Surname Wittgen - Meaning and Origin

Wittgen: What does the surname Wittgen mean?

The surname Wittgen is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German personal name Wichmann or Wigman, which derives from wīg, meaning a ” champion”. The name is composed of two elements: wīg, meaning “war” and mann, meaning “man”. It was used as a term of endearment for strong fighters or warriors in feudal Germany.

The name Wittgen is a patronymic surname, which derives from the father’s given name. It is closely associated with Wittenberg, the city where Martin Luther launched the Reformation, as well as several other Wittgen namesakes.

Wittgen is a common German surname, which is still in use today and is generally found to represent a reputable and distinguished family. It is a sign of strength and courage and those who bear the name often thrive in areas of business, finance, or other entrepreneurial ventures.

Many famous Wittgen German personalities have contributed to the fields of medicine, mathematics, economics, politics, and music. Renowned personalities such as Jürgen Wittgen, Stefan Wittgen, and Anna Wittgenstein have left their mark on the world. All have achieved recognition and respect in their respective fields.

The surname Wittgen speaks of strength, courage, and determination. It is a sign of admiration that many wish to attain. Hundreds of years later, the name Wittgen still stands proud and bold, representing individuals all over the world who continue to use it to prove their dedication to achieving their goals.

Wittgen: Where does the name Wittgen come from?

The last name Wittgen is most commonly found in Germany, with records dating back to before the medieval period. The name is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In addition to Germany, Wittgen is also found in smaller amounts throughout Europe, including Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the Netherlands. Beyond Europe, members of the Wittgen family are scattered across the world with pockets in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Wittgen family originated in the German Rhineland region, with its first known records found in the mid-13th century. The earliest mentions of the Wittgen name were in association with a local ‘noble family’ in the village of Stein. Members of this family later spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. Today, the Wittgen surname is still common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, especially in the Rhineland and Ruhr regions, although its prevalence has declined since the 19th century.

Although the Wittgen name is now found in many countries throughout the world, its origin and connection to the German Rhineland remains strong. Many descendants of the original family still live in the region, and many people with Wittgen in their name are proud of their heritage and its contribution to their identity.

Variations of the surname Wittgen

The surname Wittgen is predominantly associated with Germanic origins, but may be found in other parts of Europe and even the United States. It is a patronymic name derived from the Middle High German personal name Wigand, which means “fighter”.

The variants, spellings and surnames of Wittgen are:

• Wittgens

• Wittgenss

• Wittgenssen

• Wittgenser

• Wittgenstein

• Wiedtgen

• Widtgen

• Wiedemann

• Wyttenstein

• Wytten

• Wettenstein

• Wetten

• Weytgen

• Weitgen

• Vittgen

• Wittmann

• Witgen

• Witnauer

• Witten

• Wittam

• Wittamann

• Withem

• Witemeyr

• Wittens

• Wittenauer

• Watten

The word 'Wittgen' is also found in different spelling variations such as; ‘Wytgen, Wytgen, Wytten, Wytte, Wittgenstein, Wyttenstein, Weitgen, Weytgen, Vittgen, Wittem, Wittemann, Withem, Witemeyr, Wittenauer, Wyttenauer and Wiedemann.

The Wittgen surname is still common in countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and is now also found in other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia. Due to the many variations and spellings of the surname, it is likely that any of the spellings could produce different results when researching the family tree.

Famous people with the name Wittgen

• Adam Wittgen: A German professional golfer who competed in the European Tour through 2003, and is now an instructor at the Lough Erne Golf and Resort.
• Bill Wittgen: A former American soccer player. He is best known for his time in Major League Soccer with the San Jose Clash and Los Angeles Galaxy as well as for his stint with the US national team.
• Roger Wittgen: A former German international football player, who also managed the German national team. He also played for Eintracht Frankfurt, 1. FC Köln and Wuppertaler SV.
• Emil Wittgen: A Swiss-German entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for founding the company Betallic. He was a former member of the board of Mojofab, a Swiss lifestyle magazine.
• Franz Joseph Wittgen: A German professor of mathematics and Emperor William II's private secretary. He was a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences and chairman of the Freie Studentenschaft of Berlin.
• Christian Wey Wittgen: A German entomologist and Philhellene who first described the Hydropsyche polymorpha species of caddisfly.
• steffen Wittgen: A German footballer, who spent five seasons of his footballing career with the club SV Wacker 04 Berlin. He also had stints with Kickers Offenbach, Neuchâtel Xamax, and 1. FSV Mainz 05.
• Johann Peter Wittgen: A German Catholic theologian who served for seventeen years as the archbishop of Trier. He was a major contributor to the German Catholic Church reforms of the late 19th century.

Other surnames

WittgensWittges