Surname Wittekind - Meaning and Origin

Wittekind: What does the surname Wittekind mean?

The surname Wittekind is of German origin and is derived from the name Wittekind, meaning "white child". The name was likely first adopted by a family descended from the Saxon folk hero with the same name, Wittekind, or Witikind. According to legend, Wittekind was born the son of a Saxon nobleman near the Weser River in Germany in the late seventh century. He is remembered as a bold freebooter and rebel who fought against the advancing Franks and their Christianity.

The name Wittekind was first found in history in the province of Westphalia, now part of modern day Germany. It is believed that the name was taken initially by those living around the ancient Abbey of Corvey (formerly known as Corbeie) near the city of Höxter in Westphalia. It has also been documented in older church records.

Wittekind is now also a popular given name in Germany and has spread to other countries. It is sometimes used as a surname in the Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. People with the surname often have a strong connection to the Wittekind legend, and those with the first name Wittekind often choose it to symbolise courage and a proud rejection of foreign rule.

Wittekind: Where does the name Wittekind come from?

The last name Wittekind is commonly found in Germany today. The name is derived from an old Germanic personal name meaning “white prince”, and it is believed to be of Frankish origin. It may have been borne by Germanic warriors who settled along the Weser River that flows through central and northern Germany during the Middle Ages.

This last name is most commonly found in the western region of Germany today and in areas along the Weser River. It is also common in the states of Lower Saxony and Hesse with a high concentration around the cities of Frankfurt, Hanover, Bremen, and Hamburg.

The Wittekind family name is particularly strong in the former Duchy of Westphalia, which was once part of the Kingdom of Prussia and is now part of the German state of North Rhine Westphalia. This state is located in the north of Germany and is considered the most populous in the country, with more than 18 million inhabitants.

The Wittekind name has also been recorded in other parts of Europe. It is found among Dutch emigrants in the Netherlands, Belgian immigrants in Belgium, Swiss immigrants in Switzerland, Austrian immigrants in Austria, and Italian immigrants in Italy. Families bearing the name have also been recorded in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries with Germanic populations.

Variations of the surname Wittekind

The surname Wittekind is generally believed to be of German origin, derived from the Germanic personal name WIDO, composed of two elements: WIT, meaning 'white', and KIND, meaning 'child'. As such, variants and spelling of the surname Wittekind include: Wittkind, Wittikind, Wytekind, Wyttikind, Wiedekind, Wytkind, Wietekind, Wietkind, Wietkint and Widkind.

Wittekind and its variants are also common as surnames in many other languages, such as Dutch, Swiss German and Low German. In Dutch, the variants are Wittekind, Wittekindt, Wittekint, Witkint, Widdekind and Widdekint. In Swiss German, the variants are Wytekind, Wytkint, Wiedekind, Wiedkint, Wickingen, Wickingk, Wyčkind and Wyčkint. In Low German, the variants are Witteken and Wytkene.

These variants of the surname Wittekind can also be combined with other surnames, for example, Wittekind-van der Wiel, Wiedekind-van Sasse, Wietkint-Lieden and Widkint-van de Straat.

Some variants have also been adapted to the language of the culture in which the surname has been adopted. In English, for example, some variants are Whitfield, Widfield, Whitefield, Wyett, Wyat, Widd and Wyte. In Spanish, some variants are Wittekinte, Widkinte, Wytinte, Wyetinte and Wyettinte. In French, some variants are Wytekinte, Widkinte, Wytekindte, Wytkindte, Wyetkindte and Widkindte.

Finally, there are variants of the surname Wittekind which have been changed over time due to phonetic transformation of the original name, including Weičkind, Whitkin and Wyitkin.

Famous people with the name Wittekind

• James Wittekind, a German musician, composer, and producer.
• Arthur Edward Wittekind, an American college football coach and sportswriter.
• Jürgen Wittekind, a German composer.
• John Wittekind, a former German Minister of the Interior.
• E. F. Wittekind, a British fighter pilot in World War II.
• William Wittekind, a German boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics. 7.^{8.} Helen Wittekind, a South African actress best known for her role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
• August Wilhelm Wittekind, a German jurist and politician.
• Hans Wittekind, a German former footballer.

Other surnames

Wittekindt