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Surname Zehentner - Meaning and Origin

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Zehentner: What does the surname Zehentner mean?

The last name Zehentner is derived from a German word meaning ‘tenant farmer’, which was a common job during the Middle Ages in Europe. It is an occupational name that was given to a person who was a tenant farmer, as a way of indicating their particular job. This could have been someone who paid rent to a landlord and farmed the land as a form of income, or perhaps a tenant of a village who made sure the land was kept up and managed.

The Tenant Farming system had a few variations in different areas of Germany, but generally meant that a person would rent the land from a property owner, such as a noble or other wealthy landowner, and farm the land. In return, they received some kind of payment or payment in kind, such as food, clothing or other goods. This was how many people obtained food and other essentials in a time before industrialisation.

The last name Zehentner is often found in the German regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which indicates that the vast majority of people to receive this surname originally lived in those areas and were once tenant farmers. It is still used in those parts of Germany today, though many Zehentners have emigrated to other countries around the world.

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Zehentner: Where does the name Zehentner come from?

The last name Zehentner is most commonly found today in Austria, Germany, and Central Europe. It is thought to have derived from the Middle High German term “zenner,” which was a variation of the Middle Latin term “cinnus”, which likely referred to an individual who made or sold items made of zinc.

In Austria, Zehentner is found in the southeastern part of the country, especially in the provinces of Vorarlberg, Carinthia, and Salzburg. It is the 159th most common last name in Austria and is most often spelled Zehentner in that country.

In Germany, Zehentner is most common in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, although it also appears in Thuringia and Saxony. It is the 1,161st most common last name in Germany, where it is also often spelled Zehentner.

In Central Europe, Zehentner is particularly common in Croatia and Slovenia, although it is also found in small numbers in Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland. It is also found in small numbers in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Zehentner

The surname Zehentner can be found in many variations - including Zehntner, Zeintner, Zehetner and Zechtnter, among others. All these names have the same root origin and are derived from the Middle High German word Zehend, which means tithe or tenth.

The patronymic surname Zehentner was first found in Austria as early as the 14th century. This surname is particularly associated with Bavaria and its neighbors. The name was typically given to individuals or families who were assigned to collect tithes or other taxes from the people living in their area, or those who were tithe-payers themselves.

As the name migrated, it is also found spelled as Zehntner, Zentner, Zechentner, Zehender, Zehnder, Zenntner, Zehentnerv, Tshentner, Zehendner and Teahen (monetary term for ‘tenth’). In some German-speaking countries, the surname may also be written as Zentner (Austria) or Zähntner (Germany).

The surname Zehentner is also found in the United States and Canada, most often as an Anglicised version of the original German spelling, mostly among immigrants who immigrated from German-speaking countries.

The same root original is also found in many Jewish surnames, including Zehnder, Azentner and Tshentner.

Famous people with the name Zehentner

  • Gerhard Zehentner, Austrian footballer
  • Gerfried Zehentner, Austrian journalist
  • Karl Zehentner, Austrian-German art historian
  • Clemens Zehentner, German writer and author
  • Andreas Zehentner, Austrian composer
  • Anita Zehentner, Austrian artist
  • Traudl Zehentner, Austrian Olympic cyclist
  • Joseph Zehentner, Chechen-German author and journalist
  • Johann Zehentner, Austrian poet
  • Simon Zehentner, Austrian ski mountaineer

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