in the present day North-Rhine Westphalia region. The name is most common in Germany today, particularly in areas near the former Rhenish principality of Hesse. The surname is far less common elsewhere, and is virtually unheard of in countries outside of Germany. In the United States, it is concentrated in a few Midwestern and New England states, such as Illinois, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. The larger Repenning communities in the U.S. are likely descended from German immigrants who arrived during the 19th century. Additionally, the Mexican state of Chihuahua has some of the largest concentration of families with the surname Repenning outside of Germany, primarily representing descendants of German colonists and miners who arrived there in the late 1800s.

Repenning is an unusual surname and is generally only found in areas with significant ties to German speaking countries. As such, persons with this last name often share in cultural ties which extend far beyond the traditional borders of the German-speaking world.

Variations of the surname Repenning

The surname Repenning has several variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Usually, one of the variants would have been the original form, because spelling variations typically occur when an official document was being recorded in the Middle Ages. The variant archival forms of the Repenning surname are: Reepenning, Repenningy, Riepenning, Reipenning, Ripenning, Repenninger, Reppenning, Reppelin, Reppeling, Ruffenning, Repene, Repaney, and Rupenning.

In addition to the variant spellings, there are also certain surnames that derived from the original Repenning surname in the centuries since. Most of these names are variants of the original surname, with slight phonetic or spelling changes. Examples of these surnames are: Reppen, Reppin, Rippen, Rippin, Reben, Rebin, Rippan, Ruppen, Rebenstorf, Reepen, Ruppon, Reeben, Riben, Repp, Rippon, Reepon, Reppnath, Reebenströb, Repner, Repo, Reppling, and Riebener.

In short, the surname Repenning has a wide array of spelling and surname variants. Of course, in a genealogical study, it is best to try to determine which variant is the original form, in order to trace one's ancestors more accurately.

Famous people with the name Repenning

• Dr. Álvaro Repenning, a Chilean biologist and geneticist.
• Jay Repenning, a software engineer and professor of computer science at Stanford University.
• Jürgen Repenning, a German sculptor.
• Kevin Repenning, author of the book “The Psychology of Trust” and a psychologist and professor of clinical psychology.
• Ryan Repenning, an actor and stand-up comedian.
• Jeff Repenning, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard’s software division.
• Thomas Repenning, a former CEO of BASF, a global chemical manufacturer.
• Felix Repenning, a pianist and professor of music at the University of Western Ontario.
• Carsten Repenning, a Hessian politician and president of the Hessian Parliament.
• Ronald Repenning, an actor, director and theater professor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Other surnames

Repennig