Surname Wittmair - Meaning and Origin
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Wittmair: What does the surname Wittmair mean?
The last name Wittmair is of German origin and is a habitational surname derived from the name of a place. A “village of Witt” was first recorded in 1225, and the placename likely derives from the Old Germanic personal name Wido or Witho, meaning “wide” or “broad”. The name Wittmair is derived from combining the original people’s name with the word mair, which means “administrator.”
Wittmair is an unusual name, and it’s an uncommon but still well-recognized name in modern Germany, particularly in central and southern Germany. It is also found in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Russia, and the United States.
The Wittmair surname denotes ancestors who were in charge of administering and managing an estate. This indicates that the Wittmairs likely had a high status in their particular family during that time period, making them part of a wealthy and educated elite class.
The Wittmair surname is a representation of these ancestors' long legacy of prosperity, power, and smart leadership. It serves as a reminder of the official and historical responsibilities of the Wittmairs and their countrymen who lived centuries ago. It also speaks to the family’s honor and success in their respective fields.
Order DNA origin analysisWittmair: Where does the name Wittmair come from?
The last name Wittmair is found in several countries around the world but is most commonly associated with Austria. This is likely because it was at one time a popular name in the region. It was also found in Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary.
Today, the surname Wittmair can be found in many countries in Europe, particularly in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also found in North America, notably in parts of Canada and the United States. In these countries, it is most commonly found in regions where German-speaking immigrants settled, such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Oregon.
It is also possible to find people with the Wittmair family name in Australia and New Zealand. Such individuals are likely descendants of German settlers who moved to those countries in the 19th century, looking for a better life outside Germany.
Outside of Europe and North America, the Wittmair surname appears quite rarely. It is mainly found in countries where German communities have long existed, such as South Africa and Brazil. It is also possible to find Wittmair individuals in other countries, such as China, where people of German descent have recently moved in search of a better life.
Variations of the surname Wittmair
The most common variants and spellings of the family name Wittmair are Wittmeier, Wittmeir, Wittmeyr, and Wittmaer. All of these variations indicate the same origin and are interchangeable when searching for individuals belonging to the Wittmair family.
Wittmair is an occupational surname stemming from the Middle High German word ‘wintmâre’ meaning ‘wine farmer’ or ‘vine farmer’. In the Middle Ages, members of the Wittmair family were mainly involved in the winemaking industry, which could explain why it is found in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
Other surnames of the same origin as Wittmair include Wetmair, Wetmeier, Wittmer, Wiedmaier, and Wiedmair. It appears that the ‘Witt’ portion of the surname is the least changed over generations, as all the other surnames still have the ‘Witt’ prefix. Furthermore, the suffix ‘mair’ is most likely derived from the Old High German personal name ‘Marah’.
Due to its regional prominence, there are numerous Wittmair family branches and other alterations of the surname. Although all these variations of the name have different spellings, they all originated from the same branch of the family and each variant can still be traced back to the original Wittmair family.
Famous people with the name Wittmair
- Karl Wittmair (1907–1966), Austrian athlete
- Walter Wittmair (b. 1923), Austrian actor
- Trude Wittmair (1933–2016), Austrian-born German painter
- Heinz Wittmair (1938–2003), Austrian Olympic athlete
- Michael Wittmair (b. 1945), Austrian sculptor
- Günter Wittmair (b. 1948), Austrian-born German painter
- Martin Wittmair (b. 1954), German footballer
- Sabine Wittmair, German ski mountaineer
- Tima Wittmair (b. 1990), Austrian-Swiss slalom canoer
- Verena Wittmair (b. 1997), Austrian slalom canoeist