Surname Wiens - Meaning and Origin
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How an iGENEA DNA Test Redefined my Understanding of the Wiens Ancestry
A DNA test with iGENEA offers an unexpected revelation about the Wiens clan, shaking up the narrow confines of assumed identity and giving way to a shockingly diverse lineage.
D. Wiens
read moreWiens: What does the surname Wiens mean?
The last name Wiens is of German origin meaning 'winners'. It is derived from the Germanic 'wins' meaning 'victory'. In the Middle Ages, it was typical for people to take a last name that indicated their occupation or status in life. Therefore, Wiens likely originated as an occupational surname for a victor or successful person in a performance of some kind, such as a competition or military conflict.
This surname is also believed to have its roots in the Frankish language, which is an ancient Germanic language widely spoken in parts of Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The Frankish variation of this surname is 'Winnanga', which directly translates to 'to win'. This suggests it was historically used to denote an individual of considerable success, either in politics, business, or sport.
The surname continues to be widely dispersed across parts of Europe and North America, and is still most commonly used in German-speaking countries. While many people with this surname have kept a close relationship with their roots through their family lineage and culture, many have also adopted the local culture or moved away.
Order DNA origin analysisWiens: Where does the name Wiens come from?
The last name Wiens is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is a German name, derived from the name Wien, a city in Austria.
The earliest records of Wiens in Germany date back to the 1600's. They were most commonly found in the regions of Saxony, Brandenburg, and Pomerania. Since then, many Wiens ancestors have migrated to other countries.
In the United States, Wiens families can be found in many states, particularly in the Midwest states such as Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin, and in the Great Plains states of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Clusters of Wiens families can also be found in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
In Australia, the Wiens family has been present since the mid-1800s, when the earliest known Wiens ancestor migrated from Germany to the Australian state of South Australia. His descendants later spread out to all of the states and territories in Australia.
Overall, the surname Wiens is most common in the German-speaking countries of Europe and in the Anglo-Saxon countries of North America and Australia. Each Wiens family is likely to have their own unique story about their ancestral journey.
Variations of the surname Wiens
The surname Wiens is derived from the Germanic name Wiggo, which means "war." This name was used as a given name and also as a surname. Variants of this name are Weig, Weigand, Weingand, Weingartner, Weingärtner, and Weinkant.
Wiens is a surname of Dutch origin. It is thought to have been an occupational name, referring to a vintner or a wine seller. Variants of this surname include deWijn, Wien, Wienen, Wier, Wiene, and Wijns.
In many parts of Germany, the surnames Wiens and Weingärtner are often used interchangeably. This is due to the fact that these two names are derived from the same root, which is "Wiggo." This is why the spellings of these two surnames can sometimes be confused.
In other parts of the world, the surname Wiens has taken on additional spellings such as Waines, Wines, Wean, and Weens. These variations are thought to have been adopted in different countries in order to make the pronunciation of the name more comfortable.
The surname Wiens is one of the most commonly found German surnames in parts of Europe, North America, and South America. Other related surnames that can be found in different parts of the world include Weih, Weinacht, Weinschenk, Weismann, Weisner, Wienand, and Wienefield.
Overall, the surname Wiens is a Germanic surname derived from the given name Wiggo, with many variants and spellings taken on across the world.
Famous people with the name Wiens
- Hans Wiens: German-American political scientist and professor at American University in Washington D.C., as well as a long-serving member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation.
- Allyn Wiens: American electrical engineer, professor emeritus at Iowa State University, and Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
- Al Wiens: Canadian artist and illustrator, best known for his anthropomorphic animal art.
- Keith Wiens: Canadian retired military officer and a former combat veteran of the Canadian military, serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
- Inge Wiens: Dutch architect and researcher, best known for researching and writing about public housing.
- Gail Wiens: American freelance photographer and owner of Leota Photography.
- Tim Wiens: Canadian environmental activist and the founder of ClimateOne, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring people to reduce their environmental footprint.
- Jacob Wiens: Canadian comedian and actor best known for his role as Tim in APTN’s CAUTION: May Contain Nuts series and his appearances on APTN’s Fish Out of Water, CBC's Still Standing, Murdoch Mysteries, and Loyalist Comedy.
- Jonathan Wiens: Canadian professional basketball player, playing in the G-League for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
- Laura Wiens: Canadian artist and writer based in Manitoba, best known for her comic books and her work on the Music Explorers series.