Surname Winterwerber - Meaning and Origin
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Winterwerber: What does the surname Winterwerber mean?
The last name Winterwerber is a German surname. It combines two German words, “Winter” and “Werber”, which mean “Winter” and “salesman” respectively. This suggests that the origin of the name dates back to a time when individuals who engaged in considerable wintertime trading were given a surname to reflect their profession.
The family may have started off as merchants who sold goods in numerous nearby towns during the coldest months of the year, perhaps during markets held during special festivals such as Christmas or Easter, and later moved to trading goods between distant towns. Such endeavours would have taken a great effort in such times as winter often brought with it cold temperatures and less-than-favorable weather conditions.
This surname is likely to have originated in the regions that make up today's Germany and Austria, as many German surnames were derived from occupations or places of origin. The skill and determination needed to successfully complete such winter trading activities likely earned merchants with this name a great amount of respect from those who lived within the community.
Though the reason behind its creation may have become lost with time, the last name Winterwerber has stood the test of time and is now often found not only in Germany and Austria but also in countries like the United States and Canada, where many of its original bearers have emigrated over the years.
Order DNA origin analysisWinterwerber: Where does the name Winterwerber come from?
The last name Winterwerber is most commonly found in a region of the United States stretching from Ohio, across Pennsylvania and up into New York. This area, known as the German Triangle, was highly populated by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and many chose to settle in small rural towns where their German heritage would be preserved. Consequently, many of the last names that were popular amongst these immigrants, such as Winterwerber, remain prominent in the region today.
In the United States, the 2010 U.S. census data ranked Winterwerber as the 4,721st most common surname, with approximately 188 individuals sharing the name. Today, most of those individuals are located in the German Triangle region, specifically in the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Even within those states there are more marked concentrations in certain counties; the U.S. census data indicates that the bulk of the population with this last name resides in Carroll County, Ohio, and Marshall County, Indiana.
Thus, while one might encounter individuals with the last name Winterwerber around the world today, the highest concentration still appears to be in the German Triangle region of the United States.
Variations of the surname Winterwerber
The surname Winterwerber is of German origin and has many variants, spellings and surnames which are derived from this root. The following are some recorded variations of this surname:
• Winterwerber: This is the most typical spelling of the name, and is easily recognizable as a German surname.
• Winterwerb: A shortened version of the surname, this spelling is less common but also of German origin.
• Winterweber: Another common spelling, this is most often seen in active family lines in Bavaria.
• Vinterwöber: This variation of the name is often seen across the western portions of Germany.
• Winnervarber: This spelling has been seen in Dutch-influenced regions of Germany.
• Winterswerber: This is a less common variation of the surname.
• Wenigerwerber: A variation of the name which is mainly seen in the northern regions of Germany.
• Winterforber: This is an incredibly rare variation of the name and is rarely seen outside of rare documents.
• Wienigwerber: The final spelling variation of the surname which is rarely seen in family lines.
Throughout the years, many of the spellings of the last name have changed or faded out. This has resulted in a range of surnames which all stem back to the original Winterwerber family tree. These spellings may include Vinter, Wenterwerb, Winterforbers, Winingerwerber and many others. Although the exact reason behind the vast number of spellings and surnames for this family is not known, it is clear that many of them are related in some form or another.
Famous people with the name Winterwerber
- Michael Winterwerber: German songwriter, composer, and musicologist
- Christophe Winterwerber: French artist
- Kristoffer Winterwerber: German artist
- Bart Winterwerber: Dutch writer and journalist
- Leonid Winterwerber: Ukrainian painter
- Heinrich Winterwerber: Austrian priest
- Carl Winterwerber: German painter
- Frank Winterwerber: Dutch writer
- Jacob Winterwerber: American inventor
- Alfons Winterwerber: German teacher, composer, and musician