Surname Wienen - Meaning and Origin
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Wienen: What does the surname Wienen mean?
The last name Wienen, derived from the German word "Winen", means "vine" or "vine dresser". It is a surname from the low German region and is most likely an occupational name for someone who worked in winemaking or a vintner.
The Wienen family originated from the German-speaking area of Pomerania, and they might have first settled there. The family members are believed to have moved and scattered all through Europe over the centuries.
The name is believed to have been first recorded in the 13th century when Bernard de Winen witnessed a charter granted by Abbot Suno of Twistringen Abbey. In the 1600s, other members of the Wienen family are recorded as owners of land in the city of Thorn in West Prussia.
The name Wienen is not a particularly common one, but there are a few distinguished people who have held the last name. For example, Röttger Wienen was a leading scientist in the field of geobotany, while Fred Wilhelm Wienen was a politician and a member of the German liberal parties of the 1850s.
The Wienen name has become an international one, and its origin from winemaking is still retained. It is an interesting last name that has a long and rich history, and it certainly holds an intriguing meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisWienen: Where does the name Wienen come from?
The last name Wienen is most commonly found today in Germany and the Netherlands. The name is a German surname derived from the Middle High German wīne, meaning "vineyard". It is particularly common in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of southwest Germany.
The earliest documented records of the Wienen name are in the late 16th century, when a Melchior Wienen was recorded in 1583 in the German town of Niederheimbach. The name would later spread throughout the Rhine Valley, mainly in the Protestant communities of southern Rhineland-Palatinate, with later records in the cities of Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, and Mannheim.
In addition, the Wienen name has been documented in the Netherlands since at least the 17th century, with records in the provinces of Utrecht and Noord-Brabant. Records in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) date back to the late 18th century, with a man named Peter Wienen listed as part of the Dutch East Indies colonial army in 1788.
Today, the name Wienen is still common in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, with many descendants of those earliest families in the area still bearing the name. It is also found spread throughout the Netherlands, Indonesia, the United States, Canada and other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Wienen
The surname Wienen is of German origin and is able to trace its routes to northern Germany in the States of Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Variants for this surname include Wiene, Wyne, Weyne, Weine, Weenen, Wyenn, Weenn, Weynen, Van Wienen, Veenen, Van Weenen and Veenen.
It is likely that the surname is derived from the Old German personal name Wigand, which combines the words for “war” and “bold”. It is thought that the surname would have been attributed to individuals with qualities related to these words.
Spelling variants of Wienen include Wienan, Wynen, Winen, Wene, Weinen, Wyeen, Weenenn, Wyennn, Weynenn, Van Wienen, Vienen, Van Weenen and Vyenen.
Surnames of a similar origin to Wienen include Wintgen, Wegner, Weisgerber and Wanke.
Wintgen is also of German origin, derived from the personal name Wicbold. This name is believed to be of northern German, originating in the States of Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Spelling variations include Wintgen, Wintge, Windgen, Wiggan, Windgen and Wintgan, among others.
Wegner is also of German origin, and is derived from the Old German word “wag” meaning “wagon”. Variants of this name include Wegner, Wedner, Wegman, Wedman, Wegmann and Wegman, as well as others. It is most likely to have originated in western Germany, particularly the area surrounding Cologne.
Weisgerber is of German origin and is derived from the word “weiß” meaning “white”, and “Gerber” meaning tanner. Spelling variants of this name include Weisgerber, Weisgeber, Waisgeber, Weigeber, Waisegerber, Waisgerber and Waisgaber, to list a few. It is most likely to have originated in southern Germany, particularly Bavaria and the Rhineland Palatinate.
Lastly, Wanke is also of German origin derived from “wanken” meaning “to oscillate”. Spelling variations of this name include Wanke, Wanck, Wanker, Wankes, Wanka, Wankes, Wankger, Wanken and Wanker, to list a few. It is most likely to have originated in northern Germany in the areas of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Famous people with the name Wienen
- Werner Wienen, German politician and member of the SPD
- Michael Wienen, professional paintball player
- Jan Wienen, Dutch actor and voice actor
- Jürgen Wienen, German historian and professor
- Oskar Wienen, German stage and film actor
- Sebastian Wienen, Swiss athlete and Paralympic World champion
- Andreas Wienen, German actor
- Birgitt Wienen, German doctor and epidemiologist
- Timo Wienen, German rally driver
- Justus Wienen, German composer and graphic artist