Surname Zehnter - Meaning and Origin
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Zehnter: What does the surname Zehnter mean?
The surname Zehnter is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "zenter," which means a tenth. In the Middle Ages, Zehnter was often used to refer to people who paid a tithe to the ruling lords of their region.
Zehnter is an occupational surname for a person who was responsible for collecting and dividing the tenth part of the produce, which was given back to the rulers. This sort of job was often dangerous and seen as a hazardous occupation in the Middle Ages.
The surname Zehnter was, however, associated with nobility and the prestige of the job was something that many people strived for- it was a way to move into the upper classes without having been born into it.
There are many variants of the Zehnter surname, including Tsenter, Zainter, Zenter, Zention, Zenzinger, Tzenter, and Tsenthamer, among many others.
Today, the Zehnter surname is spread throughout Germany, Austria and some parts of Europe such as Poland and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is usually found among the German-speaking people in the region.
Order DNA origin analysisZehnter: Where does the name Zehnter come from?
The last name Zehnter (also spelled Xentner or Zehnter) is most commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This name is also known to have been borne by families which can be traced back to the early Middle Ages in the northern region of Germany. It is believed to have derived from a Germanic personal name beginning with "Zehn," meaning "ten."
Outside of the German-speaking countries, Zehnter is also found in many other parts of the world. In the United States, it is mostly seen in Pennsylvania, where it has been found among the Pennsylvania Dutch population. In Canada, it is found amongst many people of German descent, particularly in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It is also quite popular in some parts of the UK, particularly London and Scotland.
Other than these regions, the surname Zehnter can be found in small numbers in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina, as well as in countries of the former Soviet Union like Lithuania and Russia. While it is not common, individuals who bear the name Zehnter are living among us in all corners of the world.
Variations of the surname Zehnter
The surname Zehnter is an occupational surname derived from German and Jewish languages. It is derived from a German word zehner which means ten or tenth. This surname was originally given to a person who was a recounter of collections or someone who worked with the collection of tenths. This name can be found in various spellings including Zenter, Zinter, Zintre, Tsenter, Tsenter, and Tenter.
In Jewish samaritan language, the surname Zehnter is known as Zehnder, a variant of the surname Zehnter. This name is usually found amongst Sephardic Jews who lived in the Middle East. It also appears in some Jewish German documents as Teiner.
In the Netherlands, this surname is spelled a bit differently and appears as Zenter, Zenterz, Zenthoff and Zenthof. In Austria, the surname is also spelled slightly differently and appears as Zenter or Zinter.
In Sweden and Denmark, Zehnter appears as Tenner. In Denmark, it is also spelled as Tenn or Ten and in Sweden, Tenner is used frequently in the forms of Tennis, Tesser and Tissel.
In Russia, the surname Zehnter is spelled as Cintner or Cinter. This spelling variant is found in various documents written in Russian.
In Scotland, the surname Zehnter is spelled as Tenter and is believed to have been derived from the German word teinten, which means to count.
In the United States, the surname is usually spelled as Zenter but is also seen as Zentner or Zinter. It was found amongst many German-American immigrants who settled in the U.S. during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In conclusion, the surname Zehnter has many variants and spellings across cultures and nationalities. It shows the wide geographical movements and wide acceptance of this surname across the world.
Famous people with the name Zehnter
- Attila Zehnter: Hungarian pro swimmer
- Aurel Zehnter: Austrian designer
- Carina Zehnter: German long distance runner
- Dave Zehnter: American NHL professional hockey player.
- Emil Zehnter: Austrian wrestler
- Hans Zehnter: German mountaineer
- Johann Zehnter: Austrian literary researcher
- Karl Zehnter: German World War II veteran
- Lars Zehnter: Danish actor
- Mike Zehnter: Norwegian media and sports consultant