Surname Wucherpfenning - Meaning and Origin

Wucherpfenning: What does the surname Wucherpfenning mean?

The last name Wucherpfenning is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "wucher," meaning usury or loan sharking. The name is composed of two elements "wucher" and "pfenning," the latter being an old German coin. This indicate the surname is likely derived from a profession, probably of those who committed usury.

Usury was the practice of lending money with interest, historically prohibited by law and/or religious customs. In times gone by, those who violated these rules were often branded as undesirables and viewed with a great deal of suspicion and mistrust. It is this sense of negative stigma that likely led to the evolution of the Wucherpfenning surname.

The term "Wucherpfenning" is thought to refer to someone who is "expensive" or "has to be paid a lot" as a loan shark. In modern German, the equivalent of the surname, Wuchersbank, can be translated to "bank of usurers" or a bank that lends money with extremely high interest rates. The use of the root verb, wuchern, is still used in Germany to refer to people who practice usury, and can also be used collectively to describe loan sharks or loan sharks collectively.

Although usury today is still a prohibited practice, the Wucherpfenning surname has long been part of the German heritage, and is still used in a variety of ways to represent the family name. From its origins as an occupational designation to its continued use as a surname, the Wucherpfenning name continues to represent a fascinating part of German culture and its medieval roots.

Wucherpfenning: Where does the name Wucherpfenning come from?

The last name Wucherpfenning is generally found in Europe, most commonly in Germany. This surname is thought to be of German origin, meaning "keeping an eye on the wheat fields" or referring to the occupation of a wheat gatherer.

Wucherpfenning is a very uncommon name today; it is estimated that there are fewer than 1,000 individuals living with this surname worldwide in 2021. The highest concentration is in Germany, with approximately 500-600 individuals in 2021. There is also an increase in small pockets of individuals with this name in the USA, mainly located around Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio of German ancestry.

The Wucherpfenning name has been most commonly found in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Hesse in Germany, though it has also spread across other parts of Europe. In addition, there are small numbers of Wucherpfenning families in countries such as Belarus, Russia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The name Wucherpfenning is often spelled in a variety of ways. Common variations of the name include Wucherpfennig, Wucherfenning, Wucherpfennig, and Wucherfening. Though the exact origin and meaning of the name is unknown, it is probably derived from the German word “wuchern”, which means “to take care of”.

Today, individuals with the Wucherpfenning name are likely to be connected to Germany or may have some German ancestry. Those living in the USA today are likely to be the descendants of immigrants that settled in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from various parts of Europe.

Variations of the surname Wucherpfenning

The surname Wucherpfenning is of Germanic origin and can be found with several variants and spellings, including Vuckherpfenning, Vucherpfenning, Vockerpfenning, Wukerpfenning, Wuickerpfenning, Voucherpfenning, Wuckeredpfenning and Wucherdiffenning. It is primarily found in Germany, the United States, and other European countries with Germanic roots.

The name is derived from the Old High German words "wucher" and "pfenning", which were ancient coins. It was originally a nickname given to someone who was known to have been given or to have owned many "pfenning" coins. Later, the name would become a surname, and would become a hereditary one for the descendants of the original bearer.

It is important to note that there are many other surnames with the same origin of English origin, such as Voucher and Voucherfing. These surnames are derived from the Old English word "fencen" which meant money. As such, the name Voucher is often seen in England while the name Wucherpfenning is more prominently found on the Continent.

The surnames Wucherpfenning, Voucherpfenning, and Voucher have all been found recorded in church books and parish registers, often in the form of baptisms, marriage records, and burial registers, dating back to the 16th century in Germany.

Famous people with the name Wucherpfenning

• Jessica Wucherpfenning: is a professional German figure skater. She is a former German national junior silver medalist and has competed in several ISU Challenger Series events.
• Dale Wucherpfenning: is an artist from Wisconsin, USA. He is best known for his realistic portrait and wildlife paintings.
• Patricia Wucherpfenning: is an actress and dancer from Canada. She starred in the Canadian production of The Sound of Music in 2016.
• Dick Wucherpfenning: is a former American basketball player. He was an all-star member of the San Diego Clippers in 1975 and remains one of only three Clippers players in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Carl Wucherpfenning: is a German academic in the field of business law. He is currently a professor at the University of Heidelberg and served as the president of the German Society of Business Lawyers from 2000 to 2012.
• Elsa Wucherpfenning: is a German opera singer. She has been performing for over 25 years and has sung in prestigious venues such as the Berlin State Opera.
• Manuel Wucherpfenning: is a German musician and composer. He has composed several scores for film and television.
• Mathias Wucherpfenning: is a German film and television actor. He has appeared in a number of German and international productions, including Dawson's Creek and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Other surnames

Wucherpfennig