Surname Wenniger - Meaning and Origin

Wenniger: What does the surname Wenniger mean?

The surname Wenniger is derived from the Old High German personal name Wanniger, which is composed of the elements wan (wanha, wano) meaning "vigilant" and gari or ger meaning "spear". This suggests that the original bearer of the name was a vigilant warrior armed with a spear.

The name is believed to have originated in Germany but over time has spread to other countries as well, such as the Netherlands and the United States of America.

The earliest historical records of the Wanger/Wenniger family date back to 16th century Bavaria. During this era, the Wanger family was a prominent and respected noble family. This family had an impressive heritage and earned high honors such as the Golden Medal for ecoomy as the first Bavarian court servant.

In modern days, the Wenniger surname represents a family with a long and distinguished history in European and American society. It is associated with a sense of trustworthiness, strength and loyalty, as well as with the watchful warrior of days gone by.

Wenniger: Where does the name Wenniger come from?

The last name Wenniger is most commonly found today in Germany, with a few occurrences in the Netherlands, France, and the United States.

In Germany, the Wenniger name can be found in all sixteen states, with the highest concentrations in the states of Lower Saxony, North RhineWestphalia, and Bavaria. Based on Germany’s population of 83 million people, an estimated 11 thousands Wennigers currently live in the country.

In the Netherlands, the Wenniger surname is scattered throughout the twelve provinces. Of these, the highest occurrence is found in North Holland, with an estimated 544 Wennigers living there as of 2019.

In France, the last name Wenniger is uncommon but still present. According to French records, only 276 people with the name live in the country today.

In the United States, the Wenniger name has been present since the late 19th century, when German immigrants began arriving in America. It is estimated that today there are about 2800 Wennigers living in the US in all fifty states. The largest concentration of this last name is located in Pennsylvania, with 895 residents. The second highest population of Wennigers can be found in Wisconsin with 596 residents.

Overall, the last name Wenniger is not common, but its presence is still noticeable in some parts of the world. Although the branches of the Wenniger family have dispersed over the years, they remain connected through their shared ancestry and name.

Variations of the surname Wenniger

The surname Wenniger has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The original form of the surname is Weninger, which is a German and Austrian variant. This surname is most commonly found in areas of Germany such as Bavaria, Thuringia, and Silesia. The German spelling for this surname is Weninger, however, the surname can also be spelled as Wenninger, Wenniger, Weninger, Weingard, Wening, Wengard, Weingärtner, Wengärtner, and Wennger.

Variants of Wenniger include Weninger, Winniger, and Winneger. These spellings come from the Dutch and Flemish countries in North Europe. In other parts of Europe, the Wenniger surname could be found spelled as Waninger, Wunniger, Veninger, Veningló, Venniger, or Verneger, making it highly adaptable to different cultures and languages.

In Jewish communities, the surname Weninger could be found spelled as Vüninger, Veninger, Wininger, and Vinniger. This is due to the fact that the surname was heavily adopted by Jewish families.

Surnames related to Wenniger include Weninger, Winniger, Wening, Weningló, Wungard, Wengard, Weingärtner, Wengärtner, Wennger, Waninger, Wunniger, Veninger, Veningló, Venniger, and Verneger. All of these surnames share a common origin, however, there are slight variations within each locality. The variation of this surname can be attributed to the mutation of the surname over time as it travelled and adapted in different languages throughout Europe.

Famous people with the name Wenniger

• Drew Wenniger: a basketball player from the University of Tampa who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2001.
• Dave Wenniger: an American boxer who competed in the heavyweight category.
• Brian Wenniger: a former professional hockey player who played for multiple NHL teams.
• Robert Wenniger: a German water polo player who competed at the 1932 Olympics.
• Curt Wenniger: a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
• Jean Wenniger: an American writer and screenwriter, best known for writing the Oscar-winning movie “Brokeback Mountain”.
• Paul Wenniger: a World War II veteran and member of the U.S. Army.
• Wesley Wenniger: a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Chicago Cubs in the late 1940s.
• George Wenniger: a German-American painter and printmaker from the 1800s.
• Judith Wenniger: an American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows.

Other surnames

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