Surname Westner - Meaning and Origin
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Westner: What does the surname Westner mean?
The last name Westner is of German origin and likely derives from a topographic surname for someone who lived west of a particular landmark or area, taken from the German word 'westen' meaning ‘west’. Alternately, it may have been derived from a nickname, also taken from the German word 'westen', based on a person's location, direction of travel, physical appearance, or personality.
Some scholars have proposed that the surname may also have originated as a habitational name from a place name with Germanic 'west' elements. This place name may have been used to identify a family originating from the area or living there, and the name was likely used to reference this place of residence.
The earliest known records of the surname Westner appear in the late 1500s, specifically in the year 1578, in the city of Darmstadt in the region of Hesse in Germany. It is believed that the first bearers of the surname — Johannes Westner and his two brothers — were either immigrants from other regions or descended from a local family.
The name Westner has spread throughout the world. In some countries, such as the United States and Canada, the name has become adapted to various forms, including Westner, Wester, Westing, and Westin. Today this surname is most commonly found in the United States, followed by Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisWestner: Where does the name Westner come from?
The last name Westner is found mainly in English-speaking countries. In the United States, according to Ancestry.com's 2019 assessment of US Census data, Westner is found in a few states such as Texas, where it ranks as the 28th most popular surname. Ohio (71st), Arkansas (167th) and Washington (221st) are also among the states with the most Westner families.
In Canada, Westner ranks as the 604th most common surname. It is found in all provinces and territories, albeit in small numbers.
In the United Kingdom, Westner is a relatively uncommon name; it doesn't make it into the top 3000 surnames according to 2019 data. In Australia, it is similarly rare; it does not appear among the country's 100 most common surnames as listed in 2016.
Few Westner families live in continental Europe, but they can be found in Germany and Austria (where the name is spelled 'Wöstner'). In recent years, migration has brought a small number of Westner families to other countries, particularly ones located in the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia.
Variations of the surname Westner
The surname Westner is an interesting surname as its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin extend beyond what assembly one may assume.
The primary spelling of Westner is Wesener, with an –s- instead of the –t-.
Other variations of this surname include: Westoner, Wesener, Westenar, Westenor, Westnor, Vesterner, and Vistner.
Many of the same origins of the Westner surname are of Germanic origin. More specifically, the Westner surname is derived from the Middle High German word 'Wesener', meaning 'a western man'. This origin can be seen in specific spellings such as Vesterner and Vistner.
Many of the same origin surnames have been confused over time. One example of this is Westeno, which has a derivative in the Wesener spelling. Additionally, the Spanish and Portuguese surname Westenot has a direct origin in the Middle High German term for 'western man'.
There is also a Jewish version of the surname Westner. This is spelt Vetener and is derived from the Hebrew word Vetan (or Detan), meaning 'to flatter, praise, or laud'.
Thus, it is seen that the Westner surname has a wide array of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Despite these variations, the same original meaning remains the same; 'western man'.
Famous people with the name Westner
- Brock Westner: professional golfer, two-time Big Ten Conference individual champion; member of the 2000 U.S. Ryder Cup team
- Amanda Westner: Canadian actress, writer, and producer; best known as the female lead in Steven Spielberg's science-fiction miniseries "Taken"
- Tim Westner: German actor and TV personality; famous for hosting "Die Harald Schmidt Show"
- Henning Westner: Swedish musician and front man of the band "The Housemartins"
- Anke Westner: German business executive; CEO of Scholz & Friends Group
- Dirk Westner: Austrian hacker and security researcher; part of the group that discovered the Heartbleed bug in 2014
- Mark Westner: American sprint car driver and winner of the 2005 National USAC Asphalt Sprint Car Championship
- Stacey Westner: American accountant and entrepreneur; co-founder of the tech company Aragon Technologies
- Nicola Westner: British actress; starred in the television series "The Bill"
- Alexander Westner: German biologist; winner of the Leibniz Prize in 2004