Surname Wallner - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Historical Threads: An Illuminating Journey into my Wallner Ancestry with iGENEA
Undergoing a DNA analysis with iGENEA turned out to be a deeply enriching experience, tracing the fascinating historical journey of the Wallner lineage. The journey deep into my genetic origins brought novel insights about my heritage, shedding light on the Central European roots of the Wallner name and its historical significance.
N. Wallner
read moreWallner: What does the surname Wallner mean?
Wallner is a surname of Germanic origin and is found in many countries including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and beyond. As such, its exact meaning and origin are somewhat unclear. It is thought to have derived from the word Wal, which is related to 'forest', either meaning 'someone from a forest' or 'protector of the forest'. This could indicate that the Wallner family had hunting or forestry connections.
In Germany, it is associated with certain regions such as Bavaria, Thuringia, and Schwabia, where it was likely used to distinguish families in a certain area. During the Middle Ages, when most German townships were restricted to one or two surnames, the Wallner name may have been used to distinguish families from their neighbors.
Another likely explanation is that Wallner may have also come from the name of a local lord who had power over an area of land. Over time, the lord's tenants or serfs may have adopted a variation of the lord's name as their family name, resulting in the Wallner family name. There is also speculation that the surname could be a variation of 'Valner', a name related to the Middle High German word 'valen' meaning 'violent', possibly indicating a person of particular strength and disposition.
In any case, the Wallner surname is a beloved part of German heritage, with a rich and varied history that helps uphold an important part of the cultural identity.
Order DNA origin analysisWallner: Where does the name Wallner come from?
The last name Wallner is commonly found across German-speaking areas of Europe. In Germany, Wallner is the 31,588th most common surname, with more than 1,800 people bearing the name, according to the 2020 German census figures. In neighboring Austria, Wallner is a more popular name, ranking 4,450th out of approximately 7 million residents. More than 8,500 people across Austria have the Wallner surname. In Switzerland, the Wallner name appears to be less common. According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, there were fewer than 3,000 Wallners living in Switzerland in 2020.
The Wallner name is also common in the United States and Canada, particularly among those of Germanic descent. In the United States, the Wallner surname is ranked 10,661st out of 887,148 surnames; over 4,000 people in the United States bear the Wallner name. In Canada, Wallner appears to be even more popular. According to the 2016 Canadian census, the Wallner surname ranked 1,133rd out of 900,000-plus Canadian surnames; nearly 10,000 people in Canada had the Wallner last name.
The Wallner name is certainly a recognizable one across much of the German-speaking world, especially in places with substantial German-speaking populations, such as Austria, Germany, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Wallner
Wallner is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the old German personal name 'Walther'. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Wallner surname are: Wallenor, Wallenar, Wallenir, Walleniar, Walnar, Walnarz, Walnarski, Walner, Walneer, Walnore, Walinor, Weallner, Wahlner, Walner, Wahlner, Wainar, Wainor, Wainrer, Wainir, Wainiar, Walnair, Wallinair, Wallineer, Wallinor, Wallinur, Wallinir, Wallinirz, Wallnir, Waellner and Wallnarz.
The Wallner surname is also seen as Walner, Wallnar, Wallinor, Walnair and Wallner. This surname is encountered both as a first name and a surname in German-speaking countries. In some cases, depending on the country and the time period, the surname 'Wallner' may also be used as an occupation-based surname, referring to a 'Wallyn', which is a type of wheelwright.
Throughout history, the Wallner surname has been used by people of various geographical locations and cultures. It is believed that the Wallners were among the first settlers to move from Germany to countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. In the US and Canada, the Wallner surname is also quite common. Many Wallner families have migrated to the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
Today, the Wallner surname is still widely used in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. In some countries, like Germany and Austria, the 'Wallyn' profession is still practiced.
Famous people with the name Wallner
- Chris Wallner: An anime voice actor and singer. He is known for his roles in anime such as World of Warcraft, Legend of Zelda, and Kingdom Hearts.
- Max Wallner: An Austrian scientist and military officer. He was a leader in the field of air defense during World War II.
- Wolfgang Wallner: An Austrian classical conductor, composer, and pianist. He is well known for his interpretations of Mozart and Schubert.
- Thomas Wallner: An Austrian film director and writer. He won the Best Director award at the German Film Awards.
- Stefan Wallner: A professional snowboarder from Austria. He has won many awards including the 2014 European Snowboarding Championships.
- David Wallner: A contemporary artist from Austria. He is known for his complex mixed media sculptures.
- Timo Wallner: A former German football player. He was part of the Bayern Munich team that won the 2001 Bundesliga.
- Fritz Wallner: An Austrian Alpine skier and World Cup champion in slalom. He competed in the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics.
- Marcell Wallner: A bassoonist from Austria. He was principal bassoonist of the Vienna Philharmonic from 1998 to 2018.
- Elisabeth Wallner: An Austrian writer and historian. She is the author of several novels and biographies of famous Austrians.