Surname Wann - Meaning and Origin
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Wann: What does the surname Wann mean?
The last name Wann is of English and Scottish origin derived from the surname Wane. It is thought to be a variant of the Scottish surname “wand” or “wein”, from an Old English word meaning “great one”. This suggests that the surname may have originated as a name for a person of importance and distinction.
The surname Wann is most commonly found in Scotland, though there are some examples of the name in places such as Ireland, England, and the United States. In the United States, it is most often found in the Southern states.
The variants of Wann include Wane, Wan, Waan, and Wann. Variants of the name may also include the suffixes “son” or “sen”, indicating the father's name.
Wann may also have derived from other non-Scottish origins. It is possible that the name could be of Dutch, German, or Jewish origin.
It is thought that Wann families have a history of being of humble beginnings. Many generations ago, the name may have been taken on by families that were destitute or of lower class. As generations have passed, the name has been able to rise out of this lower class status, and today it is quite an established surname.
Overall, the surname Wann appears to denote a history of strength and distinction, having been chosen by families of importance and having the potential to rise out of lower class status.
Order DNA origin analysisWann: Where does the name Wann come from?
The last name Wann can be found all over the world with 8,118 families bearing the surname. It is particularly prevalent in the United States, with 3,238 reported at the last census. In England there are around 1,922 Wanns, while Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Canada have much smaller populations of the surname.
There is a particularly high concentration of Wann families in the United States in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, and North Dakota. In contrast, only small numbers of Wanns can be found in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.
Although the Wann surname is most common in English-speaking countries, it is also found in many other countries. In Germany, for example, there is a large Wann population. It is present throughout France, Austria, and Australia in smaller numbers. In South and Central America, the surnames Hogan and Gonza can be found, who are descended from Wann families that left Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Wann families in the United States trace their heritage back to the British Isles and Germany. Some have also arrived relatively recently from China, Canada and Central America. Their unique family histories, common surname, and common areas of the world where they live underscore the importance of preserving family records to keep track of their legacy.
Variations of the surname Wann
The surname Wann has a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of the surname is "Wann", which is an English form of the German surname "Wahn". Other variants and spellings of this same surname are "Wahn", "Wahns", "Wanner", and "Wahner".
The surname may also have Americanized forms, including "Warner", "Werner", "Waner", and "Werner". This is likely due to the Ellis Island clerks assigning these more common American names when immigrants with surnames like Wann arrived.
In addition, the surname Wann might also appear as a patronymic derivative, such as "Wanner", "Wannes", "Wannessen", "Wandesen", "Wanninck", "Wencke", and "Weyker". These variants all come from the common Germanic name "Wand", which derives from a Proto-Germanic name meaning "to wave".
The surname Wann can also be found in other languages, such as the Spanish variant "Guan" or the Italian variant "Guaan". These were likely assimilations of the original surname as immigrants moved to different countries over the years.
Finally, rare variants of the surname are also found, including "Waan" and "Woeun". These are likely phonetic stutterings due to miss-pronunciations of the original name over time.
In all, the surname Wann has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These can be divided into English, German, Americanized, patronymic derivatives, and rare variants. With all of these variants, it is possible to trace the origin of the surname Wann back to its ancient roots.
Famous people with the name Wann
- Dondrae Wann: An American architect specializing in lighting and acoustics.
- Elizabeth Wann: An American author of contemporary fiction and non-fiction, and the creator of the musical comedy “Diva Nation.”
- Jen Wann: An American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for her roles in television shows such as 2 Broke Girls and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
- Josh Wann: An American entrepreneur and podcast host, featured on the podcast Scaling Up, which is all about scaling up businesses and accelerating company growth.
- Jason Wann: An American professional basketball player, who played for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
- Ronald Wann: An Australian reserve-grade rugby league footballer who played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
- Ella Wann: An American singer-songwriter and actress, signed to Arista and Def Jam Recordings.
- Robert Wann: An American photographer, known for his work in the New York area, specializing in fashion, lifestyle, advertisement, and editorial photography.
- Robert Wann: An American poet, essayist and fiction writer who has received numerous awards and grants, including two Pushcart Prizes, and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Jonathan Wann: An American political scientist and international relations scholar, and the author of several books on global security and public policy.