Surname Wittmer - Meaning and Origin
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Wittmer: What does the surname Wittmer mean?
The last name Wittmer is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German “witu” meaning “wood” or “area of woods”, as well as the Olde High German “mar” meaning “manor” or “estate”. Therefore, the surname Wittmer would originally have been used to denote a person who had a manor or estate in a wooded area.
The Wittmer name first began to be used as a surname in central and western parts of Germany in the Middle Ages. It mainly spread through families living in regions such as the Rhineland, Westphalia, Pomerania, Mecklenburg, and Silesia. Later, during the 19th and 20th centuries, this surname spread to North and South America, often relocating with those who migrated out of a mostly German-speaking region.
The Wittmer surname is still quite common today, especially in Germany. In more recent times, it is often used to refer to a person who is well-grounded and of sturdy morals. It can also refer to someone with a keen eye for detail and a willingness to get to the bottom of any issue.
Order DNA origin analysisWittmer: Where does the name Wittmer come from?
The last name Wittmer is most common in Germany, particularly in western and southern Germany. The name is also quite common in many other German-speaking countries around the world, such as Switzerland and Austria. It is also found in parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and California. It is most notably found in Pennsylvania, where it is the 691st most common surname according to the U.S. census from 2000.
The origin of the name Wittmer is believed to come from the Middle High German word "wihter," which means valorous. It is believed to be derived from a first name of someone in the Middle Ages who had such qualities. The surname is also thought to have roots in the Old Germanic word "wituhari," meaning leader. The name Wittmer has been found in records as early as the 1300s, making it one of the oldest surnames in Germany.
Today, the name Wittmer is still quite common. It is believed that there are many thousands of people with the last name Wittmer around the world, of which very few are related. Despite the spread of the name, it is still highly concentrated in Germany.
Variations of the surname Wittmer
The surname Wittmer is of German origin, and means 'person from the white sea'. Variants of the spelling include Wittmaier, Wittmeir, and Wittmair. Less common spellings include Wietmaier, Wietmaire and Wietmeyer.
Wittmer is a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from the first name of the father. Wittmer families who emigrated to other countries may have changed the spelling of their name to make it easier to pronounce in the language of their new home.
In Jewish genealogy, surnames that are of German origin may end with -er, -in, -baum, -burg, -berg, or -geist. In this case, Wittmer can be found as Wittin, Wittener, Wittinbaum, Wittenberg, or Wittengeist.
In some cases, spelling variations, or corruptions, may occur due to the phonetic pronunciation of a name. Names with the Wittmer origin may also be written as Witmer, Whitmer, Whitmire, Wittmar, Wetmar, Widmar, Wytleer, et cetera.
Whilst the spelling, and sometimes the pronunciation, may vary, Wittmer remains a unmistakable surname. It has added to thousands of family histories; offering insight into their German roots.
Famous people with the name Wittmer
- Marcus Wittmer: German film director, writer, and producer
- Max Wittmer: American actor
- Mary Wittmer: American television personality
- Gisela Wittmer: German_born Mexican actress
- Stephanie Wittmer: German actress
- Klaus Wittmer: German Bishop
- Katie Wittmer: American country singer
- Luise Wittmer: German painter
- Markus Wittmer: German sculptor
- Domenic Wittmer: Swiss goalball player