Surname Weinbender - Meaning and Origin
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Weinbender: What does the surname Weinbender mean?
Weinbender is a German surname derived from the Middle High German words "winen" and "bender," which mean "wine" and "holder," respectively. It is likely that the name Weinbender originally referred to someone who either sold wine or managed a vineyard. The earliest recorded form of the surname dates back to the mid-13th century in the city of Beeck in Germany.
The meaning of Weinbender emphasizes the long history of viticulture in Germany. Wine has been a major part of German culture and cuisine for centuries, with some of the world's finest wines having been produced and enjoyed in Germany for millennia. The traditional wine-growing region of Germany, known as Rheinhessen, is one of the oldest areas of the world for the cultivation of grapes. The name Weinbender is a reminder of this storied tradition.
Today, the surname Weindbender can be found in Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United States. It is quite rare and there are fewer than 200 people in the world who bear the name. However, the Weinbenders are a close-knit, proud family. Though they are scattered all over the globe, they feel connected by their shared lineage and cultural relevance to the history of viticulture and winemaking.
Order DNA origin analysisWeinbender: Where does the name Weinbender come from?
The last name Weinbender is most commonly found in Germany. It is believed the name originated in the Rhine area, but spread further afield during the medieval period. It is still quite common today, with the main concentration of people bearing the name living in the south-west of the country, around the towns of Hamburg, Nuremberg and Frankfurt. The name is also visible in other German-speaking countries, such as Belgium, Austria and Switzerland.
The surname has also spread somewhat further in modern times. During the 19th century, a number of families bearing the name emigrated to America. Some of them took the name Weimann, though others kept their original spelling. In the 20th century many other Weinbenders moved to the UK and Canada, as well as other countries around the world.
The United States Census Bureau indicates that in 2019, Weinbender was the 5,606th most frequent surname in the USA, where it was borne by approximately 309 people. The name has remained quite faithful to its original German roots, which suggests that the historical emigration of the name was quite limited compared to other surnames of German origin.
Variations of the surname Weinbender
The surname Weinbender is a German name with various spelling variants and derivatives. The most common variation of the surname is Weinbrenner, reflecting the fact that the name translates literally to “wine maker”. Other spellings of this surname include Weinbinder, Weinbond, Weinbohm, Weingartner, Weingeld, and Weintraub.
The variants of the surname Weinbender are also sometimes spelled with an “h” at the end, such as Weinbendher and Weingarther. Additionally, some descendants of the original Weinbender family may have adopted different surnames as their ancestors moved to other countries, such as Weinbaun, Weisband, Weishroot, and Weisinger.
Because the Weinbender surname specifically comes from a German-speaking background, some anglicized versions of the name have developed as well, such as Winbender, Windbender, and Winstanton.
Weinbender is quite an uncommon name, but it remains in use by many families of the original Weinbender ancestry. However, it is likely that many individuals who may bear one of the variants of this surname may not even realize their family’s connection to the Weinbender name. It is for this reason that researching the history of a family’s surname can be extremely helpful in learning more about one’s ancestry.
Famous people with the name Weinbender
- Drew Weinbender: singer-songwriter from Philadelphia.
- Gunnar Weinbender: Swiss radio host.
- Jonathan Weinbender: co-founder and organizer of the 48-Hour Film Project in 2003.
- Joy Weinbender: Pulitzer finalist and author of the short story collection "The Catastrophist".
- Karl Weinbender: editor, publisher and public speaker.
- Mark Weinbender: developments editor at The New Yorker magazine.
- Paul Weinbender: multi-instrument musician, most notably known for his trombone playing in a variety of musical genres.
- Ryan Weinbender: actor in television and films, including the MTV sitcom Undressed.
- Ryan Weinbender: Socialist Democratic National Committee member.
- Sherman Weinbender: known for his research on rare diseases, Weinbender Syndrome being one of them.