Surname Weinlein - Meaning and Origin

Weinlein: What does the surname Weinlein mean?

The last name Weinlein is of German origin, derived from two separate elements. ‘Wein’ is an old German word meaning ‘vine,’ while ‘lein’ is an old German suffix meaning ‘small.’ Therefore, when combined, the surname Weinlein literally translates to ‘small vine,’ likely referring to someone who owned a small vineyard or who made a living growing and selling grapes. It could also refer to someone who was a vintner or lived near where wine was made or sold.

The first recorded spelling of the surname was found in 1267, when one Heinricus Weinlin was mentioned in the documents of the Cologne Monastery. Throughout the centuries, Weinlein has become prominent in Northern Germany, particularly in the region of Bavaria. Over the years, the Weinlein family name spawned a variety of derivative forms, such as Weinlin, Wienlein, Weinglein, and Weinglin.

Today, the prominent Weinlein family continues to make its mark in Germany, with locations near Miesbach, Oberammergau, Penzberg, and Brunnthal. It’s also become fairly common in the United States, with a particularly high concentration in the state of New York.

Weinlein: Where does the name Weinlein come from?

Weinlein is an uncommon surname, but mostly found in Europe, particularly Germany. It can also be found in North America due to immigration. Weinlein is an occupational surname, derived from the German word "Wein" which translates to "wine." It was most likely used to identify an individual who made or sold wine.

The earliest recorded use of Weinlein was in 1400 in Nidda, Germany. Over the centuries, the surname spread throughout Germany, and records have been found in places such as Nuremberg, Würzburg, Schwäbisch Hall, and Hesse.

Weinlein is a particularly popular surname in the German state of Hesse. It is the 135th most common name in the state, with 1,353 people bearing the name. It is also popular in the city of Nidda and in its surrounding district.

The highest concentration of the surname Wei1nlein is found in the United States, particularly in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and California. This is most likely due to migration from Germany and other parts of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Today, there are likely many people around the world with the surname Weinlein. Despite its rarity, the surname has managed to stand the test of time and travel to many countries.

Variations of the surname Weinlein

The surname Weinlein is a German name whose variants or alternate spellings include Weinlan, Weinelin, Weinglein, Weingelen, Weingelen, Wainlein, Weinlyn, Wainelyn and Winelyne. It is also known by anglicized spellings such as Winely, Winelyne and Winelynn.

The surname is derived from the Middle High German word “wineglein,” which means grapevine. This indicates that the original bearer of the name was likely an individual with some degree of expertise in tending and harvesting grapes. The name may also refer to an individual who lived near a source of grapes or places associated with grapevines.

The wealth of alternate spellings and variants reflects the diversity of dialects that existed at the time of the surname’s original emergence before standard spelling conventions had been established. Some of the other surnames related to Weinlein are Weingrass, Winegardner, and Wienkgras.

Weinlein is a common name in Germany, Austria and South Tyrol. It is also found in the United States, where it may have been adopted by immigrants in the twentieth century. Its popularity may reflect the descendants of Bavarian, Bohemian and Austrian immigrants who still make up a sizeable part of the American population.

Famous people with the name Weinlein

• Carl Edward Weinlein (1907-1970): scientist, an economist, and a Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Maryland.
• Kurt Weinlein (1894-1975): German metalworker, labor leader and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
• Joe Weinlein (1919-1993): American athlete who is most remembered as a pitcher with the Negro League baseball team, the Homestead Grays.
• Ed Weinlein (1890-1962): American professional baseball player who played with the Cincinnati Reds.
• Beate Weinlein (born 1955): German politician and lawyer. She is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and served as a legal policy spokesperson of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag from 2005 to 2009.
• Angelika Weinlein (born 1960): German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union. She was the minister of social affairs in the Saxon state government in Germany from 2003 to 2014.
• Maureen Weinlein (born 1976): singer and actress. She has appeared in various stage productions and movies, such as Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Threepenny Opera
• Estelle Weinlein (born 1995): American soccer player who currently plays for the Washington Spirit.
• Thomas Weinlein (born 1971): German footballer who played for the SpVgg Unterhaching and Bayern Munich.
• Greg Weinlein (born 1962): American Olympic rower who competed in the 1988 summer Olympics.

Other surnames

Weinle