Surname Wenman - Meaning and Origin
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Wenman: What does the surname Wenman mean?
The origin and meaning of the last name Wenman is a subject of some debate among genealogists. According to some sources, the surname is derived from the Old English personal name Wynman, which is a combination of two elements meaning “friend” and “man.” Thus, the literal meaning of the last name is “Friend of Man” or “Friendly Man.”
The name is thought to have first appeared in records as early as the 12th century, when a Robert Wynman was mentioned in a book of medieval documents from 1220. The family became more prominent over time, and various branches of the Wenman family played a key role in the history of the region, such as Robert of Wenman, a knight who was part of the household of King Edward I during the 1250s.
Later, during the 1500s members of the Wenman family moved to Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, where they helped build the churches of Charlbury and Lyneham, respectively.
Today, the last name Wenman is still found predominantly in England, and varies in spellings, such as Wyman, Weman, and Winman. It is also uncommon to find the name in other countries due to the few number of historical records or documents mentioning it outside of England.
Order DNA origin analysisWenman: Where does the name Wenman come from?
The last name Wenman is primarily associated with English and Canadian backgrounds, though the family’s geographic origins are believed to be from present-day Denmark and Germany. Today, Wenman is a fairly uncommon last name, and its most popular prevalence is in England and Canada.
In England, it is more common in the northern counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and parts of Nottinghamshire. In Canada, the last name is most commonly found in Ontario and Alberta. The number of people with this name is not tremendous and is likely to remain so in the coming years.
Wenman is believed to be derived from the Old English word “Wernegmænn” which means “wagoner of a river meadow”. It is also speculated that the name referred to a former river meadow on the banks of the River Wen, which flows through Derbyshire and Lancashire.
The most famous bearers of this name were Sir Edmund Wenman, the 8th Viscount of Wexford, and the Reverend Herbert Wenman, Dean of New College, Oxford, and a renowned theologian.
Overall, today the last name Wenman is most common in England and Canada, with its highest presence in the northern counties of England and in various provinces of Canada. It is a relatively uncommon name, but supported by a rich history and culture.
Variations of the surname Wenman
The surname Wenman is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the ancient given name Wænma, which is of uncertain etymology. The most common variants of this surname include Wainman, Waineman, Wainmann, Weneman, Weman, and Wermman. Variations of the surname include Wainman, Waineman, Wainmann, Weneman, and Weman.
The name Wainman is thought to have been first used in the English Midlands, where it is found first in Staffordshire. This name is found in several different forms, and was widely distributed throughout the country. The longer form of Wainman was popular in some areas, while the shorter form, Wain, was more common in others.
The name Weneman is thought to also be of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is found mainly in Yorkshire and is derived from the Old English given name Weonma. The variants Weman and Wermman are found mainly in the West Riding of Yorkshire, while versions with the Mohawk prefix are also found in Ohio.
The names Wainmann and Wainman are mainly found in the North West of England and are of Germanic origin. The North Germanic form of the name is Wainman. Variants of the name Wainmann include Wainman, Wain, Weeeman, Weeman, Wyman, and Wymman. Variations of the name Wainman include Waineman, Wainman, Wainer,Weiner, Waymau, Wymman, Weymann, and Weymann.
In conclusion, the surname Wenman is of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic origin. Over time, the many variants of the name have developed, but the most commonly found versions are Wainman, Waineman, Wainmann, Weneman, Weman, Wermman, Wainer, Weiner, Waymau, Wymman, Weymann and Weymann.
Famous people with the name Wenman
- Joseph Wenman, 2nd Viscount Wenman (1611–1667), English politician
- Chidi Ahanotu (born 1970), former NFL defensive end
- Fritha Wenman, British television actress
- Nathaniel Wenman (born 1987), English cricketer
- Robert Wenman (born 1988), Welsh professional footballer
- Tony Wenman (born 1940), English session and concert drummer
- George Wenman (1659–1717), English landowner and politician
- John Wenman, 5th Viscount Wenman (1700–1767), British peer
- William Wenman (1819–1904), English barrister and politician
- Thomas Wenman, English MP for Oxford in 1529–1536