Surname Sonnberger - Meaning and Origin

Sonnberger: What does the surname Sonnberger mean?

The last name Sonnberger is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'sonne', meaning sun, and the suffix 'berg' meaning mountain or hill. The surname can also be found as Sonneberger, or Sunberger.

Historically, the Sonnberger name was most likely given to someone who worked as a "Sonnenberger," meaning a gem cutter or jeweler who worked in making and selling jewelry using gems, precious stones and other materials. They were typically found in a small town, carving and polishing stones and other objects for their customers.

The Sonnberger family is believed to have emigrated to the United States in the 18th century, however many of the family members remained in Germany and present day Austria.

Today, the Sonnberger name continues to be carried by many people, both in the United States and abroad. The Sons and Daughters of Sonnbergers website, which is dedicated to researching and documenting the history of the Sonnberger families, is a great source for finding out more about the rich history behind the name.

In summary, the last name Sonnberger is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word 'sonne', meaning sun, and the suffix 'berg' meaning mountain or hill, and was likely given to someone who worked as a gem cutter or jeweler. The Sonnberger name continues to be carried by many people today and there is a dedicated website for researching its history.

Sonnberger: Where does the name Sonnberger come from?

The surname Sonnberger is most commonly found in Austria today, where it is one of the top 20 most common surnames in the country. This is likely because the Austrian language variant of the name, 'Sonnböck', is quite similar to the German version. The name ‘Sonnberger’ is essentially the anglicization of the German term ‘Sonnböck’, which literally translates to ‘sun-rock’.

The Sonnberger name can also be found in Germany, where it is one of the top 400 last names in the country. It is not as common in Germany as it is in Austria, which may be due to differences in spelling and language and/or the fact that a number of German immigrants settled in Austria over the centuries.

The United States also has its fair share of Sonnbergers, especially in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, that had a large influx of German immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Sonnberger name is one of the top 5,000 surnames in the US, though it is not as common as it is in Austria and Germany.

Overall, the surname Sonnberger is most noticeable in countries with a history of German immigration. Even in the US, this surname can generally be found in states that were once settled by German immigrants.

Variations of the surname Sonnberger

Sonnberger is a surname of German and Austrian origin. It is also spelled Sonnenburg, Sonnenburgher, and Sonnenberger. It may also have the prefix “von” or “van” in front of it.

The name has a variety of minor variants and alternative spellings. Sonnenberger is a variant without the second “n”, and Sonanberger is another variant with the addition of an “a”. Sonnbarg, Sonnbargen, and Sunnaberg are more slightly different variations of the name.

In some cases, the surname has been anglicized or Americanized, so you may find the surname spelled closer to the English words “son” and “bridge”. In these cases, one might see Sonnberger spelled “Sonbridge” or “Sunbridge”.

The surname Sonnberger may also be found with variant spelling in other languages. For example, Sonnberger may be found spelled as Sonnberge in Dutch, Sonnberg in Danish, Sonnenberg in Swedish, Sonnbirger in Czech, Suhnberger in Hungarian, and Sonneberger in Spanish.

Because of the large number of variants, it is important to consider all possible spellings when researching the surname. In a genealogical context, any name with similar-sounding pronunciation or spelling is likely to have a common origin or be part of the same family history.

Famous people with the name Sonnberger

• Kristina Sonnberger: a gymnast who competed for Germany in the 2016 Summer Olympics, earning a bronze medal in the team all around.
• Vince Sonnberger: an American model who has appeared in campaigns from brands such as Ann Taylor, Express, and Levi's.
• Vanessa Sonnberger: an Austrian actress known for her roles in the films Adrenaline, Don Kerry and Der Staat Gegen Freisler.
• Robert Sonnberger: a visual artist from Knoxville, Tennessee, whose work has been featured in shows across the US.
• Dr. Marcus Sonnberger: a dermatologist and clinical professor at Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York.
• Michael Sonnberger: a German-born professor of law at the University of Erfurt and a celebrated expert on constitutional and public law.
• ‘Red’ Bobby Sonnberger: an American country and blues singer-songwriter, best-known for his songs ‘Hit the Road Awful Joe’ and ‘Behind Closed Doors’.
• Paul Sonnberger: an American football linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1960s.
• Kurt Sonnberger: a former Austrian footballer who represented Austria internationally and won four championships with his club, Rapid Wien.
• Takahiro Sonnberger: an international speed climber from Japan who set world records in 2020 and 2021 for the fastest time climbing “The Nose” route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

Other surnames

Sonnberg