Surname Unterlinner - Meaning and Origin
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Unterlinner: What does the surname Unterlinner mean?
The last name Unterlinner is of German origin, likely deriving from the Middle German words "unter" and "linne," meaning "under the line" or "below the line." In some cases, this name was used to describe a line of individuals who lived south of a border or body of water, although the exact historical context of this origin is unclear.
In some circumstances, the name may have referred to a particular job or craft, as the word "unterlinnen" (meaning "to stitch," "embroider," or "sew") appeared in some German medieval spellings of the name. It's possible that this trade-related origin was used to denote a family of tailors, weavers, embroiderers, or related professionals.
Today, the Unterlinner surname is associated with the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, where the first documented use of the name was recorded in 1319. It is still quite common there, as well as in Germany's neighboring states.
The name Unterlinner has come to represent industriousness, hard work, and conscientiousness over the centuries. Those bearing the name today can be proud of their German heritage and the legacy that they carry.
Order DNA origin analysisUnterlinner: Where does the name Unterlinner come from?
The last name Unterlinner is arguably most commonly found in Austria today. Being a Germanic surname, the Unterlnner family can largely be credited with its origins from Germany. Records show evidence of a Unterlinner family living in the 15th century in the present-day state of Bavaria.
As a result, German-speaking countries such as Germany and Austria remain the most predominant countries to find Unterlinners living in. As Unterlinners emigrated, they spread out across Europe and North America.
Despite this, Austria remains a source of many Unterlinner families. From the parish registers which are well-preserved records in Austria, we can see the consistent presence of the Unterlinner surname in Austria.
Apart from Austria, a small number of Unterlinners can be found in countries such as Slovakia, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Poland. Meanwhile, a very small number are to be found in North America.
Due to Austria's close ties to Germany, a number of Unterlinner's moved east when borders shifted after the First World War. As a consequence, Unterlinner's are also concentrated in parts of the former East Germany, especially in Saxony-Anhalt and surrounding parts of the country.
Since the Unterlinners are a Germanic family, most Unterlinners around the world can be connected through DNA testing and family groups. These databases help trace the family tree and allow Unterlinner's across the world to discover their distant relatives.
Variations of the surname Unterlinner
The surname Unterlinner is an occupational surname of German origin which was derived from the Medieval Low German 'Unterlīner', denoting a person employed in some type of 'laying out' work. The surname can have several variants and spellings, which are all from the same etymological origin.
Variant forms of the surname are Unterliner, Underlinner, Underlinger, Underlender, and Unterleiniger. The most common alternate spelling are Unterlinne and Unterlinde.
A few variations of the surname can also be found due to local dialects, such as Ontarliner, Ondarliner, Oundarliner, and Ownderlinder.
Surnames that are closely related to Unterlinner can be found in many countries including Germany, Copenhagen, Latvia, and the Czech Republic. For example, the Unterlinner surname can often be found as Unterlander in Germany, and Unterlienne in Denmark. Variations of the Unterlender surname, such as Unterlindener, Unterlindow and Unterlindwe be found in some areas surrounding the Czech Republic and Poland.
The Unterlinner name has also been altered over time due to immigration. A few derivative surnames stemming from Unterlinner include, Unterlinden in Canada, Unterlin in Mexico, and Unterling in the United States.
Therefore, the Unterlinner surname has a wide range of spellings and variants, all of which are likely from the same origin. The variations are likely the result of local dialects, immigration, and other factors.
Famous people with the name Unterlinner
- Leo Unterlinner: German football manager and former footballer.
- Josephine Unterlinner: Austrian ice dancer.
- Claudia Unterlinner: Austrian couple skating competitor.
- Otto Unterlinner: Austrian figure skater and coach.
- Maria Unterlinner: Austrian alpine skier.
- Karl Unterlinner: Austrian Olympian alpine skier.
- Nicolas Unterlinner: Austrian soccer player.
- Ferdl Unterlinner: Austrian football player.
- Hans Unterlinner: German politician in Upper Bavaria.
- Philipp Unterlinner: Austrian classical violinist and composer.