Surname Witgen - Meaning and Origin

Witgen: What does the surname Witgen mean?

The last name Witgen is an occupational surname of German origin. It can be derived from the Middle High German word "witge", meaning "woodcutter". Historically, the surname would have been given to someone who had worked as a woodcutter, such as a tree-feller or lumberjack.

Today, the surname is still widely used in Germany, and is also present in some other parts of Europe, including Sweden and Hungary. It is most commonly found in areas with a strong German cultural influence and history, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

The variant spellings of the surname include Wittgen and Wiggen. Other less common variants include Wittig and Wittigin. These variations can be attributed to the fact that many of the Germanic languages, such as German and Dutch, use different letter combinations for nouns and verbs.

Overall, the last name Witgen is a rare and interesting surname with a long history. It serves as a testament to the emergence and growth of the German speaking peoples during the Middle Ages, and the contribution they made to European culture.

Witgen: Where does the name Witgen come from?

The last name Witgen is a fairly uncommon last name today, although its origin is German. It is most commonly found in Germany and Belgium, where people with the surname Witgen can trace their ancestry back to the Rhineland area. It can also be found in the United States and Canada, primarily among those who immigrated from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In Germany, the surname Witgen is most common in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. In addition, small numbers of the family can be found throughout Germany, as well as in some other countries, such as the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

In the United States, the most recent places where Witgen families are known to have settled are Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Maryland, and Texas. It is important to note, however, that due to the mobility of immigrants over the years, most Witgen families have moved from their original settlement and today may be found in other states as well.

Overall, the range of where the surname Witgen can be found today is fairly limited, but there are still pockets of the family scattered around the world. As of 2020, the World Names Profiler has approximately 695 people with the last name Witgen registered worldwide.

Variations of the surname Witgen

The surname Witgen is derived from the Old German personal name Wichmann. This name was later spelled as Wigman, Wiceman, Wygman, Wykman, and Wychman. These variants of the surname were used in the Middle Ages.

The surname Witgen can also be found as variations on the spellings of the Old German personal name, such as Witman, Wyttenman, Wietman, Widdeman, and Wytman. These variants may have been used in the Netherlands in the 16th century.

In other regions, the surname Witgen was alternatively spelled Wyten, Wytten, Wittin, Witton, Witon, and Wyten, which were used in England and Scotland during the late Middle Ages, particularly in the north.

The most popular variants related to the surname Witgen include Witting, Wittig, Wittman, Wyttman, Wieting, Wideman, Weiting, Witmann, Witten, Wiedmann, and Wettmann. These were widely used in Germany and Austria during the Middle Ages, and in the Netherlands in the 16th century.

In addition, the surname Witgen can be found as variants in other languages, such as Dutch and French, such as Wagenaar, Wettin, Weitin, Guitin, Cayten, and Bayten.

The variants of the surname Witgen can also be found in the form of patronymic surnames where the given name is added to the surname in order to indicate the relationship between two individuals, such as Wittgen's son, Wittgen’s grandson, Wittgen's child, or Wittingergstr.

Famous people with the name Witgen

• David Witgen: Professional bassist, writer, and producer who has worked with artists like Rob Zombie and Billy Idol.
• Stephen Witgen: Award-winning playwright and screenwriter who is best known for his work on the miniseries Helter Skelter.
• Jerry Witgen: American sculptor whose sculptures are now featured in major art museums throughout the United States.
• Greg Witgen: American flutist, composer, and arranger who has performed with numerous ensembles, including the Santa Fe Jazz Collective and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
• Jordan Witgen: American contemporary artist and sculptor whose work is known for its surreal and abstract nature.
• Brian Witgen: American fashion designer and artist best known for his popular line of men's suits.
• Emilie Witgen: American model and actress who has appeared in music videos for Korn, Blink 182, and Paramore.
• Amber Witgen: Emmy-nominated film and television producer whose work includes the film Happy Accidents.
• Carrie Witgen: Award-winning photographer who works primarily with natural light.
• Eric Witgen: Photographer and filmmaker whose work has been featured in National Geographic Magazine and The Washington Post.

Other surnames

WitgensWitges