Surname Wienkemeier - Meaning and Origin
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Wienkemeier: What does the surname Wienkemeier mean?
The German surname Wienkemeier is derived from the word Wienke, which is a diminutive form of the name Wien or Win. Wien and Win both mean ‘friend’. As such, Wienkemeier can be interpreted as meaning ‘friend of friends’, which reflects the closeness and support within a family or group of friends. This makes sense given the fact that friends and family are so important in German culture.
The surname Wienkemeier is also thought to originate from the Northern Germanic personal names of Wienkel or Winkel. Wienkel and Winkel both mean ‘corner’ or ‘angle’, and the name Wienkemeier could therefore also be interpreted as meaning ‘friend of angles’ or ‘corner friend’. This interpretation could refer to the strength of friendships and family bonds, being as strong as a corner is sturdy.
It is thought that the first people to bear the Wienkemeier surname were found in the eastern part of Germany. This was likely because many German migrants moved there during the 19th century. The Wienkemeier surname was also found to be quite common in the Rhineland region.
Overall, the surname Wienkemeier is both symbolic and meaningful, as it is thought to represent the strength and closeness of family and friends. It has been found to have originated in Germany, where it spread throughout the eastern and Rhineland regions.
Order DNA origin analysisWienkemeier: Where does the name Wienkemeier come from?
The last name Wienkemeier is most common today in the northeastern part of Germany, specifically within the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. This is due to population migration and an increase in the area's population over the centuries.
Wienkemeier is also a common last name in the United States, specifically in Missouri and Illinois. This is due to the large number of German immigrants that came to these states throughout the 1800s and 1900s, hoping for a better life in a new land.
In the Netherlands, Wienkemeier is also a fairly common last name. This is likely due to the fact that Dutch settlers were among the first to migrate to the United States and maintain close ties with their Germanic heritage and culture.
In addition, the name Wienkemeier also pops up in other countries throughout Europe, South America, Australia, and Canada. This is likely due to further migration and intermarriage that happened in more recent history.
Indeed, Wienkemeier may be a common last name today, but its presence in different countries is a testimony to the wide-reaching influence of migration and the continuing importance of the bonds between people of different nations.
Variations of the surname Wienkemeier
The surname Wienkemeier is believed to originate in Germany and is a German-language form of the English name Winkelmeier. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Wienkemeier include Winkelmeier, Winkelmeyer, Winkelmaier, Winkelmeier, Wienkemeyer, Wienkemeijer, Wienkemier, Wienkemayr, and Weinkenmeier.
The earliest record of Winkelmeier as a surname can be traced back to South Germany in the late 13th century when a family is recorded as being landholders in a small village near Wurzburg. This is likely the origin of the surname, although some scholars believe that it is derived from the German name Winkle which has been in use since medieval times.
Variations of Winkelmeier were common in Germany during the 19th century, with Winkelmaier, Winkelmeyer and Winkelmeier being the most common variations. Many of these variants were brought to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries by German immigrants, most notably those settling in the midwestern states. In the mid-20th century, Wienkemeier and its derived variants became more prevalent in American English-language records.
Variants of Wienkemeier in other languages include Winkelmeijer in Dutch, Weinkemeijer in Dutch, Weinkenmeier in German, Vinkmeier in Dutch, and Winkelemyer in English.
Today, many of these surnames are found all over the world, although they remain most prevalent in Germany and other parts of Europe.
Famous people with the name Wienkemeier
- Hans Wienkemeier: He was a former diplomat of the German Empire and the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (FRG).
- quotes Friedhelm Wienkemeier: He was the German goalie coach from 1989-2003.
- Günter Wienkemeier: He was a former soccer player, who was part of the German professional football team Fortuna Düsseldorf from 1961 to 1969.
- Jan Wienkemeier: He was a member of the North German team for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
- Eric Wienkemeier: He is an American actor, who has appeared in television shows like Supergirl and Criminal Minds.
- Heinz Wienkemeier: He was a German writer and politics expert.
- Wilfried Wienkemeier: He was a German Newfoundland & Labrador politician, who served as the Minister of Tourism from 1985 until 1989.
- Matthias Wienkemeier: He is a German retired biathlon athlete and coach, who competed from 1989 to 2001.
- Karl Wienkemeier: He was a German mathematician, who made important contributions to the study of linear programming and the development of mathematical economics.