Surname Waßner - Meaning and Origin
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Waßner: What does the surname Waßner mean?
The last name Waßner (or Wasner) is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘waseran' meaning ‘to churn milk,’ thus indicating an ancestor who may have worked as a dairy farmer. In some cases, the surname could also be of a locational origin derived from a place name such as Wasern or Wasseran in Austria and Bavaria.
The surname is quite rare with only a few hundred bearers across the world today, most of whom are located in Germany. However, it has spread to countries such as the USA, Canada and the UK.
In Germany, the name is mostly found in Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, both of which were originally part of the region known as Swabia. This geographic concentration suggests the bearer of the surname Waßner likely has roots in this area.
The spelling of the Waßner surname can vary depending on the region. Variations of the name (all pronounced the same) are Wassner, Wassener, Wesner, Weßner and Wasseran. It is likely that these variations derive from the same German source.
The Waßner surname is a reminder of a family’s hard work and dedication and likely indicates an ancestor who bore the characteristic traits of honest manual labor and craftsmanship. It is a traditional, simple name with a long and proud history.
Order DNA origin analysisWaßner: Where does the name Waßner come from?
The last name Waßner is most commonly found within the regions of Bavaria and Austria. Initially, the name was a distinct toponymic name originating from the Bavarian villages and hamlets of Wassen, Wasser and Wassa. During the high Medieval period, the name Waßner developed from settlers with the last name living near these areas, leading it to become a common surname.
At present, most people with the surname Waßner live within the German-speaking areas of the world. According to Family Search, it is still a fairly common surname in Germany, with more than 5,000 people as of 2019. It is most common in the Bavarian region and the Austrian states of Vienna and Lower Austria.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some people with the last name Waßner migrated to other parts of the world. Some of their descendants currently live in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. In the US, Waßner can be found mainly in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. In Canada, the name is common in Ontario, and in South Africa, there is a concentration of Waßners in the Gauteng province.
Waßner is a surname that has a long and storied history, and it is still fairly common today. Most of the people who bear the name reside in Germany, Austria, and the German-speaking areas of the world, but with international migration, the name can also be found in other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Waßner
The surname Waßner is an ancient German surname of Jewish origin. It is derived from the personal name Wasser, meaning “water”.
The variants of this surname include Wassner, Wasserman, Wassermann, Vasner, Vassner, and Vanzner.
The spelling variations of the surname Waßner include Wasser, Wassner, Wessner, Vasser, Vassner, Vessner, Vassnar, Wassersteiner and Wassensteiner.
Surnames that are derived from the same root include Wasserstein, Wassermanen, Wassermann, Wasserman, Waßmuth and Waßmann.
The Hebrew variant of this surname is Vasser, which was used in records of early Jewish settlements in Germany. It is also found in Dutch records as Wasman.
There are also yiddish spellings of the surname such as Wußnar and Waßnar.
In some cases, the surname has been altered to Wasner, Wasserberg, Wasserman, Vanzman, and Wassener.
The variants of this name can be found around the world, mostly in Jewish populations living in Israel, the United States, Central and Eastern Europe.
Famous people with the name Waßner
- Bastian Waßner (Germany footballer)
- Zane Waßner (Rising American pop singer)
- Arnold Waßner (Austrian actor)
- David Waßner (German football defender)
- Gerit Waßner (German tennis player)
- Günter Waßner (German double-bass instrumentalist)
- Hermann Waßner (German physicist)
- Johann Waßner (Austrian composer and cellist)
- Konrad Waßner (German rower)
- Stefan Waßner (Austrian politician)
- Andreas Waßner (German reverse engineer)
- Mathias Waßner (German footballer)
- Peter Waßner (Austrian composer)
- Helmut Waßner (German legal scholar)
- Paul Waßner (Austrian actor)
- Sebastian Waßner (Austrian actor)
- Hans Waßner (Swiss-German footballer)
- Anton Waßner (Austrian professor of surgery)
- Kristina Waßner (German sprint and hurdle runner)
- Friederike Waßner (German hurdler)