Surname Wehnen - Meaning and Origin
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Wehnen: What does the surname Wehnen mean?
The last name Wehnen is believed to be a German surname of ancient origins. It is thought to have originated from a personal name taken from "auwi," a Low German form of Avila, which means “wilful,"” and “haimen," which is a Low German version of Heim, meaning “home.” Therefore, it is possible that the original meaning may have been "one who is wilful in his home."
In modern German, the name Wehnen has retained some of its original meaning, although it should be noted that it has slightly changed over time. Nowadays, it is often associated with a meaning that is similar to "strong-willed." This is believed to have been the case for many centuries, and it continues to refer to someone who is very determined and motivated to see something through to the end.
The surname Wehnen is still fairly common in modern Germany, although it is much more frequently used in the north and western parts of the country. Today, many members of the Wehnen family can be found in the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States, suggesting that it has a long history in Europe and beyond.
Overall, the surname Wehnen is believed to have originated from a personal name of ancient origin and is thought to mean "one who is wilful in his home." Over the centuries, the meaning of the name has changed slightly, with its modern interpretation reflecting the idea of someone who is determined and motivated to see something through.
Order DNA origin analysisWehnen: Where does the name Wehnen come from?
The surname Wehnen is most commonly found in Germany, where it is known as Wöhnen, its original spelling. According to official records, Wehnen was already in use in Germany as early as the 16th century. The name may have originally been derived from the Old German word woen or wohne, which means to rest or to remain, and was likely associated with an ancestral home, estate, or village.
Outside of Germany, the name can now be found in other European countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, data from the 2020 census report reveals that the Wehnen surname is most prevalent in Massachusetts, followed by New York, Ohio, and Indiana. In many parts of the world, the surname may have also preferment in different forms based on language and cultural adaptation.
Thanks to global migration, the Wehnen surname is also becoming more common in other parts of the world, with certain families from Germany having relocated to parts of South America, South Africa, and much of Asia. Just in the US, people bearing the family name Wehnen can be found in 27 of the 50 states. With a continuing movement of people around the world, it can be expected that the Wehnen surname will expand even further in the coming years.
Variations of the surname Wehnen
The surname Wehnen is a German-language surname, derived from the German word “Wein” which means “wine”, and the suffix “en”, which means “resident of”. It can be found spelled in a variety of ways, including: Weinen, Wehne, Wehn, Wehnke, Wahen, and Wahenn. Other forms of this surname are Weingarten and Weinland.
Wehnen is a very old surname found in several countries, including Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The earliest recorded instance of this surname dates back to 1255, in the Palatinate region of Germany. Records also exist of the Wehnen surname in the Rhineland region in the late 1400s and early 1500s, in which several members of the Wehnen family were mentioned.
Other variations of the surname Wehnen include: Wehnt, Wehnert, Wehnle, Wehnes, Weinlein, Woehnen, Wohnen, Wohn, and Wein. Additionally, some non-Germanic spellings of this surname include Winen, Wina, Winon, and Wien.
A variety of spellings and alternate surnames exist for the Wehnen surname. As the surname is quite old, members of the Wehnen family can be found all over the world today.
Famous people with the name Wehnen
- Maike Wehnen: German journalist and voice actress
- Victor Wehnen: former general secretary of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA)
- Emil Wehnen: 19th Century German architect
- Jacob Wehnen: Dutch sculptor
- Priscilla Wehnen: American playwright
- Renate Wehnen: German actress
- Karl Wehnen: German painter
- Dirk Wehnen: German dramatist
- Carl Wehnen: German organ builder
- Anja Wehnen: German politician and Member of the European Parliament