Surname Wipperfürth - Meaning and Origin
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Wipperfürth: What does the surname Wipperfürth mean?
Wipperfürth is a German surname, originating from the town of Wipperfürth in Barmen, Germany. The name is composed of two parts; ‘Wipper’ which is related to the Dutch language and translates to ‘wick,’ meaning a twisted piece of cotton, while ‘Fürth’ is derived from the term ‘forod’ which translates to ‘furrow,’ describing the long, narrow strip of land commonly found in fields.
The name is associated with German aristocracy of the 17th century, with the first recorded reference to it dated 1671 from a former German prince-bishop. Therefore, Wipperfürth is a prestigious name and is sometimes used as part of titles such as ‘von Wipperfürth’ meaning ‘of Wipperfürth’ to show the family’s affluent heritage.
These aristocratic ties also provide insight into the values associated with the name. They include loyalty, duty, and honor as these are all qualities of someone born into the aristocracy. For those living in the area of Wipperfürth, this respect for tradition and love of the hometown is evident and serves as an important part of their identity.
Today, the Wipperfürth name can be found all around the world. It is still associated with traditional values of respect and honor, and carries an aura of prestige, family heritage, and loyalty which is important to the people whose surname carries it. Those who have it should be proud of their roots and the long and meaningful history of their family name.
Order DNA origin analysisWipperfürth: Where does the name Wipperfürth come from?
The last name Wipperfürth is most commonly found in the region of Germany known as North Rhine-Westphalia. This is a state located in the western part of the country, and is Germany’s most populous, with 17.1 million people.
Within North Rhine-Westphalia, Wipperfürth is most commonly found in the larger cities and towns, mainly those located in the eastern border region such as Köln, Dortmund and Bochum. The surname is also found in many areas to the south, including the cities of Aachen, Bonn and Düsseldorf.
Outside of North Rhine-Westphalia, Wipperfürth is found in other regions of Germany, mainly in the states of Hessen and Schleswig-Holstein. The surname is also found in other European countries such as Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, but at much lower frequencies.
It is likely that the surname is derived from the geographic area around Wipperfürth, which is located in Bergisches Land in North Rhine-Westphalia. One theory is that the surname may have been taken on by people who moved to that region in the Middle Ages and/or Early Modern period.
Finally, Wipperfürth is also found outside of Europe, mainly in the United States. Immigrants from Germany often brought their last names to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries, and so it is not surprising to find Wipperfürth in the US today.
Variations of the surname Wipperfürth
The surname Wipperfürth has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Wippenfürth, Wypfürth, Wippherfürth, Wippperfürth, Wipfürth, and Wippenfürth. These surnames all originated from the old Germanic words 'wippan' (to strike, beat) and 'furh' (wood, forest).
The surname Wipperfürth can also be spelled using three different prepositions, such as ‘van Wipperfürth’, ‘von Wipperfürth’, and ‘von der Wipperfürth’. These prefixes suggest a connection to a place or an estate, but this is not the case as the surname originally comes from an occupational origin (woodcutting).
The surname Wipperfürth is also known by other surnames of similar origin, such as Wippenhammer, Wippenhorn, Wippenkoettcher, Wippenkötter, Wipper, and Wipperer.
In addition, the surname Wipperfürth has been anglicized or Americanized in many cases to "Viper", "Wipper", "Wipere", or "Whipper", as well as sometimes being spelled with the additional letter "e" at the end of the original spelling, making it "Wipperfürthe".
In countries where many of these names are common, such as in Germany and the United States, it is not uncommon to find persons with several different spellings of the same name, which may create some confusion in genealogical research.
Despite the many variants and spelling variations of the surname, each of them can be traced back to the same origin: the term wippan, meaning "to strike, beat", and furh, meaning "wood, forest”.
Famous people with the name Wipperfürth
- Paul Wiperfürth: a German footballer who has made appearances for the German national teams and various international clubs.
- Axel Wiperfürth: a German actor and musician, best known for his role in the television series Unser Charly.
- Inge Wiperfürth: a German actress and cabaret performer.
- Paul Wipperfürth: a German painter who was part of the Munich School.
- Ulrich Wiperfürth: an Austrian ski mountaineer, who is affiliated with the Salzburg SSV.
- Christof Wipperfürth: a German actor best known for his role in the television series Die Fallers.
- Henrik Wipperfürth: a German actor who appeared in several films in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Rüdiger Wipperfürth: a German film director and writer best known for his films Das Boot and Die Stille.
- Hans Wipperfürth: a German journalist and writer best known for his works about the Second World War.
- Till Wipperfürth: a German actor and production designer, who appeared in several films and theatre productions.