Surname Wahner - Meaning and Origin
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Wahner: What does the surname Wahner mean?
The last name Wahner is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Werner. The name is derived from the Old German word “Warnere”, meaning “protector”. The name is thought to have originated as a nickname given to someone who defended or guarded a castle or fortress. The first recorded spelling of the family name was found in 1214 in the records of the city of Rothenberg in Bavaria, Germany.
Since its inception, the surname Wahner has spread throughout Germany and Europe and is now found in various parts of the world, especially in the United States and Canada. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,800 people with this surname living in the United States.
The Wahner surname is often associated with strong work ethic, loyalty and faithfulness. Those bearing the name are known for their courage and ambition. It is thought to be related to the Latin race and generally associated with courage and strength of character.
The surname Wahner is an important part of identified with German identity and culture. It is a reminder of the history of a people and their enduring legacy. It is a symbol of their strength of character and resilience in the face of adversity.
Order DNA origin analysisWahner: Where does the name Wahner come from?
The last name Wahner is most common in Germany, where it is thought to have originated. One family with the name Wahner emigrated to the United States in the early 1800s. In the 2000 US Census, around 1,180 people had the last name Wahner. The states with the highest number of people with this surname are Nebraska (208), Texas (94), Minnesota (60), Wisconsin (59), and California (59).
The surname also appears in other countries, primarily in Europe. It has higher concentrations in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and the Netherlands. In the 2019 German census, 31,017 people had the last name Wahner. In Austria, the surname is much less common, with only 1,054 individuals recorded, and the same is true in Poland, where only 476 people with the name have been registered.
The low numbers of people with the surname Wahner suggest that it is a relatively rare name. In the United States, its presence has been declining slowly since the 1940s, with only a small percentage of the population bearing this surname in 2020. In many other countries, the surname is thought to have almost disappeared in the modern era.
Variations of the surname Wahner
The surname Wahner is derived from the German word ‘wahne’ which means ‘shout or call’ and is also referred to a family who moved from or lived near a meadow or pasture. It is also an archaic variation of the name 'Wahner'.
Variants of the surname Wahner include: Waener, Waner, Waenner, Wahnner, Wannener, Wanenner, Wahnen, and Wahonen.
Spellings of the surname Wahner include: Wahner, Wahnner, Waenner, and Wahnen.
Surnames of the same origin include: Warner, Warners, Warnner, Werners, Wernher, Wernner, Wernikers, Wernholz, Wernert, Wernicke, Wernicher, Wernisch.
The surname Wahner is found mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland but there are also families with the name found in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Wahner is primarily an occupational surname; many families with the name worked in various capacities in fields such as forestry, agriculture, or other nature-based vocations. The origin of the surname also suggests that the family was likely once considered a leader or head of the local community. This is further supported by the fact that the suffix -er is often associated with occupational titles that typically involve leadership roles.
Famous people with the name Wahner
- Bradley Wahner, a former professional baseball player who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Lawrence Wahner, an American film director, producer, and screenwriter.
- Urszula Wahner, a Polish professional figure skater and Olympic competitor.
- Carl Wahner, a German photographer and artist.
- Mario Wahner, an Austrian former ski racer.
- Richard Wahner, a German former ski jumper.
- Michaela Wahner, a German figure skater and Olympian.
- Robert Wahner, an American tennis player who competed in the US Open in 1949.
- Patrice Wahner, an American businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor.
- Nick Wahner, an American folk-pop singer-songwriter and composer.