Surname Wegner - Meaning and Origin
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Wegner: What does the surname Wegner mean?
The surname Wegner is of German origin and it is derived from middle high German word "wagener" which means "wagon maker" or "wagon driver". It's an occupational surname, referring to the person’s job or trade. So originally, people with Wegner surname were involved in the profession of making or driving wagons. In modern Germany, it is still relatively common and can be found in many parts of the country. Like many other surnames, over time and with global migration, it has spread to other countries as well and got many variations. It's important to note that the exact meaning of a surname can vary based on geographic origin and historical context.
Order DNA origin analysisWegner: Where does the name Wegner come from?
The last name Wegner is a German surname, most commonly found throughout Germany and surrounding areas, specifically in what were formerly German-speaking regions. The name is also found in other parts of Europe, particularly in parts of Poland and Prussia that have German roots, as well as in other areas of Germany-speaking Central Europe.
In terms of the United States, the most common concentration of Wegner-named individuals is found in the Midwest, particularly in Wisconsin, as well as California, Pennsylvania. Lesser concentrations are found throughout the Southwest and up eastward into states such as Michigan and New York.
The population of Wegners in the United States is estimated to be around 7000 individuals. The Wegners in the United States are generally of German heritage, descendants of immigrants who came to the United States in the late 19th or early 20th centuries, or those who are descended from the more recent waves of immigrants in the 1970s and 1980s.
The other parts of the world where the Wegner name can be found is Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Most of the Wegners currently in these countries are descendants of 500 German families who arrived in Australia in the mid-1800s.
Variations of the surname Wegner
The surname Wegner has a variety of spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of them include Wagner, Wagoner, Waggoner, Wagonner, Wagener, Wagnon, Wagnor, Wagener, Wagnon, Wagnoir, Wagener, Wagetime, Waginger, Wagonery, Wagonfield, Wageninger, Wagonmaker, Wagonheim, Weaver, Weavin, Weigel, Weigert, Wegner, Wegnerin, Wegnez, Wehner, Wehneman, Wehmeir, and Wehmeister.
The most frequent spelling of Wegner is Wagner, the German form of the surname which is of Anglo-Saxon origin. This spelling is largely due to the immense popularity of 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner. However, some areas of Germany and Austria still use the German form Wagenr. The other corresponding variant spellings and surnames are all derived from the German form, being the English adaptation and Americanization of the original.
Weaver is another spelling of the surname Wegner, derived from the German word "webern" meaning "weaver". This surname was most likely given to people who were in the weaving or fabric trade. An additional surname derived from the same root is Weavin, which was first found in Bavaria.
Weigel is another variant of Wegner, derived from the old German word "weigel" which means "small." The German form of the surname is Weigel, and the spelling becomes Weigle in the United States.
The surname Weigert is derived from the Middle High German word "wiger" which means "fighter." In the German language, the spelling Weger is used.
Lastly, Wehner is derived from the Middle High German word "wecheren" or "wichen" which means "plowman" or "farmer." The German form of the surname is Wehner, and the spelling becomes Wehmeir in the United States.
Famous people with the name Wegner
- Josef Wegner, an Egyptologist at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Christian Wegner, a German chess grandmaster.
- Paul Wegner, a German academic lawyer.
- Johannes Wegner, a German-American physiotherapist.
- Ulla Wegner, a Danish Social Democrat politician.
- Johann Wegner, a German politician and member of the sixth German Bundestag.
- Alexander Wegner, a German-American physicist.
- Friedrich Wegner, a German architect.
- Wilhelm Wegner, a German physicist.
- Erna Wegner, a German-American classical dancer.
- Hans-Jürgen Wegner, a German television presenter.
- Harriet Wegner, a German watercolor painter.
- Reinhard Wegner, a German doctor and entrepreneur.
- Justus Wegner, a German physician and natural scientist.
- Dieter Wegner, a German actor and theater director.
- Elfriede Wegner, an East German athlete specializing in the triple jump.
- Paulina Wegner, a German ornithologist.
- Louise Wegner, a German lawyer and corporate philosopher.
- Sören Wegner, a German organist, music scholar, and editor.
- Lothar Wegner, an East German football player.