Surname Wennige - Meaning and Origin
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Wennige: What does the surname Wennige mean?
The last name Wennige is of German and Scandinavian origin. It is derived from the German words “wen” meaning “long” or “enduring” and “ing” meaning “associated with” or “bonded with”. As such, the literal translation of the last name Wennige is “enduring associate”.
The meaning of this last name is indicative of the traits of the people who bear it. Those named Wennige may be described as steadfast and reliable; individuals who can be trusted and counted on. They may be thought of as reliable and consistent, someone who can be depended on in times of difficulty. They are likely to be patient and understanding, and compassionate.
Wennige is quite an unusual name, so you don’t meet many who bear it. But, those who do have an innate strength and loyalty that allows them to serve their family and community in a special way. They can show themselves to be resilient when faced with hard situations and will provide the moral support and kindness that others may need.
Order DNA origin analysisWennige: Where does the name Wennige come from?
The surname Wennige (also spelled Wenig, Wenning, Wenninge, and Wening) is of Germanic origin. It is a topographic name for someone who lived near a meadow or patch of marshland (from Middle German wen 'meadow'). This name is most commonly found in northern Germany, primarily in the Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein regions. Beyond Germany, the name can be found throughout Europe, particularly in Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. In the United States, the name shows up in small numbers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other Mid-Atlantic states where it has been established since at least the 17th century. Wennige can be encountered in other parts of North America, primarily due to more recent migration from Germany and elsewhere in Europe.
Variations of the surname Wennige
The surname Wennige has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Waninge, Wannigge, Wanninge, Wannig, Wanninge, Wannygge, Wannige and Wennick.
The Wennige surname is thought to have originated from the Germanic Wann, meaning 'stranger'. The name was likely first used as a byname to describe someone who had recently moved to a new area or village. It could also have been adopted to differentiate individuals, as names were not yet commonplace in medieval Europe.
The Wennige surname is first documented in records dating from the 13th century, where it appears as a patronymic meaning 'son of Wann'. At this time, surnames were being used more generally and had become commonplace by the 15th century. In some cases, Wennige likely became Wannigge, Waninge and Wannygge as it evolved over generations due to dialectal pronunciations and phonetic spelling.
Similarly, Wennige may have evolved into variants such as Weninge, from a nickname meaning 'the brave one', or into the Germanic Wende, meaning 'to change'. This could have then been brought to Britain and evolved into 'Wennick', one of the variant spellings of the Wannigge.
Ultimately, variations in spellings of the Wennige surname depended on individual cases and the language spoken in the region. Each variation is likely linked to the same original name, and many of these variants are still used today.
Famous people with the name Wennige
- Dr. Michael Wennige: German brass ensemble director and musicologist.
- Ernie Wennige: Canadian ice hockey player.
- Helga Wennige: Austrian alpine skier.
- Karen Wennige: German chess grandmaster.
- Lars Wennige: German football player.
- Roland Wennige: Austrian politician.
- Paul Wennige: Dutch fashion designer.
- Johannes Wennige: German water polo player.
- Erich Wennige: German tennis player.
- NC Wennige: Samoan rugby union player.