Surname Wittich - Meaning and Origin

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H. Wittich

Wittich: What does the surname Wittich mean?

The last name Wittich is believed to have originally derived from German and Scandinavian origins. It is believed that the name was associated with the term "witg" meaning wood or mallow, and the term "ic" meaning "son of". Thus the name Wittich is believed to mean "son of the woodcutter", suggesting that the first holders of the name were likely the workers of a woodcutting profession.

Today, there are numerous Swedish and German citizens who bear the name and it is also fairly common in the United States. In recent history, notable bearers of the name have included prominent American football coach George Wittich, Linda Wittich an acclaimed German sculptor, and renowned Swiss journalist and artist Johanna Wittich.

Additionally, the name is closely associated with Wittich´s Machine, a type of cylindrical drill designed in Germany which is used in the scientific and agricultural industries, and is widely used in professional medical laboratories and research centers due to its precision cutting capabilities.

The name Wittich is believed to be a common one with Germanic and Scandinavian origins. However, the still carries much meaning in the modern day, from the connotations of being skilled in working with wood, to being associated with notable experts in the fields of sports, art and medicine.

Wittich: Where does the name Wittich come from?

The last name Wittich is not found in great abundance today, but is most common in Germany, Austria, and neighboring countries in Central Europe. Specifically, the surname is historically associated with the region of Bohemia, now known as the Czech Republic. The name originated in the Middle Ages, and it is identified with the mediaeval 'fiefs' known as Wittich.

The Old German root of Wittich likely derives from the word ‘Wit’ – meaning 'wood'. This hints at the origin of this family name as those who lived near a wooded area. The name is among the earliest recorded in the region, and first appears in the records of Bohemia in 1326, when a certain Henneke de Wittich was present at a wedding in the area.

Today, the last name is still found in its traditional homeland, especially around the towns of Schönbach, Neuhaus, Kostenetz, and Vranov, which are all located in the Bohemia region. Outside of Central Europe, the Wittich name is widespread in the United States, due to German immigration to the country during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is also seen in countries such as Canada and Australia, which also boast large German-speaking communities.

Variations of the surname Wittich

The surname Wittich can be spelled in various ways, including but not limited to Wyttich, Wittich, Wyttig, Wüttig, Wittig, Wittick, Witticke, Wytech, and Witteck. Other variants of the surname could include Witigi, Witig, Wytik, and Wittzek.

The surname is derived from the Middle High German word "wîz," meaning wise. It was likely originally an occupational surname for one who was wise and cleaver, potentially a teacher or advisor. It is likely related to the surname "Witzig," meaning playful or cunning.

Another version of the surname originates from the Middle High German word "wîz," meaning meadow or flatland. This variant of the surname was likely originally an occupational name for one who lived in a meadow or on flatland.

Wittich and its related surnames have spread throughout Europe, most notably appearing in German regions like Bavaria and Saxony, as well as countries like Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In the United States, the surname is most common in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois.

The spellings of the surname vary depending on the country, but most versions of the surname have the same ultimate origin.

Famous people with the name Wittich

• Brian Wittich: an American journalist and publisher.
• Afra Wittich: a distinguished German physician.
• Lisa Marie Wittich: a director of cabaret, actor, and performance artist.
• Johann Gottfried Wittich: an 18th-century German philosopher.
• Christoph von Wittich: a German musicologist and composer.
• Emil Wittich: a Swiss art historian and museum director.
• Fred Wittich: a professional stunt pilot.
• Leopold Wittich: a German sociologist and politician.
• Henry Wittich: an acclaimed director of over 50 stage plays and ballets.
• Lothar Wittich: a German American painter and sculptor.
• Ulrich Wittich: a German physicist and professor.
• Helmut Wittich: a German photographer known for capturing images of streetscapes and landscapes.
• Rudolph Wittich: a renowned theater actor and stage director in San Francisco.
• Christian Wittich: a Christian theologian and philosopher.
• Mark Wittich: a professional ice hockey player.
• Ernst Eugen Wittich: a German botanist and professor.
• Oliver Wittich: a German bassoonist and conductor.
• Peter Wittich: a German composer, choral director, and pedagogue.
• Wolf Heckmann: a German composer and professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
• Thomas Wittich: an Italian-Austrian physicist and professor.

Other surnames

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Comments or additions to the name "Wittich"

14.04.2024
Another famous Wittich:
Dr. Jane Wittich; Human Anatomist and Professor of Biological Sciences