Surname Württenberger - Meaning and Origin
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Württenberger: What does the surname Württenberger mean?
The last name Württenberger is an occupational surname derived from the German term Württemberger, which means "Württemberg man". The name originally appears to have been applied to people who were native to the Kingdom of Württemberg, a region located in the German southwest between Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. This region has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages, when it was ruled by Counts and Dukes of Württemberg from the 10th century onwards.
The surname Württenberger was most likely adopted by families who were connected with the Duchy of Württemberg in some way – either by being descended from its ruling family, or by having some other form of connection like being employed at a governmental capacity, or in some other form of trade.
The surname would have become a generic term used to describe anyone from Württemberg so that non-locals could easily differentiate Württemberger from others. This symbolism has become part of the culture of that region and remains so today.
The name has also spread beyond Germany, as thousands of Germans have emigrated to the United States and other countries over the past two hundred years, taking the surname with them. Although it is not a particularly common last name, the literary works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller have been influential in spreading the name more widely. In German, Württenberger translates roughly to "the men and women of Württemberg."
Order DNA origin analysisWürttenberger: Where does the name Württenberger come from?
The last name Württenberger is a rare and localized surname originating from the region of Württemberg, Germany. This region was a historical state of the German Empire, which by the start of the twentieth century came to be one of the constituent parts of the modern nation of Germany. The surname Württenberger is likely derived from the old German words "Wirt" and "Berger", which together mean "Countryman" and indicate a person from a rural area.
Today Württenberger is most commonly encountered in the southern German states of Baden-Württemberg, located in the southwest corner of the country and covering the region of which the Württemberg state was once a part. Here it is still a common surname with a presence in larger cities like Stuttgart, Ulm, Freiburg, and Heilbronn. Elsewhere in Germany, as well as many parts of the world that have had significant emigration from the area, the surname is much less common but can be found in some concentrations in places such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Argentina.
Variations of the surname Württenberger
The surname Württenberger is of German origin, derived from the place-name Württemberg. Variants of the name include Württemberger, Wurtemberger, Wirtemberger, Wurttenburger, Wurtburger, Wirtburger, Wurtemberg, Wurtemburg, Wirtemburg, Wutzemberg, Wutzemburg, Wutzburch and Wurtzburger.
The German language is prone to spelling variation due to differing pronunciation and dialects, and some forms of the name may adopt other suffixes and additional letters for the same basic spelling of the name. The two most common forms of the name are Württemberger and Wurtemberger.
Given the origin of the name, some local variants are expected, such as Wuzemburg, and there are numerous spelling variations of the name known. Wurzbacher, Würzberger, Wurzburger, Würzeburger and Wurzbach are some of these variants.
Names that are believed to be of the same origin as Württenberger include Wurtenberger, Wurttenberger, Würtzenberger, Wurtzenberger, Wurtzenburg, Wurtzenburger, Wurtzenbacher, Wurtzburger and Wurtzbacher.
The name has also taken on some anglicised spellings, such as Wurptemberger and Wurtenburg.
Due to its German origin, many families with this surname may have originally emigrated with different spellings, including Wuerstenburg, Wuerstenburger, Werstenburg, Wirstenberg and Wirstenburg.
Famous people with the name Württenberger
- Felix Württenberger: Felix Wurttenberger is an executive in the German financial services industry. He currently serves as a senior consultant and adviser on corporate finance within Commerzbank, one of the largest banks in Germany.
- Martin Württenberger: Martin Wurttenberger is a German professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Graz 99ers in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL). He was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2005 but chose to stay in Europe where he has had a successful career with various teams.
- Wolfgang Württenberger: Wolfgang Wurttenberger is a former German football player, having featured for 1. FC Nürnberg, FC Kaiserslautern and Borussia Mönchengladbach between 1983 and 1992. He was part of the side that won the Bundesliga in 1988.
- Reinhold Württenberger: Reinhold Wurttenberger is a German novelist and essayist living in Berlin. His novels are mostly published in Germany and focuses on themes such as love, life and relationships.
- Bodo Württenberger: Bodo Wurttenberger is a German architect and urban designer known for his distinctive modernist designs. He has completed many notable projects in Germany, the most famous being the largest shopping center in Berlin.
- Otto Württenberger: Otto Wurttenberger is a German paleontologist and long-time professor of zoology at the University of Freiburg. He is particularly known for his research on fossilized marine life from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.