Surname Weniger - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Unraveling the Weniger Legacy: A Fascinating DNA Journey into My Germanic Ancestry
Adventuring into my genetic ancestry with iGENEA DNA test, I unearthed the robust history of my surname - Weniger. Being unique, it piqued my interest and revealed that it’s Germanic in origin, tracing back to the 15th century. This name held a strong connection to Bavaria and slowly migrated to other parts of Europe. The revelation provided me with a profound sense of identity and connection to my roots.
R. Weniger
read moreWeniger: What does the surname Weniger mean?
The last name Weniger is of German origin and has multiple potential meanings. One possibility is that it is derived from the Middle High German term "wenec", which translates to "heat", so the name might mean either "heater" or "warmer". This could be interpreted as a reference to someone who is kind-hearted or generous.
Another possible meaning of the name is "little one"; this would suggest a referece to a person's size, age, or status. Alternatively, it could simply mean "the fewer", indicating that the person had fewer siblings, possessions, or other scarcity related items.
Finally, the name could be derived from "wininger", which means "to the winefields". This could reference the ancestor of the family having worked or owned land devoted to growing grapes for wine production.
Overall, the surname Weniger could have multiple interpretations depending on the context and origin of the family. It could represent qualities such as generosity, small status, or wine-making, all of which could provide a window into the heritage of a family.
Order DNA origin analysisWeniger: Where does the name Weniger come from?
The last name Weniger is of German origin and is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in as North Rhine-Westphalia, where its frequency - that is, the number of people with the surname - is highest. Other areas that are densely populated with the Weniger surname are the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt. It has also been found in Austria, Switzerland, and Alsace in France.
With the increasing global immigration of the past 200 years, the name has become more widespread and is now also found in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world where German immigrants have settled. Those with the surname in the United States come mainly from the states of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The name Weniger is derived from the old Germanic first name "Wenigar", which means a "little warrior". As a surname that has come to be associated with this meaning, it is quite common in carries the implication of strength and courage.
Variations of the surname Weniger
The surname Weniger has several variants, spellings and surnames that all originate from the same source. These variations include: Winiger, Werringer, Viengar, Vinajer, Vaniger, Venger and Wegener.
Winiger is one of the most common variation of the surname and is used mainly in central and eastern Europe. It is also found as an alternate spelling in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The name is derived from the Middle High German phrase “winiger” which means “little wind”.
Werringer is also a common variation of the surname and is mostly found in southern Germany. It is similar to the English “warring” and is likely derived from the Old German phrase “werringer” which translates to “to war against”.
Viengar is a variation found mainly in parts of Germany and Austria. It is thought to be related to the word “Viener”, or “from Vienna”, since the name appears in records linked to Vienna.
Vinajer is also a variant of the surname and is primarily found in Slovakia and parts of Czech Republic. It may be related to the Czech word “vinice” which means “winnowing”.
Vaniger is found mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium and is thought to be derived from the Dutch phrase “van inger” which translates to “from the area of Inger”.
Venger is another variant and is found mainly in Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is thought to be derived from the Czech word “veng” which translates to “from the town of Veng”.
Finally, Wegener is a variation found mainly in central and eastern Europe. It is likely derived from the Middle High German phrase “wegener” which means “sunflower”.
Famous people with the name Weniger
- Ella Weniger, a German actress
- Ralph Weniger, Jr., a former American golfer
- Fritz Weniger, a German World War II fighter ace
- Leah Weniger, an Australian soccer player
- Frieda Weniger, a German artist
- Christian Weniger, a German saxophonist and composer
- Henning Weniger, a German physicist
- Ute Weniger, a German businesswoman
- Werner K. Weniger, a German mathematician
- John Weniger, an American football coach