Surname Wanninger - Meaning and Origin

Wanninger: What does the surname Wanninger mean?

The last name Wanninger is of German origin, specifically from the Bavarian region. The name is derived from the word wannen which means “to warm” or “to heat”. It is a descriptive surname likely given to someone who was involved in the heating or warming of something like in a forge.

The Wanninger surname first appears in the records of 12th century Bavaria where it was used to describe someone who held the occupation of using the heat of the forge fire to work metal. Over time, as smithing techniques became more specialized, the “Wanninger” was the individual who was responsible for keeping the necessary fires lit. This is evidenced by the appearance of the name in records as late as the 16th century.

Recent research indicates that this surname was likely known further back in history and spread gradually throughout other regions. It is, however, generally accepted that it is of German origin - with the first occurrence of it being in Bavaria.

The Wanninger surname has also branched out and adopted through marriage into other families with different cultures and dialects, making its roots slightly more ambiguously traceable. It should also be noted that in some cases the signature of the surname requires pronunciation changes due to the language of origin, so in some places the surname may be Wanninger, whereas in others it may be Waninger.

Wanninger: Where does the name Wanninger come from?

The last name Wanninger is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, as well as Austria's border regions in Hungary and Slovenia. Historically, the Wanninger name is derived from Bavarian roots, specifically within Bavaria's Franconian region in central Germany. Today, people with the surname Wanninger are spread throughout Europe, as many of the early German settlers immigrated to other countries during World War II in search of better economic and social opportunities. Most notably, large numbers of people with the surname Wanninger can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa which were all popular destinations for German immigrants during this time.

Within the United States, the surname Wanninger is most prevalent in the Midwest as well as states in the southern regions such as Eastern Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. This can be attributed to the migration of many German immigrants to these areas for jobs in farming and other areas of the agricultural industry. There is also evidence to suggest that a few German immigrants with the Wanninger surname arrived during the California Gold Rush in 1848.

Overall, the surname Wanninger is most common in Germany, Austria, and its bordering regions in Europe. Additionally, it is found in areas across the United States that are known for German-American communities, such as the Midwest and the American South.

Variations of the surname Wanninger

The surname Wanninger has various spellings and variants associated with it, each with its own slight differences in spelling. The spellings range from Vanninger to van Nigger, van Ninger, Wanneger, Wanneger, Wanniger, Vanninger, van Nielger, van Ingeler, van Ingler, Wannenberger, Wanneburger, and Waninger.

The most common spelling of the surname is ‘Wanninger'. This spelling is, however, used in many different places all over the world. In some instances, individual families of the same origin may have a slightly different spelling. For example, one family may choose to spell the surname 'van Nielger' whilst another family may choose to spell it 'van Ninger'.

In some languages such as German and Dutch the spelling varies slightly. For instance, in German it is written as ‘Wanniger’, whilst in Dutch it is written as ‘Vanninger’.

Other possible spelling variations of Wanninger are Wanegger, Vanniger, Vaniger, Waniiger, Wannocker, Waenager, Vanigeger, Weeingger, Weenager and Weninger.

It is worth noting that the spelling of the surname is often chosen depending on the country of origin, as some countries might use a slightly different spelling to others. It is also important to note that Wanninger can also be a first name, so one should always check to ensure the spelling is for a surname rather than a first name.

Famous people with the name Wanninger

• Franz Wanninger: Austrian Alpine skier
• Lou Wanninger: Minnesota state legislator
• Reinhard Wanninger: German historian
• Richard Wanninger: New York state assemblyman
• Sigrid Wanninger: Austrian read estate agent and television presenter
• Marcel Wanninger: American football player
• Emma Wanninger: German civil servant and suffragist
• Ursula Wanninger: German film actress
• Albert Wanninger: German-Austrian sculptor and medallist
• Waldemar Wanninger: German classical archaeologist
• Franz Wanninger: German architect
• Herbert Wanninger: German retailer and wine producer
• Ilona Wanninger: Austrian stage and film actress
• Josef Wanninger: Austrian-German international painter
• Martin Wanninger: German football manager
• Peter Wanninger: German politician
• Rose Wanninger: Austrian actress and comedic performer
• Christiane Wanninger: Austrian actress and television presenter
• Gisela Wanninger: Austrian opera singer

Other surnames

WanningWanninga