Surname Wahnschap - Meaning and Origin
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Wahnschap: What does the surname Wahnschap mean?
The last name Wahnschap is a German surname of low frequency. It comes from the Middle High German words "wennen" and "schap", which mean custom and shape respectively. In other words, it means “established shape or form”, indicating that the family may have had specific customs that were passed through generations.
Wahnschap is likely from an old German noble family of the 10th or 11th century who quite possibly had a well-respected ancestry and a respected place in society. The surname dates back to at least 1200 and was likely taken on by families descended from the nobility who wanted to keep their history and lineage alive. These families were in possession of higher echelons of power and status, which would have been reflected in their name.
It is possible that the name was adopted by people related to a specific profession or business as a way to indicate that they were linked to that activity or product. For example, if someone was involved in the wool trade, they could use the name Wahnschap to indicate their specialization in that field.
The name Wahnschap is not very common and is rarely found outside of Germany. As it is still an uncommon surname, it is likely that families with that name have some connection to their ancestors who had that name centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisWahnschap: Where does the name Wahnschap come from?
The last name Wahnschap is of German origin. It is primarily found in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, where it is still quite common today. It can also be found in other parts of Germany, such as Bavaria,, Baden-Württemburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland.
Outside of North Rhine-Westphalia, Wahnschap is not as common, but can be found in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It is also present in the Netherlands, where it may have originated from.
In the United States, most citizens of German descent can trace their lineage to at least one of the German states. As such, it is not uncommon to find people with the surname Wahnschap in the country, particularly in those with German ancestry.
In Canada, Census records show that roughly 1,000 individuals with the last name Wahnschap have been recorded since the mid-19th century. Most of these individuals can be found in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, as well as in British Columbia.
In the United Kingdom, the surname Wahnschap is more rare. However, records show that there are still people with the name living in the country, although they make up very small percentages of the population.
In short, the last name Wahnschap is most common in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, although it can be found in other places, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Wahnschap
The surname Wahnschap has various different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variations of the surname include Wanschap, Wonschap, Wanschoff, Wanschaff, Wanschiff, Wonschaff, Wanschauer, Wonschauer, Vanschaff and Van Schaff.
The surname Wanschap is mainly found in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium. It is believed to be derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘wanscap’, which means ‘meandering and curved’; as such, it could have originally referred to a person’s physical features.
The spelling variations of this surname are likely due to the fact that languages in different countries and regions often differ in terms of pronunciation and even spelling. In addition, the surname may have been slightly altered over time as different people travelled, intermarried and assimilated into different cultures.
In addition to the above variants and spellings, the surname Wahnschap can also be found in the form of Wanschoff, Wonscheff, Vanscheff and Wanschef. Similarly, this surname may also be found as Wanschaff, Vanschoff, Wunschaff, Vanschaff, Wanschoff, Wanschoff-Wanzoeff, Wanschauff, Wanschaufer, Wanschauser and Wonschauf.
It is unclear how many people still hold this surname today, however, it is likely that this number will become smaller as time goes on. This may be due to the lack of recognition and interest given to those holding this distinctive surname.
Famous people with the name Wahnschap
- Paul Wahnschaffe, German author, best known for his novel “Das Echo der Berge”
- Matthias Wahnschaffe, German painter and sculptor
- Friedrich Wahnschaffe, Austrian composer
- Johannes Wahnschaffe, German politician and opponent of Adolf Hitler
- Tony Wahnschaffe, American actor
- Gudrun Wahnschaffe, German astronomer
- Wolfgang Wahnschaffe, German jurist and professor
- Clara Wahnschaffe, German opera singer
- Johannes Wahnschaffe, German Catholic theologian, author, and professor
- Bernhard Wahnschaffe, German ornithologist, zoologist, and academic