Surname Jungfer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jungfer: What does the surname Jungfer mean?
The last name Jungfer is derived from the German word “Jungfrau,” which translates to “young woman,” or “maiden.” As a surname, Jungfer was most likely first used as an occupational name for someone who practiced or worked with maidens, such as a chaperone or even a midwife. Alternatively, it could have also been used as a descriptor to indicate a person’s marital status or social standing. In the Middle Ages, “Jungfrau” could refer to a woman who was unmarried or socially or culturally “untouched” by men. It is also possible that it could have been used to mean an independent, spinster woman—someone who was free from oppressive family or societal methods at the time.
Originally, surnames were used to differentiate between people who had the same name. So, if there was more than one maiden in a town called Maria, for example, one might have been referred to as “Maria Jungfer” as a way of distinguishing her. Jungfer is one of many German surnames that include information about social status, occupation, or even physical characteristics. These surnames can tell us a great deal about the families who carried them—and about the history of the people who inhabited Germany centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisJungfer: Where does the name Jungfer come from?
The last name Jungfer is most commonly found in Germany. Although in recent times Jungfers have emigrated and can be found in many countries around the world, Weser-Ems in the German state of Lower Saxony still has the highest concentration.
The popularity of the name is likely due to its French origin. Its German spelling, Jungfer, is derived from the old French 'Jeune' or 'Young' which was changed to the female-specific form 'Jeune Fille' and eventually to Jungfer. In addition to Germany, Jungfer can be found in countries like the United States, Austria, Canada, and France.
The Jungfer family lineage can be traced back to when people began the use of hereditary surnames. The oldest recorded Jungfer from this family dates back to the year 1720 with Johann Claus Jungfer recorded as living in the small village Weststadt in the district of Hanover.
Jungfers today can be found in various professions such as business owners, healthcare practitioners, and entrepreneurs. When a surname is as oldest, prominent, and as widespread as the Jungfer name, it’s easy to find many prominent people who carry it including Germany's current Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, as well as German footballer Philipp Jungfer.
Variations of the surname Jungfer
The surname Jungfer is a German surname that means "maiden" or "virgin". Variants of this name include Jungfrau, Jungmann, Jungfers, Jungferd, Jungferss, Meingfer, Mingfers, Mingferss, Mingfrau, and Mingmann.
Spellings of Jungfer include Junger, Jungerf, Jungerff, Jungers, Juenger, Jueggers, and Yungers. These spellings may appear in various records, depending upon the dialect spoken at the time of record keeping.
Surnames of the same origin as Jungfer include Jungermann, Junges, Jungerwalt, Jungerwein, Jungfermann, Jungheim, Jungkind, Jungklaus, Junglein, Jungman, Junkell, Junkels, Junker, Jungwirth, Ming, Mingers, Minkers, Minners, and Mingo.
Some of these surnames may also have alternate spellings that are variations of the original Jungfer, such as Mingers becoming Minkers, or Junger becoming Juenger.
The German surname Jungfer has a long history, and many of its variants and spellings survive to this day. It was originally used to denote unmarried youths in some areas of Germany, and is still used to denote unmarried women. It is an occupational surname that was historically used by maids and other unmarried women. Many of its variants and spellings provide insight into the cultural practices and language of the Europeans of that time, as well as the evolution of language over time.
Famous people with the name Jungfer
- Helmut Jungfer: an Austrian actor who has appeared in TV series such as Der Bergdoktor and Die Cleveren
- Bayard Jungfer: a French composer and singer
- Florence Jungfer: an actress who has made appearances in films such as Starbuck and Turbulences
- Johann Jungfer: a German composer and pianist
- Antoine Jungfer: a Belgian actor, best known for his screen performances in films such as Sink or Swim and The Borrowers
- Max Jungfer: a German physicist and active researcher in nanophysics
- Monika Jungfer: a German publisher and editor
- Hans-Jürgen Jungfer: a German economist and professor
- Angelika Jungfer: a German author, known for her book Die dunkle Seite der Monokultur
- Paul Jungfer: a German architect and landscape artist