Surname Waehner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Waehner: What does the surname Waehner mean?
The last name Waehner (or Wähner) is a German surname which is derived from the personal name Wagner, which means "wagoner". The original meaning of the surname was someone who drove a wagon for a living, such as a delivery driver.
Over time, the surname became more common and spread across Europe. In fact, there is evidence that the surname first appeared in the 16th century. In some cases, it was adopted by non-German-speaking peoples who adopted the same spelling as the German-speaking original family members.
Today, the family name Waehner is common in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other parts of central Europe. In more recent times, the family name has spread to other parts of the world, in particular North America.
The meaning of the name Waehner remains the same today: a person who drives a wagon. This can refer to a variety of occupations, such as a truck driver, a delivery driver, or a post office worker. It is also possible that people with this surname may simply use it to identify themselves, without any direct ties to a wagoner profession.
Order DNA origin analysisWaehner: Where does the name Waehner come from?
The last name Waehner is most commonly seen in Germany today, where it is one of the top-tier surnames and among the top 3,000 most frequently found names. It is also found in other parts of Europe, particularly in Austria, Switzerland, and several Scandinavian countries due to its German origin. In Australia, the name is more unusual and is less frequently seen.
In the US, there are roughly 1,000 individuals with the surname Waehner and it is one of the top-tier surnames in the country. It is found in most states from California to New York, with greater prevalence in certain states such as Texas, Georgia, and Florida.
In Canada, the name is less commonly found with only around 45 individuals having the last name. It is mainly found in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
As the name appears to have its origin in the German-speaking world, it is likely of German-Jewish origin as many Jews in Germany adopted surnames in the latter part of the 1800s. The name is sometimes spelled as Wehner, Wehneer, or Wener, with the various spellings reflecting immigration to different countries and regions before surnames became standardized.
Overall, the last name Waehner is most common throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, with a small but noticeable presence in the US and Canada.
Variations of the surname Waehner
The surname Waehner is believed to be an evolution of the Germanic name Wagner, which has been present in Europe since at least the Middle Ages. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for this surname include Wehner, Wahner, Waehnert, Waener, Wähner, Wahner, Wächner, Wähner, Wecher, Wegner, Wichner, Wehner, Weigert, Weiner, Wienert, Wyhner, Wyhner, and Wygner.
The surname Wagner may have originated in Germany, but it is now the most common surname in Austria and Switzerland. In German-speaking countries, it is also common in parts of Southern France, the Low Countries, and Eastern and Central Europe. The spelling variations of the nameWaehner are a testament to the fact that the language has altered over time. From the Middle Ages to present day, the name has been spelled in various ways, including an umlaut above the o, multiple variations of the letter “e”, and double letters.
Englished-speakers who come across this surname in records may find Goodenough, Goodman, Goodman, Hageman, Hogman, Hoffman, and Hufman to be familiar variations. In most cases, these names are essentially the same as they have an etymological ancestor: the name Wagner.
All of these variants and surnames are from the same origin, and they all reveal the family’s ancestral origin as German-speaking. All of them refer to an occupation—in this case, a person was regarded as a skilled builder or architect—or they are derived from either the given names Wagga and Wace. In Ancient German, “Wagga” meant someone who was brave and daring, while “Wace” was a shortened form of the name Walter.
Famous people with the name Waehner
- Max Waehner: German musicologist, music theorist, and music editor.
- Greg Waehner: American judge in the Texas trial courts.
- Paul Waehner: American attorney, lobbyist, and public servant.
- Carrie Waehner: American television and film actress.
- Edward Waehner: American football coach and scout.
- Lee Waehner: American Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Stephen Waehner: American former Navy SEAL commander.
- Philip Waehner: German pharmacist and medicinal chemist.
- Martin Waehner: German retired journalist and publicist.
- Josh Waehner: American entrepreneur and investor.
- Steve Waehner: American Indians Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Todd Waehner: American former baseball pitcher and coach.
- Joe Waehner: American former professional wrestler and Japanese-style martial artist.
- Auden Waehner: American actress and writer.
- Samuel Eric Waehner: American immunologist and oncologist.