Surname Witten - Meaning and Origin
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Witten: What does the surname Witten mean?
The last name 'Witten' is derived from the Middle High German word 'witten', which translates to 'white, fair, bright'. This is usually used to describe someone’s physical appearance or attributes. In other parts of Germany, this surname is sometimes attributed to loyal service or occupation such as being a copyist or record keeper.
Wittens are known to have a long recorded history in Germany. The earliest mention of this family is in the 14th century when the Wittens swept over Bavaria with great power. Slowly, members of this family began to populate other regions, making it one of the most widespread surnames in Germany. By the 18th century, Wittens were known for their strong militaristic upbringings, and it wasn't until the 19th century that this family became involved in politics.
Today, Wittens are found throughout Germany, the United States, and other parts of the world. Their aspirations remain the same; to build a successful life calling on their strong ideologies of loyalty, intelligence, and hard work. They represent a glimpse into the past and share the endurance of Germany's history and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisWitten: Where does the name Witten come from?
The last name Witten is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, and England. In Germany, it is one of the more common surnames due to it meaning "white" or "light-favored" and was given to people with fair hair or complexion. It is estimated that up to 75,000 people bear this name in Germany alone.
In the United States, the name Witten can trace its ancestry to German immigrants who came to America in the late 1800s seeking better economic opportunities. It is soon found all across America as the immigrants migrated across the country.
In England, the name Witten is found mostly in the Yorkshire region in the North East. It is believed to have come to the area during the 19th century when German immigrants settled in the region. It has since become quite common around this area.
Overall, the last name Witten is a fairly common name, though concentrated mainly in Germany and its surrounding countries; the United States, and England. Due to its German origin, it is sometimes found spelt slightly differently, as Witten is the German spelling of the name, while the English spelling is Wighten.
Variations of the surname Witten
The surname Witten has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The variants of the name Witten includes Wittenberg, Wittin, Wittenauer, Witcher, Witchert, Wittman, Wittmann, Wither, Whitin, Wytton, Wytten, Wyttenbach, Wittener, Witton, Witner, Whitner, Wittens.
The surname Witten has a German origin and is derived from the Old High German form of the personal name Wita, a variation of names such as Wido, Wito and Widukind, which means “wide and brave.” The surname Witten is also an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word “wite”, which means “law-giver”.
The surname Witten can also be spelled as Wythan and Wythen. It can also be variations of the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) name Witan, which means “judge”.
Wittmaier, Wittmeier, and Wittmer are all derivatives of the surname Witten, which is formed by adding the suffix -maier, -meier, and -mer, respectively, usually to denote a person who was a professional, such as a lawyer, magistrate, judge, or steward.
The Slavic spelling of the name is Vitten and the Czech spelling is Vittan.
The Jewish surnames derived from the surname Witten include Wellin, Wieland and Wittel.
There is also the French variant Withenger which is a region-based surname, derived from the name of a place called Withenges in the Norman area of France.
The surname Witten is also found in Scotland, where the variants include Wutten, Wuthen, Wittane and Wuthenure, all of which are derived from the Gaelic personal name Uchtan.
Famous people with the name Witten
- Jason Witten: American football player for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Adam Witten: Professional Counter Strike Global Offensive player and co-founder of Fireacademy esports.
- Max Witten: former professional tennis player from the United States.
- Steve Witten: professional golfer from San Diego, California.
- Matt Witten: actor and playwright known for his roles in Siberia, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and Babylon 5.
- Kami Witten: American interior designer, television personality, and podcaster.
- William Witten: American educational psychologist best known for his research on learning theory.
- Jane Witten: American film producer and writer.
- Tammy Witten: American country music singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
- Bruce Witten: American software engineer and entrepreneur.