Surname Kneidinger - Meaning and Origin
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Kneidinger: What does the surname Kneidinger mean?
The last name Kneidinger is of German origin and has its roots in the Middle High German language. The name is derived from two elements, "knied" meaning knee, and "inger", which is a suffix denoted an inhabitant or follower of a place. Therefore, the name Kneidinger literally translates as "inhabitant of Knee". This early surname is believed to have been taken from someone who lived near a well-known (knee) shaped hill which would have formed a landmark in the landscape.
Kneidinger is an uncommon name that often causes confusion, particularly when tracing one's heritage. There are several variations of the name, such as Neidinger, Knedinger and Kniedinger. It is believed that the church of Kneidinger in Freiburg, Germany is connected with the origin of the name.
Kneidinger is a popular surname amongst members of the German-speaking population of Austria and Bavaria, as well as certain enclaves in the United States and Canada. It is a constant acronym for a hardy and unwavering people who have persevered the generations, and still bear the Kneidinger name today.
Order DNA origin analysisKneidinger: Where does the name Kneidinger come from?
The last name Kneidinger is most common today in Austria and Germany. This is most likely due to the regions' shared history. Kneidinger is a German variants of the spelling of the surname Kniedinger. Meaning that it is a variation of a variation of a long and established Austrian surname.
Kneidinger is thought to have originated from Bavarian and Bavarian-Austrian regions, and is a topographic or regional name from an area known as Knedingen. Knedingen is a district in the city of Ingolstadt, located in Southern Germany. In Ingolstadt, Kneidinger surnames were most recorded in the districts of Unterdorf, Innerdorf, Öberehringen, and Neuehringen.
Today, the surname is scattered around the world, with small concentrations found in the northern and central regions of the United States, and in Australia. Despite this, Austria and Germany remain the primary locations where it remains most prevalent.
Over time, the spelling of the name has been altered slightly to correspond to the dialect of the region in question. This has created variations such as Kneiding, Kneidinger, Kneidinger, Knaeduinger, and Kneidinger, all of which remain somewhat common today.
Variations of the surname Kneidinger
The surname Kneidinger is believed to descend from an old German surname of patronymic origin derived from the given name Kneid, which in turn is derived from the German word knied meaning 'knee' or 'kneeling'. It is likely that the name was originally connected to a physical deformity of the knees, or alternatively, may have been used to refer to a 'kneeler' or someone who regularly kneeled in prayer. The variant forms of Kneidinger range from the original German spelling Kneidinger to other related spellings such as Knydinger, Kneiding, Kneinder, Kneider, Kneidt, Knedler, Knedl, Kneifl, Kneifel, and Knaeble. In terms of surnames of the same origin, possible variants include Neidig, Neideck, Neidegger, Neidhard, and Neidner.
In English-speaking countries, the spelling of Kneidinger is sometimes Anglicised to 'Niedinger' or 'Needinger', although this is not always the case. Some English-language versions of the surname can be found in records of the US Census dating back to the late 19th century, while other variants include Nieder, Niederhauser, Niedermeyer, Neidlinger, Heidlinger, Heydinger, and Kidinger.
Famous people with the name Kneidinger
- Joseph Kneidinger (Austrian painter and engraver)
- Philip Kneidinger (Austrian architect and stage designer)
- Alexander Kneidinger (Austrian engineer and industrialist)
- Albert Kneidinger (Austrian architect and carpenter)
- Thomas Kneidinger (Austrian lawyer and politician)
- Ivan Kneidinger (Czechoslovakian cyclist)
- Johann Kneidinger (Austrian politician)
- Karoline Kneidinger (Austrian botanist and geologist)
- Jan Kneidinger (Czechoslovakian footballer)
- Andrea Kneidinger (Austrian architect)
- August Kneidinger (Austrian alpine skier)
- Emil Kneidinger (Austrian entrepreneur and court bailiff)
- Paul Kneidinger (Austrian alpine skier and Olympian medalist)
- Wilma Kneidinger (Australian silversmith and jewelry designer)
- Franz Kneidinger (Austrian poet and lyricist)
- Viktor Kneidinger (Austrian ice hockey coach and player)
- Johann Kneidinger (Austrian musicologist and composer)
- Alfred Kneidinger (Austrian physicist and professor)
- Ludwig Kneidinger (Austrian lawyer and politician)
- Konstantin Kneidinger (Austrian cinematographer and photographer)