Surname Wittausch - Meaning and Origin
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Wittausch: What does the surname Wittausch mean?
The last name Wittausch is an occupational surname that originated in Germany and Austria. It is derived from the Middle High German term "wihteuscher," which is an archaic term for a maker of felt hats. The original craft of hat-making no longer exists in the same way, but in its time it was an important industry that produced a wide variety of hats and headwear for many different purposes.
The type of hats made by Wittausch in times past would have ranged from ordinary workers' caps and hats, through caps more suited for businessmen and other professional people, to elaborate, fashionable hats for wealthier individuals and those of high rank in society. The felt used to make these hats was usually a combination of wool and fur, treated with oil and wax that was worked to shape by hand. This felt was combined with elaborate decorations of feathers, stuffed birds, metal findings, and a wide range of other ornaments.
Today, the name Wittausch is just an interesting reminder of past times and the craft of hat making. Felt hats are no longer the popular way to keep heads warm and stylish. Times have changed, and so have the industries that named our families.
Order DNA origin analysisWittausch: Where does the name Wittausch come from?
The last name Wittausch is common today in both Germany and the United States. In Germany, most bearers of the last name Wittausch are found in the former East Germany, near Leipzig. Concentrations of people with the last name Wittausch are additionally found in and around Berlin. In the United States, the majority of individuals with the last name Wittausch live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Many of these individuals are descendants of emigrants who left Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, returning to Germany during World War II, and then returning to the United States again. Many of these individuals are of German-American heritage, and are the descendants of those who initially left Germany for America in the late 19th century. While the last name Wittausch is less common in the United States than other more popular last names, it can still be found in many of the country’s major cities and towns. Today, holders of the last name Wittausch can be found in small towns and big cities across the United States – and, of course, in Germany too.
Variations of the surname Wittausch
The linguistic variations of the surname Wittausch consist of Wittuchi, Wittusch, Witusch, Wittsch, and Wittuš. Additionally, the surname could also be found as Wieczausch, Vitusch, Vitus, Vicius, Wittowitsch, Wittowski, Wittog, Witthaus, Wiedig, Wietsch, Wiedt, Wybitusch, Wybitus, Vitousch and Vituš. Most likely, all of these variants have originated from a single ancestor who had a Germanic name derived from names containing the element 'vit', which means 'wood'.
The Germanic 'vit' element is related to the word for 'forest' or 'woodland', and numerous surnames incorporating it can be found in present-day Europe and North America. In Germany, when surnames were adopted, a common practice was to add an -ausch ending. This method of suffixing was frequently used when to shorten existing names or to denote the person's residence or their occupation. Thus, the name Wittausch may have been adopted to mean 'woodman' or 'wood dweller'.
In North America, the surname Wittausch has been Americanized to Whitmore, Wittmore, and Whitteare, while in the UK it is found as Whitehouse, Whittams, Whittomore, and Whittary. Variations of the same surname are also found in Poland, for example Wittuch, and in Austria, where the spelling is Wittusch. In Australia, the same surname takes the form Wiedenbach.
The Wittausch surname still exists around the world today, in a multitude of different spellings and variations that all link back to the same Germanic root.
Famous people with the name Wittausch
- Eric Wittausch: Professional poker player with over $2 million in career tournament winnings.
- Michael Wittausch: Singer-songwriter from Germany.
- Travis Wittausch: Former NCAA football player and current strength and conditioning coach for University of Minnesota Duluth.
- Kenneth Wittausch: Former US Army general.
- Nathaniel Wittausch: Retired US Army officer and recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.
- Theodore Wittausch: Professional ice hockey player with a long international playing career.
- Dr. Peter Wittausch: International chess master and former president of the Austrian Chess Federation.
- Jeffery Wittausch: Professional football player for the German Football League.
- Anthony Wittausch: Former US Navy pilot and decorated war veteran.
- Madeleine Wittausch: French Olympic Figure Skater.
- Christina Wittausch: US Women's Soccer player and World Cup champion.
- August Wittausch: Austrian and German chess master and chess teacher.
- Arthur Wittausch: Award-winning German film director.
- Kevin Wittausch: World renowned dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor.
- Walter Wittausch: Award-winning German composer and pianist.
- Karl Wittausch: Former German coast guard officer and current Chief of Security for Hamburg International Airport.
- Martin Wittausch: Austrian theater and film actor.
- Donal Wittausch: Award-winning children's costume and set designer.
- Steven Wittausch: Former professional basketball player in the German Basketball League.
- Karen Wittausch: Award-winning Dutch theater and television actress.