Surname Wientjens - Meaning and Origin

Wientjens: What does the surname Wientjens mean?

The last name Wientjens is a patronymic surname of Dutch and Flemish origin, deriving from a personal forename of Wient. Wient is an old form of the Low German or Frisian name Wigant. In English, Wigant is translated to mean 'Gothic'. The Germanic Goths were a relatively large East Germanic ethnicity that inhabited regions across modern day Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania.

The suffix -jens is a patronymic ending of the name, added to indicate descent from a certain person or family, in this case from the personal family name of Wient. The name Wientjens is also sometimes seen as Wiertjens, systematic variation due to the phonetic variations of different regional language dialects.

The name Wientjens was most likely created by medieval settlers into what is now the Netherlands. This is supported by the fact that more variants of Wientjens are found in the more northern parts of the Netherlands, than in other parts of Europe. People with the surname Wientjens today are located around the world, and are likely descended from Dutch or Flemish ancestors.

Wientjens: Where does the name Wientjens come from?

The last name Wientjens is found most commonly in the Netherlands. It originated in the Gelderland province, which is located along the Rhine and Waal rivers. It is a topographical name that was used to describe people who lived near windmills or who worked at them.

Due to the Dutch diaspora, Wientjens can be found in other parts of Europe including Belgium, Luxembourg, various parts of Germany, and parts of France. Today, it is the 94th most common surname in the Netherlands.

In terms of other countries, it is quite rare. According to Ancestry records, Wientjens is present in around 900 households in the United States and around 500 households in Canada. It is most commonly found in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

The surname Wientjens has spread to other parts of the world due to Dutch emigration over the years. It can now be found in parts of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the Americas.

Overall, Wientjens is most commonly found in the Netherlands today, although due to years of migration and emigration, it can also be found in small numbers in other countries.

Variations of the surname Wientjens

The origin of the surname Wientjens is Dutch. It is derived from two words, first, the name Wijntje, which means Friend, and then from the last name Jens, which means Jan, or John. Variants of the surname include Wientjes, Wientge, Wyntjens, Wyntjes, Wyntge, Wentjens, Wentjes, Wentge, and Wijntjes. Spellings of the surname Wientjes can also include Wientgen, Wyntgen, Weintgen, Wijnntgen, Weintjes, Wijnntjes, Wentgen, and Wijntgen. In some cases, the letter ‘g’ is replaced by the letter ‘z’, so the spellings Wientzen, Wyntzen, Weintzen, and Wijntzen can also be found.

Surnames of similar origin to Wientjens include Vreugdenhil, Verhulst, van der Kolk, van Domburg,Bosch, and Visser. Some of these surnames take on various forms, such as Vischer in North Germany, and Visseur in France. Others, such as Vos, Voes, and Voss, may have originated as spelling variations of the original Vreugdenhil. Similarly, Van der Kolk and Van Domburg may have evolved from Van Kolk and Van Drunen. These changes were likely due to common migrations or regional dialects.

It is important to note that although the origin of the surname Wientjens is Dutch, variations and spellings exist around the world. Those who research their family history may find the name Wientjens in different locations and in many different forms.

Famous people with the name Wientjens

• Hermine Wientjens (1923-2006), Dutch novelist and columnist
• Luc Wientjens (1913-1985), Belgian composer and violinist
• Wolfgang Wientjens (1851-1910), German stained glass artist
• Wilhelmina Wientjens (1844-1917), Dutch painter
• Clemens Wientjens (1888-1957), Dutch diplomat
• Gunnar Wientjens (1877-1937), Norwegian actor
• Willem Wientjens (1911-1993), Dutch sculptor and medal engraver
• Harry Wientjens (1852-1915), Dutch sculptor and medal engraver
• Cor Wientjens (1954-2018), Dutch football midfielder 10.Leavey Wientjens (1879-1945), Dutch athlete

Other surnames

Wientjes