Surname Whisenhunt - Meaning and Origin

Whisenhunt: What does the surname Whisenhunt mean?

The last name Whisenhunt is a variation of an English surname derived from the Old English personal name “Wigric”, which is composed of the elements “wig” meaning “war” and “ric” meaning “power”. It is thought that the name originally denoted a person who was of great power in battle, as it was often given to warriors. In the 12th century, the name began to appear in English records as “Whisenhunt”, “Whisenhunte”, and “Wysenhunt”.

The Whisenhunte family became prominent in the English county of Yorkshire and held prominent positions in the society, such as magistrates and local officials. In 1596 Richard Whisenhunt of Foston was named High Sheriff of Yorkshire, and several other members of the family served as magistrates from the 17th century onward.

Along with being an English name of Norman-Saxon origin, Whisenhunt is also believed to be an Americanized version of the German name “Weishaupt” which means “timber head” in German.

The Whisenhunt surname continues to be found in many parts of the world today, from England to the United States, as well as other countries.

Whisenhunt: Where does the name Whisenhunt come from?

The last name Whisenhunt is most commonly found in the United States, was originally a German name. It has been found in various parts of the United States, from the South to the Midwest. In the South, Whisenhunt is concentrated in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Within the Midwest states, it is concentrated primarily in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Whisenhunt families moved from the South to the Midwest as part of the Great Migration, so family members can be found in both regions today. In recent decades, it has become more widespread, with some members of the family having moved to other states such as California, Florida, and New York.

The Whisenhunt surname originated in what is now Germany, and is derived from the German words "weise" and "jaeger" meaning wise and hunter, respectively. This is a descriptive name used to identify an astute hunter or trapper. Due to the long history of the family name in the United States, there are many variant spellings of Whisenhunt including Weese, Whisenhut, Wisniwisser, and Wissenhunt.

Due to the popularity of the name, there has been more intermingling over the years, so there is no specific region today that is obviously home to the Whisenhunt family. It is more widespread throughout the United States, with small pockets in towns and cities throughout various states.

Variations of the surname Whisenhunt

The surname Whisenhunt is believed to have originated in the northern region of Germany, and is now found distributed across the world. It is most commonly spelled Whisenhunt, but has numerous other spellings that are derived from the same origin. These alternate spellings of the surname include Whisnant, Wisenhunt, Wisnant, Wisnhant, Weisnhant, and Wishenant.

Variants of the surname are frequently found in the southern United States due to the migration of people with the surname after the Civil War. Variants found in the region include Whisnington, Whisenant, and Whisnenant.

The surname is also commonly found in Scotland, and variants found in this region include Wheatenham,Whetenham, Whishenham, and Whisenton.

Other areas where the surname is found include France (Wisenhut and Wisnhan) Mexico (Wisenhan and Wisenhut), Ireland (Whetenham) and England (Whetenham).

The name Whisenhunt is likely a variation of the German name Weißenhan, which is derived from the Old German word 'weiß' meaning 'white' and 'hahn' meaning 'rooster'. Since Whisenhut likely translates to 'white rooster', it stands to reason that those bearing the surname were likely early farmers, indicative of the hardworking nature of those belonging to this family name.

Today, the surname is still widely found across the world, and its variants offer a unique insight into both the history of the surname and the global migration of its previous and current holders.

Famous people with the name Whisenhunt

• Ken Whisenhunt: former assistant and head coach in the NFL who coached for the Steelers and Cardinals.
• August Whisenhunt: early 20th-century American diplomat who served as the ambassador to Venezuela.
• Booth Whisenhunt: American football player who was part of the Maryland team that won the 1952 National Championship.
• William Whisenhunt: American Indian actor and Massive Knowledge Production company founder.
• Richard Whisenhunt: former US representative from Alabama.
• Lola Whisenhunt: Tennessee state senator.
• James Whisenhunt: American physician and World War II Navy veteran from California.
• Ryan Whisenhunt: modern Major League Baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros.
• Jeff Whisenhunt: 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion.
• Trisha Whisenhunt: Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame barrel racer.

Other surnames

Whisenhant