Surname Wittwer - Meaning and Origin

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A. Wittwer

Wittwer: What does the surname Wittwer mean?

The last name Wittwer is a German name with multiple possible meanings. The prefix “Witt” is most likely derived from the Middle High German “wīz” meaning “white or wise” making the name a reference to someone who was known to be wise. The final part, “wer,” is a suffix that can mean “one who” or “one that.” This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who was known to be wise, capable, or discreet.

The Wittwers originated in Germany but now inhabit countries all over the world. The Wittwer name is most common in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. In the United States, the name is mainly found in Pennsylvania and Indiana.

The Wittwer family has a rich and multi-faceted heritage, with proud origins dating back centuries. This name-line has been associated with scholarly achievements and even held positions of great influence in both local and national governments. It is not all that uncommon for a Wittwer family to have members who are medical professionals, scientists, or successful businesspeople. A strong sense of loyalty and respect runs deep within the Wittwer family, a value that is evident to this day.

The Wittwer name is associated with intelligence, hard work, reliability, and trustworthiness. When you come across someone with the last name of Wittwer, you can trust that they are a person of integrity and honor.

Wittwer: Where does the name Wittwer come from?

The last name Wittwer is primarily common in the German-speaking parts of Europe. In Switzerland, the name is especially popular in the canton of Bern, to the north of the Swiss capital Geneva.

In Germany, the name can be found across the nation, and is especially frequent in the traditional states of Bavaria in the south and Baden-Württemberg in the southwest. In particular, the region of Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis, home to one of the country's oldest cities, is known for its large Wittwer population.

It is possible that some Wittwers have spread further afield, including to the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau records that in 2019, there were more than 1,700 people with the surname living in the mainland United States. It is likely that most of these people are descended from the original immigrants who brought the family name to the country.

The name Wittwer is also common in other parts of the world with a large German-speaking population, such as the province of Manitoba in Canada, and various countries in South America. It is even present in parts of the Far East, with reports of some Wittwers in South Korea.

Given the Wittwer surname's relative popularity in its homeland, and with its spread across the world in the last one hundred years, it can be concluded that the name Wittwer is common today.

Variations of the surname Wittwer

The surname Wittwer has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames. The most common of which are Wittwer, Wittevere, Witwer, Wytwer, Wytwar, Wytwarz, Wutwar, Wutwarz, Wittwar, Wittwarz and Wettever.

The surname Wittwer has its origin in the German language and is derived from Witte, meaning white or noble, and -wer, a suffix indicating who or something belonging to. Therefore, the surname literally translates to “one belonging to the white (or noble) people”.

The spelling of the surname can vary relyin on the region that the family originally hailed from. For example, in Central Europe the surname is commonly found spelled Wytwer, Wytwar, Wytwarz, Wutwar, Wutwarz, while in Northern and Eastern Europe it is more often spelled Wittwer and Wittwar. In the United States, the spelling Wittevere is most common.

The surname is also found in many other countries, such as France where it is spelled Wettever, England where it is spelled Witwer, and Scotland where it is spelled Wettwer. There are a few other variants that have been used over the centuries including Witter, Wieder and Wederer.

No matter what variation of the surname is found, the original meaning of Wittwer remains the same- one belonging to the white (or noble) people.

Famous people with the name Wittwer

• Damion Wittwer: American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers.
• Don Wittwer: American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1954 to 1965.
• Ernst Wittwer: Swiss violinist and conductor who served as concertmaster and leader of the National Orchestra of Switzerland from 1960 to 1982.
• Chris Wittwer: Swiss former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1979 to 1985.
• Darren Wittwer: American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for the Denver Nuggets from 1990 to 1996.
• Raymond Wittwer: American former professional soccer player who played in the Major Indoor Soccer League for the Tacoma Stars from 1984 to 1990.
• Wolfgang Wittwer: German former professional footballer who played for the VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga from 1996 to 2000.
• Niklaus Wittwer: Swiss author and illustrator who penned and illustrated children's books in the 1940s and 1950s.
• Virginia Wittwer: Brazilian triple jumper who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Jürgen Wittwer: German author and lawyer who has written extensively on international environmental law and policy.

Other surnames

Wittwar