Surname Unger - Meaning and Origin
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The DNA test from iGENEA unveiled an unexpected connection to the Unger family line, revealing a rich heritage that spanned over centuries and stretched across continents, causing a profound impact on personal self-understanding.
L. Unger
read moreUnger: What does the surname Unger mean?
The last name Unger is believed to be of German, Austrian or Jewish origin and is likely derived from the German word "unger" meaning "shepherd" or "young man". As such, it was likely originally used as an occupational surname for a shepherd or dairyman. Its meaning could also be a reference to the biblical figure Abraham, referred to in some versions of the bible as "Unger".
The coat of arms for the Unger surname consists of a lion on a red and silver checkered background which has the appearance of a chessboard and typically symbolizes courage and valor. This may be indicative of the symbolic courage of a shepherd or shepherd-like figure.
In Germany, the name Unger is historically prominent and can be traced back to the 1500s in the South German region. In modern Germany, it is still an established surname and is also found in the Jewish culture.
In the United States the name is found in low numbers. Many descend from German, Austrian and Czech immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and New York in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today the surname is still present and is located in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states.
Overall, the last name Unger is likely a reference to the occupation of shepherd or the biblical figure Abraham, with an associated coat of arms that denotes courage or reference to valor. Its history is prominent in Germany, and primarily found in the U.S. in low numbers, the majority of these tracing back to German, Austrian and Czech immigrants.
Order DNA origin analysisUnger: Where does the name Unger come from?
The surname Unger is commonly found in many countries around the world, with the highest concentrations located in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Today, it is most common in Germany, with approximately 75,000 people using the surname, followed by Austria with 18,000, and Poland with 10,000. In terms of regions, the regions of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony are all identified as having a high concentration of Unger families.
In the United States, the surname Unger is most common in Pennsylvania, with an estimated 19,000 people bearing the name, followed by California and Ohio. New York, Maryland, Georgia, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey, and Illinois all have significant numbers of Unger families as well.
The name Unger is quite old and dates back to 8th century Germany, when the name was used to refer to “Unger”, which mean “one from Ung”, a town in Saxony. The name is of Germanic origin and was likely derived from the term “angar”, meaning “clearing” or “open land”. It is also likely that the name was associated with the ancient Frankish kingdom and its tribal peoples.
Today, the surname Unger is still quite common and continues to be held by many people around the world.
Variations of the surname Unger
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Unger are Uenger, Uengerr, Ungerre, Unghr, Ungar, Ungerer, Ungererr, Ungerie, Uinger, Ungir, Uungar, Uungarr, Uungir and Uunger. These variants of the surname Unger are mainly found among people of Central and Eastern European descent, particularly in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland.
The Unger name is derived from the German word “ungar”, which originally meant “not from Hungary”. It referred to a person that was not related to the kingdom of Hungary. Over time, the name was adopted in several countries as a surname. Many of the variants of the Unger name also include the suffix “er”, which was added to the original Unger name to indicate that the person was a descendant of someone bearing the Unger name.
The surname Unger has many variations, which can be found in records all over the world. For example, many of the variants include a suffix, such as "-er" or "-ir", and variations such as "Uengerr", "Ungar", or "Ungerer". Some variations of the prefix "-ung" also exist, such as “Ungir”, “Uungar”, “Uungarr” and “Uunger”.
The variations of this surname may also be a result of the languages spoken in different countries. This could explain why there are multiple variations, which may be derived from German, Austrian or in some versions, Polish.
Famous people with the name Unger
- Travis Unger (American rapper)
- Bruce Unger (Canadian politician)
- Christoph Unger (German astronomer)
- Kónrad Unger (Polish poet and politician)
- Lance Unger (Icelandic-born, Danish singer-songwriter)
- Lisa Unger (American author)
- Mick Unger (American skateboarder)
- Robert Unger (German sociologist and psychologist)
- Isabelle Unger (Portuguese actress)
- Andrew Unger (American baker and author)
- Friedrich Unger (German sculptor and engraver)
- Bibi Unger (American chef and model)
- Horace Unger (American ornithologist)
- Barbara Unger (American poet and artist)
- Joseph Unger (British actor)
- W. G. Unger (American artist)
- Monica Unger (Mexican fashion designer)
- Lewis Unger (American literary scholar)
- Hans Erik Unger (Danish cyclist)
- Berta Unger (Venezuelan journalist)