Surname Ungerer - Meaning and Origin
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Ungerer: What does the surname Ungerer mean?
The last name Ungerer is an German surname, derived from the Old High German personal name Erhard (meaning 'bold, strong-hearted'). It is found primarily on the Rhine River of Germany and Austria, where it could have originated. It is a cognate of other Germanic names like Uerding, Öhringer, or even Urner.
In some cases, the surname Ungerer is derived from the Middle High German word ungere, meaning "conflict, quarrel." However, this is likely rarer than the name having been derived from Erhard.
The surname Ungerer is thought to have been a hereditary name, meaning it was passed down within families over generations, and may have been borne by someone regarded as having desirable characteristics. However, it is also possible that the name belonged to someone who had earned distinction through their accomplishments.
Another possible origin could be from the Middle High German word ungehurer, meaning "spontaneous." This is more likely in some cases due to the fact that the name has been found in various spelling variations, such as Ounger, Unger, and Uunger.
Today, the Ungerer surname is found primarily in the United States, but can be found throughout parts of Europe, particularly in France, Germany, and Belgium.
Order DNA origin analysisUngerer: Where does the name Ungerer come from?
The last name Ungerer is a very common name today, mostly found in central Europe, particularly in Germany, where it is one of the top 100 surnames. It also appears throughout France, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary. In the United States, Ungerer appears in the Midwest, most notably in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Missouri.
The name Ungerer is thought to derive from the German words "unge" meaning "unruly" and "raer" meaning "confederation," suggesting that an individual with this name may have fought alongside a collective of people. Ungerer is an occupational name, originally given to anyone who practiced the profession of ferreting out or restricting the movement of unruly animals.
Ungerer has also been used as a personal name, possibly derived from an Old German personal name "Ungo," or [] "Ongo." It's also possible that the name is derived from the Latin personal name "Ungarus," meaning "Hungarian."
The name has several variations, including Ungehr, Ungeher, Unkehr, as well as other spellings. All of these names are quite common today.
Variations of the surname Ungerer
Ungerer is a German surname that originated from the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old German word “ungere” meaning disobedience or insolence. This family name has many variations and spellings including Unger, Unger, Ungerer, Ungerleider, Ungerlender, Ungerland, and Ungerman.
Ungerer can be found in many countries outside of Germany. For example, in Poland, the variants of Ungerer are Użochowski and Użoga. Użochowski derives from the word "użoga," which means a disobedient dog.
In Hungary, variants of Ungerer include Ungar and Ungvari. The name Ungar derives from “ung” meaning "not good," and “ar” meaning "noble." So the meaning of the name in Hungarian is "not good nobleman."
In Czech and Slovak, the variants of Ungerer include Unger and Ungarova. The name Unger is derived from “ungra" meaning "wild." The meaning of the name Ungarova is "son of Unger."
In Romania, the variants of Ungerer are Ungariu and Ungureanu. The name Ungariu is believed to be derived from "ungur," an archaic word for mare, a female horse. The meaning of the name Ungureanu is uncertain, but it is believed to be derived from "unguru," meaning "stubborn."
In France, the variants of Ungerer are Unger and Ungere. The name Unger is derived from "ungere" meaning "disobedience". The name Ungere is believed to be derived from "ongler," meaning "to nail."
All of these variants of Ungerer are derived from the same root word, however each has its own distinct origin and meaning.
Famous people with the name Ungerer
- Tomi Ungerer: Tomi Ungerer is a French illustrator and author of children’s books as well as political caricature. His works are often controversial, addressing social and political issues. He has received numerous awards for his books, including the 1963 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration.
- Strauss Ungerer: Strauss Ungerer is a South African rugby union player who has represented the Springboks since 2015. He has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award in 2017.
- Kalli Ungerer: Kalli Ungerer is a German ice hockey player currently playing for the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. She was a part of the German national team that won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
- Elmer Ungerer III: Elmer Ungerer III is an American musician and composer specializing in jazz, blues and pop. He has released several solo albums and is the leader of the Elmer Ungerer Group.
- J. Carlyle Ungerer: J. Carlyle Ungerer is an American sculptor, best known for his work in metal and bronze. He is the holder of the National Medal of Arts which he received in 2001.
- John Ungerer: John Ungerer is a Canadian entrepreneur and executive, best known for his work at Internet security company Websense. He was the CEO when the company went public in 2001.