Surname Wittmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Wittmayr: What does the surname Wittmayr mean?
The last name WITTMAYR is of German origin. It is derived from the medieval given name Wido, which was itself derived from the personal name Wido, an old German name composed of the elements wig (battle) and Grim (angry). Over time, the name Wido evolved into WITTMAYR.
Historically, WITTMAYR has been an occupational name, referring to a carpenter or joiner. Alternately, it may have been used to refer to an individual skilled in making furniture or woodwork.
WITTMAYR is a relatively uncommon name in Europe and the United States. Those who do bear the last name tend to be concentrated in certain regions of Germany and Austria, particularly Bavaria.
The surname today remains a proud identifier of an individual's cultural heritage. It is a token of prestigious ancestry, related to one of the most influential nations in Europe from the medieval period to the present day. As a surname denoting a true example of German heritage, WITTMAYR is a meaningful and memorable name to bear.
Order DNA origin analysisWittmayr: Where does the name Wittmayr come from?
The last name Wittmayr is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is derived from the Old German word witta/witthu "white filbert" which is a type of hazelnut. The name was likely originally associated with a person who lived near a place where there were filberts or similar trees.
Wittmayr is a relatively rare name compared to more common Germanic last names like Schmidt and Müller, though it does still exist today. There are approximately 900 Wittmayrs living in Germany, and a further hundred or so in Austria. Most of these people are concentrated in Bavaria and the counties of Upper and Middle Franconia in Germany, and the Steinviertel area of lower Austria.
In Germany, Wittmayr is less common than most other German names, but it is far from unheard of. It was ranked the 39,432nd most common name in 1989, though that number had dropped to 44,382nd by 2019. It is also the 10,905th most popular name in Austria and 30th most common in Bavaria.
The Wittmayr family tree is well-represented in records, as many of the names have been recorded since the Middle Ages. Most were either farmers or manual laborers. Today, many Wittmayrs are still living in Germany and Austria, and many are proud of their heritage and continue share the name with their children.
Variations of the surname Wittmayr
WITTMAYR is an Austro-Bavarian surname that is derived from the German word "Witwe", which means widow. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are as follows:
Witmair, Wittmaier, Wittmeir, Wittmeyer, Wittmayer, Wittmeir, Wittmeyr, Wintmair, Witmaier, Witmeier, Witmeier, Witmeyr, Wintmeir, Wintmeier, Wintmyer, Wintmayer, Wintmeyer, Wittmaer, Wittmair, Wittmaier, Wittmeier, Wittmier, and Wintmair.
Outside of Austria and Bavaria, the old forms of the name are not used anymore, although individual variants are still in use. The modern-day surname has been anglicized to Whitmore and Whitmire, while the Dutch version is "Witmeer", and the French "Wittmaire".
The spelling of the name has changed over time, and it has been variously spelled as Whitmor, Witmair, Wittmayer, Wittamyer, Wittmerer, and Wittamyer, among others. Generally, the first syllable of the surname could have an "I" before the "T", and the "Y", "I", or "E" at the end, denoting regional variations. This surname is likely of Germanic origin, but the exact origin of the name is still unknown.
Overall, WITTMAYR is an uncommon surname with a variety of spellings and variants. Its variants are most common in Austria and Bavaria, though they can also be found in other European countries.
Famous people with the name Wittmayr
- Claudia Wittmayr– German environmental scientist
- Sandra Wittmayr– Soccer player for 1860 Munich
- Fritz Wittmayr– Austrian journalist and news editor
- Anita Wittmayr: German-Swiss actress
- Sebastian Wittmayr– German musician
- Max Wittmayr– German film actor
- Betty Wittmayr– Swiss actress
- Lutz Wittmayr– German author
- Benno Wittmayr– Austrian religious artist
- Dora Wittmayr– German actress
- Josef Wittmayr– Austrian violinist
- Emil Wittmayr– German cyclist 13.Werner Wittmayr– German composer
- Johann Wittmayr– Austrian obstetrician and gynaecologist
- Alexander Wittmayr– Austrian modern pentathlete
- Philipp Wittmayr– German modern pentathlete
- Traudl Wittmayr– German film actress
- Anna Hopfenmüller-Wittmayr– Austrian art historian
- Karl Wittmayr– German journalists
- Clemens Wittmayr– Austrian skier