Surname Sonnleithner - Meaning and Origin
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Sonnleithner: What does the surname Sonnleithner mean?
The last name Sonnleithner is a German surname derived from a place name. It likely originates from the German word "Sonne," meaning "sun," and "leithner," the surname of an old, noble family from Thuringia.
The name likely originated from a small settlement already in existence in the Middle Ages. Its original spelling likely would've been "Sunleithen" before it eventually evolved into "Sonnleithner."
It may also refer to someone who lived in a certain location, such as near the sunrays of a particular area. This is supported by the use of Geographical Place Names across Germany.
Historically, the surname Sonnleithner was not a common one but over time it spread to other parts of Germany. It was even observed in Austria and more confined locations such as Magdeburg and Neumarkt in Germany.
Today, the surname Sonnleithner is seen as both a regional and a national surname, mostly in the states of Bavaria, Saxony and Hesse.
The name Sonnleithner can be traced as far back as to the 1500s, and is popular among descendants in Germany, Austria, and America.
Order DNA origin analysisSonnleithner: Where does the name Sonnleithner come from?
The Sonnleithner surname is of Austrian origin and is most commonly found today in Austria, Germany and surrounding countries. Records show that the first known bearer of the surname was Sebastian Sonnleithner of Graz, Austria in 1697.
The Sonnleithner surname spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, due in part to its bearer’s popularity at the Viennese Imperial Court as an important musician and composer.
Today, the Sonnleithner surname is not particularly common in Austria or Germany, as it is not well-known in those countries. It is more popular in other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, where many Sonnleithner families have emigrated.
The Sonnleithner surname is also common in neighboring countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic. Most areas of Austria, Germany, and other parts of Europe are also connected to the internet, making the Sonnleithner surname much more accessible and providing a forum in which those with the surname can gather and exchange information about their heritage and family.
People in Austria and Germany who are searching for the Sonnleithner surname may be able to find some traces of it in archives, as some records involving the surname may still exist there. Additionally, individuals in countries around the world where the Sonnleithner surname is more common are likely to possess more information about its origin and history than those in Austria and Germany.
Variations of the surname Sonnleithner
The Sonnleithner surname is of German origin derived from the Old German "Sonne" meaning "sun" and "Lithener" which translates to "light". Variations of Sonnleithner can include Sonleithner, Sonnleitner, Sohnleithner, and Sohnleitner.
The vast majority of early records of Sonnliethners in Germany are found in Bavaria, with a few records in the surrounding states. In the 1500s and 1600s, records of Sonnleithners living in Munich are found. This surname was given to those families that lived near the sunny side of a mountain or valley, likely around the foothills of Bavaria.
Sonnleithner is also found in other parts of the world by emigrants, such as Austria, Switzerland, and parts of France, Holland, and England. In Austria, Sonnleithner takes the spelling "Lonleithner" or "Lonnleithner". In Switzerland, it is spelled as "Sohnleithner" (formally spelled with a "h" and sometimes written as "Sohnleitner" (without the "h"). There are also some record of Sonnleithner in Italy but this appears to be more sporadic than the other countries.
In France, this surname is spelled "Soleitner" or "Solettner". In the Netherlands, it can take the forms of "Sonleiter" or "Sonletter". In England, the spelling often changes to "Soanleithner" or "Soanlighter".
The Sonnleithner surname is very rare, and the variations and spellings are even more unique. It can be hard to trace the origin and history of this surname, but if one can locate enough records with different variants worldwide, it is possible to piece together its roots.
Famous people with the name Sonnleithner
- Lawrence Sonnleithner: American lawyer who practices in the appellate and constitutional law fields. He was a Partner at Jenner & Block and has served as Chief of Staff and Counsel of the US Senate Judiciary Committee.
- Friederike Maria Sonnleithner: German stage designer and theatre director in Vienna, Austria, whose productions include works by Goethe, Ibsen, and Maeterlinck.
- John Baptist Sonnleithner: Austrian composer who was active between the years of 1776 and 1804. He is best known for being appointed court composer in Bonn, Germany in 1802.
- Count Ignaz Sonnleithner: Austrian nobleman, musician and journalist who was a key figure in the Viennese court of Maximilian II, flute teacher to Maria Theresa and a correspondent of Mozart.
- Peter Carl Sonnleithner: Austrian music publisher and composer who published Mozart’s operas Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute and Così fan tutte.
- Christoph von Sonnleithner: Austrian lawyer and diplomat who was Understate Secretary for Foreign affairs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy.
- Ludwig Sonnleithner: Austrian composer, harpist and pianist who was active during the early 19th century. He was part of the group of musicians performing “The Magic Flute” in 1791.
- Hermine Sonnleithner: Austrian singer and opera prima donna. She was active in both Vienna and Berlin between the years of 1829 and 1866.
- Albert Sonnleithner: German-Croatian lawyer and magistrate who worked in Zagreb, Croatia throughout the late 19th century.
- Count Franz Egon von Sonnleithner: Austrian nobleman and horse breeder who was preeminent in equestrian circles in Vienna. He owned the Lipica Stud in Austria, where he bred Lipizzaner, still found today in many parts of the world.