Surname Unterweger - Meaning and Origin
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Unterweger: What does the surname Unterweger mean?
The last name Unterweger is an Austrian surname derived from the German words “unter” and “weger” which mean “below” and “way” respectively. It is believed that the original bearer of this surname was someone who lived in a valley or lived near a body of water that needed to be crossed. The name may also have been bestowed on an individual who lived near a bridge, as "weger" can also refer to a bridge.
It is thought that the Unterweger surname may have first become established in Austria in the 13th century and spread throughout the following centuries.
As an Austrian surname, Unterweger is popular in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, but is also found throughout Europe and other parts of the world. It is also a popular Italian surname, due to the fact that the Unterweger surname spread across Europe during the Renaissance period.
The Unterweger surname may have been associated with a variety of occupations. These may have included those that worked around water, such as fishermen, porters, or boatmen, or those that lived around bridges, such as bridge builders, carpenters, or locksmiths.
The Unterweger surname is commonly associated with prominent personalities, such as Austrian serial killer Jack Unterweger, who was the subject of a best-selling biography. It is also found within the music industry amongst prominent Austrian composers, such as Joseph Unterweger, who composed a number of classical works and operas.
Order DNA origin analysisUnterweger: Where does the name Unterweger come from?
The last name Unterweger is an Austrian German surname, originating in the southeastern region of Austria where it is still common today. Unterweger can be found in various areas of Austria, especially in Styria and Carinthia. The city of Graz in Styria has the highest concentration of the Unterweger name in Austria. It is also a popular last name in some parts of the German-speaking region of South Tyrol (in the Italian Alps), as well as in Germany (especially in Bavaria), Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Croatia.
In the United States, the Unterweger surname is not as common, but can be found in certain states such as California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. The Unterweger name can also be found in other countries outside of Europe, including Canada, Australia, and Argentina.
The Unterweger name has its roots in the Germanic word "weger," which means "guardian" or "protector"—likely referring to someone who held a responsible position in the community. Today, the Unterwegers may be found in various professions. While many carry on the family tradition as farmers or craftsmen, others may have chosen to specialize in modern professions such as law, medicine, or engineering. The widespread availability of education has enabled many Unterwegers to rise in their professions and contribute to the advancement of society.
Variations of the surname Unterweger
The surname Unterweger is an Austrian-German surname of Germanic origin and can be found predominantly, though not exclusively, in Austria. It is commonly spelled as Unterwaeger, Unterweger, Unterwegger and Unterwäger. It can also be found in other countries such as the United States, France and Poland, with the occasional spelling of Unterwaeg, Unterweg, Unterwaegar, Unterwager, Unterwagerman, Unterwegr and Uterweger.
Variants of Unterweger can also be found in other languages, such as Italian (Unterwagner) and Spanish (Unterwager).
Unterweger is derived from the Old High German word 'waga', meaning 'wagon'. This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have been wagon makers or wagon drivers.
The Unterweger surname can also be linked to other surnames of similar origin, such as Unterweis, Unterweiss, Unterweiz, Unterweser, Unterwez, Unterwieser and Unterweiser.
In addition, there are variants of Unterweger that were adopted by Jewish families in various parts of Europe, such as Unterwagen and Unterwagenheim in Germany, and Unterwaiser in Austria.
Overall, the Unterweger surname is largely confined to Austria, however, there are other variants of the name in other countries, such as the United States, France and Poland, and it is possible to trace variants of the name in other languages, such as Italian, Spanish and German. As well as this, Unterweger can be linked to other surnames of similar origin, and some variants were adopted by Jewish families.
Famous people with the name Unterweger
- Jack Unterweger: Austrian writer, journalist, serial killer
- Jack Unterweger Jr.: Austrian actor, son of Jack Unterweger
- Maria Unterweger: Austrian actress and mother of Jack Unterweger Jr.
- Roland Unterweger: Austrian male model, brother to Jack Unterweger
- Theodora Unterweger: Austrian filmmaker, sister to Jack Unterweger
- Philip Unterweger: Austrian sculptor, brother to Jack Unterweger
- Chris Unterweger: Austrian chemist, brother to Jack Unterweger
- Mario Unterweger: Austrian diesel engine mechanic, father to Jack Unterweger
- Amelie Unterweger: Austrian female fashion designer, sister to Jack Unterweger
- Dr. Ivana Unterweger: Austrian psychiatrist, daughter of Jack Unterweger