Surname Wittgens - Meaning and Origin

Wittgens: What does the surname Wittgens mean?

The last name Wittgens is derived from the German language and can be translated to mean “wise” or “understanding.” The German root comes from the noun witz, which means “wit” or “cleverness,” and the suffix gens which combines two elements: gent, meaning “kind,” and -s, a possessive suffix. Therefore, the name Wittgens literally means someone who is wise and of a gentle and kind disposition.

The name Wittgens is thought to have originated in central Germany during the 11th century and spread throughout much of Western Europe before eventually making its way to North America. The name has also been known to occur among the Roma (Gypsy) people throughout Europe, most likely as a result of migration.

The Wittgens surname may have been assumed by someone with a particularly keen mind or extraordinary understanding. It is likely that early bearers of the name would have been held in high regard for their wisdom, a trait that is still held in great reverence. Today, those bearing the name Wittgens are likely to view it as a testament to their strength of character, knowledge, and understanding.

Wittgens: Where does the name Wittgens come from?

The last name Wittgens is most commonly found in Germany. Specifically, the name is most commonly seen in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in proximity to large cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, and even Dresden. The surname has been around since the early Middle Ages (around the 11th century). While the exact origin has been lost to history, it is possible that it is a derivative of the old German family names "Witteg" or "Wittig".

Outside of German speaking countries, the name Wittgens can also be found in neighbouring nations such as the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium. Furthermore, the name is also seen in the United States, mainly among German immigrants and their descendants. In 2020, records indicate that there were an estimated 70,000 people with the last name Wittgens living in Germany, 11,000 in the US, and another 9,000 scattered throughout the rest of the world.

Variations of the surname Wittgens

The surname Wittgens has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Wittgenstein, Wittenstein, Wittgenstern, Wittgenstiner, Wittenstern, and Wittgensteiner.

Wittgenstein is the oldest known form of this surname. It is a patronymic form, derived from the given name of Witt, combined with the German word ‘stein’ meaning stone. This form of the surname probably originated from the German region of Hesse around the Sauerland area, where many people were named after their homes and villages.

Wittenstein is another variant of this surname, which is derived from the given name of Witte, combined with the German word ‘stein’. This form of the surname was popular in the Swabia region of Germany.

Wittgenstern is the third variant of this surname, which combines the given name of Witt, with the German word ‘stern’ meaning star. It is likely that this surname refers to someone who was named after a religious symbol, such as the Star of Bethlehem.

Wittgenstiner is a variant of the surname which combines the given name of Witt, with the old German suffix of ‘er’. This form of the surname is rare, but was popular in Saxony around the 16th century.

Wittenstern is a variant of the surname which combines the given name of Witte, with the German word ‘stern’. This form of the surname originated in the Hesse region of Germany.

Wittgensteiner is the final variant of the Wittgens surname, which combines the given name of Witt, with the German word ‘steiner’. This form of the surname was popular in the Bavarian region of Germany around the 16th century.

Famous people with the name Wittgens

• Berndt Wittgens: German film actor, who is well-known for his roles in “Das Wirtshaus im Spessart” (1958) and “Die Legende von Paul and Paula” (1973).
• Margarete Wittgens: German actress who acted in “Unendliche Geschichte” (1984) and “Die Schwarzwaldklinik” (1985).
• Fritz Wittgens: German actor, who appeared in several theatrical plays as well as movies such as “Der Eid des Stephan Huller” (1951).
• Ernst Wittgens: German singer and songwriter, who was known for his popular songs, including “Ohne Krimi geht die Mimi nie ins Bett”, which was a hit song in the 1960s.
• Heinrich Wittgens: German film director who directed “Der schweigende Stern” (1960).
• Günter Wittgens: German poet and dramatist, who is best known for his works “Stadt im Regen” (1972) and “Vom Leiden und Sterben der Menschen” (1978).
• Hans-Dieter Wittgens: German historian and former director of the German Historical Institute in Washington from 2007 until 2014.
• VIII Karl Wittgens: German politician and member of the Bundestag from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).
• Otto Wittgens: German poet and journalist who published a collection of poetry titled “Liederbuch der Liebe” (1951).
• Karsten OG Wittgens: German passive voice scholar who has published several scholarly works, such as “Voice and Person: Passive and Middle Constructions in Romance and Germanic Languages” (1994).

Other surnames

WittgenWittges