Surname Witmer - Meaning and Origin
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Witmer: What does the surname Witmer mean?
The surname Witmer is a combination of the Germanic words “wit,” meaning power or authority, and “mar,” meaning famous or renowned. It is a habitational surname, referring to an ancestral place of residence, and is thought to have originated in Bavaria, Germany.
The first recorded record of the Witmer surname appeared in the 13th century in the form of “Witmar” and “Wetmar,” suggesting that the origin of the surname is much older than that. The surname could have been derived from a place that belonged to a person of power or authority, such as a nobleman or a knight. It is thought that the Witmer surname may also have been derived from a soldier’s name, given to a person who had distinguished himself in battle or for some other heroic act.
In the United States, the Witmer surname is most common in Pennsylvania, followed by Ohio and Wisconsin. It is also common in areas where early Germanic immigrants settled such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Today, the Witmer surname continues throughout Europe and the United States. Despite its different origins, Witmer remains an important surname in many family trees.
Order DNA origin analysisWitmer: Where does the name Witmer come from?
The last name Witmer is found predominately in the United States and Canada. In the United States the highest population of the last name is found in Pennsylvania with other significant populations located in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska. Distributed throughout the United States, the last name is mainly concentrated in the Midwest and the East Coast.
In Canada, Witmer is most popular in Ontario, with smaller populations located in Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Within the United States the last name remains a popular name to use as a compound name with variations such as Wieder-Witmer, Willwerth-Witmer and Swinehart-Witmer.
In terms of origin, Witmer has several roots. It is a Germanic name derived from the Germanic personal name Vito, meaning “wood.” Witmer is also considered to be an Americanized spelling of the Swiss name Wittmer, which originates from Middle High German withymâre meaning “willow lake.”
Witmer is a popular name today, and its distribution throughout the United States and Canada makes it a widely distributed name. Despite its numerous variations, it still remains recognizable in all its forms.
Variations of the surname Witmer
The surname Witmer is a derivation of the German name Wimmer. The Wimmer surname means “valley dweller” or “dweller in a valley” and originated from the Germanic word “wimm” which means valley. The various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin of the Witmer surname are the following:
Witmer: This German name is most commonly spelled as “Witmer”.
Wietmer: This variant is spelled as “Wietmer” and is also a German name.
Wimmer: This variant is widely used in German-speaking countries and is spelled as “Wimmer”.
Wymer: It is a variant of the German name “Wimmer” and is spelled as “Wymer”.
Weimer: This German surname is an alternate spelling of "Wimmer" and is spelled as “Weimer”.
Wümmer: This variant is an alternate spelling of “Wimmer” and is spelled as “Wümmer”.
Vitmer: This German variant is spelled as “Vitmer”.
Uitmer: This is another Dutch variant and is spelled as “Uitmer”.
Vatmer: This Dutch variant is spelled as “Vatmer”.
Whitmer: This variant is an Americanized spelling of the German name “Witmer” and is spelled as “Whitmer”.
Vitamyer: This variant is an alternate spelling of “Vitmer” and is spelled as “Vitamyer”.
Vetter: This German surname is an alternate spelling of “Vitmer” and is spelled as “Vetter”.
Vittmer: This variant is an alternate spelling of “Vitmer” and is spelled as “Vittmer”.
Viemmer: This is another variant, which is an alternate spelling of “Vitmer” and is spelled as “Viemmer”.
Vimmer: It is an alternate spelling of “Vimmer” and is spelled as “Vimmer”.
Whitely: This variant is an Americanized spelling of the German name “Witmer” and is spelled as “Whitely”.
Wyant: This Americanized variant is an alternate spelling of “Wymer” and is spelled as “Wyant”.
The surname Witmer, and its many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin provide insight into the German culture and history. Knowing the origin of Witmer may also provide a better understanding of the family history of people who bear the Witmer surname.
Famous people with the name Witmer
- Mark Witmer: Professional Bass Player
- Audrey Michelle Witmer: Professional Actress
- Sarah Witmer: Professional Choreographer
- Jay Witmer: Former President of the Supreme Court of Ohio
- Martin Witmer: Professional Archeologist
- David Witmer: Professional Military Historian
- Stephen Witmer: Professional Pastor
- Stephanie Witmer:Well-known Animal Rights Activist
- Evan Witmer: Professional Visitor's Center Manager
- Damian Witmer: Professional Musician and Songwriter