Surname Wiener - Meaning and Origin

Wiener: What does the surname Wiener mean?

The last name Wiener is of German-Jewish origin and describes the occupation of the one bearing the name. It means "meat cutter, butcher," as the German spelling of the word "Wiener" is "Wurstmacher," which literally translates to mean sausage-maker.

For hundreds of years, to be a butcher has been one of the largest and most vital occupations in the food industry. In Jewish culture, a Wiener, in the form of a sausage-maker, held a special role, even more so than others in the same profession. Historical records note their importance in providing meat for synagogues, kosher stores, and other markets.

Today, however, rarely does one encounter a butcher with the last name Wiener. It is more likely that the assumption year will be derived from the dish “Wiener schnitzel” or the hot dog, which have become popular all over the world and therefore are now more closely associated with the name.

In summary, Wiener is a surname whose meaning is derived from a long-standing occupational title in the food industry, specifically dealing with the production of meat and sausages. Although the occupation is not as prominent today, the name Wiener still carries its original connotations.

Wiener: Where does the name Wiener come from?

The last name Wiener is commonly found today in Jewish communities across the world. Wiener is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, most commonly found in the United States, Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom. Other countries with a significant population of people bearing the last name include France, Canada, Brazil, and Australia.

The origin of Wiener as a surname dates back to several centuries ago in Central and Eastern Europe. While we don't know the exact origin of the name, it is assumed that it could be derived from either the German term Wien, which translates to Vienna, or from the German word Wienerschnitzel, which is a type of fried cutlet.

In the United States, the tangible etymology of the name first shows up in the early 1800s when the first Wieners started to establish themselves as a family in Pennsylvania. By 1850, more than 100 Wieners were living in the country with most of them concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York. From the 1960s onwards, the surname has also started to show up in South America, Africa, and East Asia.

In modern-day, the surname Wiener is still very common amongst Jewish communities all over the world. In most countries, the name is still centered around the Jewish faith and is often found in areas with significant populations of observant Jews.

Variations of the surname Wiener

The surname Wiener is a Jewish surname of Germanic and Hungarian origin. It originally derived from the term "Wien," meaning White or Fair, and it appears under many different forms and spellings throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Variant spellings and surnames of Wiener include Viner, Vina, Vyne, Weiner, Winer, Wein, Win, Vinai, Vyna, and Vyne.

Wiener, the most common form of the surname, originated in Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, while Viner is found mostly in Hungary. It is also found in Poland as Winer and in Russia as Vinai. Weiner exists in Germany, Austria, and Central Europe. Winer and Wein can be found in German-speaking countries and Czechoslovakia, while Vyna appears mostly in Czechoslovakia and Slovakia.

In Central Europe, spelling variants of Wiener exist in Hungary and Romania as Vina and Vyne, respectively. In Jewish communities, the Wiener surname sometimes appears as Wainer and with the Hebrew Janowicz, or Yonovich, suffix.

The popular Wiener surname has been used by many notable public figures, including writer Anita Loos, Canadian politician Irwin Cotler, and actress and comedienne Sarah Silverman.

Famous people with the name Wiener

• Arnold Wiener: an American political scientist, academic and professor specializing in political theory.
• Wiener Philharmoniker: an Austrian symphony orchestra considered to be one of the world's top orchestras.
• Scott Wiener: an American politician serving in the California State Senate.
• Nathan Wiener: an American mathematician, known for his contributions to cybernetics and information theory.
• Wiener Sängerknaben: an internationally renowned boys' choir based in Vienna, Austria.
• Susan Wiener: an American author, freelance journalist, and women's health advocate.
• Karl Wiener: an American artist known for his abstract expressionist paintings.
• Richard Wiener: an American computer scientist credited with inventing the first computer video game in 1962.
• Mark Wiener: an American stand-up comedian and author of humorous works of fiction.
• Michael Wiener: an Austrian-American businessman, CEO, and co-founder of Omnitop.
• Ernest Wiener: an American biochemist who helped to discover the structure of ribonuclease A.
• Henry Wiener: an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as an ambassador for the United States.
• Wilfred Wiener: an American rabbi and religious leader known for advancing social causes within the Jewish faith.
• Ferdinand Wiener: an Austrian art historian, archaeologist and Late Antiquity scholar.
• Bob Wiener: an American television producer and the creator of the hit series Roseanne.

Other surnames

WieneckeWieneckenWienekeWienekemeyerWienekenWienemaWienenWienengaWienertWienerthWienes