Surname Zehtner - Meaning and Origin
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Zehtner: What does the surname Zehtner mean?
The last name Zehtner is believed to be of German origin, derived from the Middle High German words “sehte” or “seitte”, which mean “side” or “edge”. This suggests that the original bearer of the name was likely an inhabitant of a geographic boundary, or a guardian of a specific border. As a result, the name came to mean “borderer” or “border-dweller”.
It is possible that the name Zehtner became more widespread as it was adopted by families who moved from one border to another. It has variations in spelling, the most common being Zehetner, Zettner, Seiter, Seittner, and Seidner.
The Zehtner family has a long history in Europe, and records of the name can be found in many regions, including Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary. It is believed to have migrated to other countries from Central and Eastern Europe, and has eventually spread to other countries such as the United States.
Whether originating from a geographic border or not, the name Zehtner is one of many surnames that represent the vast diversity of our global population. It is a great reminder of our heritage and our shared history.
Order DNA origin analysisZehtner: Where does the name Zehtner come from?
The Zehtner surname is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It originated in Switzerland, and Germanic versions of the name are also common in Central Europe and as far east as Ukraine. Zehtner is derived from the Latin root ‘sextarius’, which is an ancient unit of measure. Thus, the name means 'measurer'.
In Germany, the Zehtner surname can be found mainly in the East and Southern portions of the country. In the East, it is most prevalent in Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. In the South, Bavaria is known for its Zehtner families.
In Austria, the Zehtner surname is primarily concentrated in the states of Vorarlberg and Tyrol. It has also been recorded in Vienna.
In Switzerland, Zehtner can be found in the German-speaking cantons of St. Gallen, Zurich, and Valais. It is also present in the French-speaking canton of Valais, likely due to the influence of the German-speaking population in the area.
Given its Germanic origins, it is likely that the Zehtner surname can also be found in other parts of Europe which were historically connected to Germany or Austria. This could include some parts of Poland, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Belarus. It is possible that there may also be some Zehtner families in the United States, as the name could have been carried over with German and Austrian immigrants who came to America in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Variations of the surname Zehtner
The surname Zehtner is a German and Swiss surname, derived from the Middle German word zatner, meaning "a dyer of cloth". There are a few variants of the surname Zehtner such as Zaitner, Zatner, Zahtner, Zatnauer, Zathner, Zeidner, and Zeittner.
In German, the surname Zehtner is often anglicized as Zeidner, with the 'e' being dropped in favor of the 'a' in more Americanized versions. In Switzerland, the variant Zaitner is more common, though the spelling Zehnter and Zahtner are also seen.
In the United States, the Zeidner spelling is most commonly found, whilst in Germany, the Zatner spelling is more commonly seen. It is also possible to find the surname Zatnauer in Germany with this spelling owing to its Austrian and Bavarian variants.
Surnames of the same origin may include those derived from the occupation of a "dyer of cloth" such as Zain or Zainner, with the latter spelling believed to originate from Switzerland, popularized by immigrants who had fled the country during the religious upheaval of the late 1600s.
The Zehtner surname has been found in various records throughout Germany and Switzerland, and likely originated in the German region of North Germany or even Silesia. Due to the German migration of the 1700s, it is likely that the surname Zehtner has been passed on to other countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and other parts of Europe.
Famous people with the name Zehtner
- Clara Zehtner: an American field hockey player who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Shannon Zehtner: an American professional basketball player and scout
- Sandra Zehtner: a Cuban-Australian actress and writer
- Jürgen Zehtner: a German-American jazz saxophonist and wind instrument maker
- Rowena Zehtner: a British stage and television actress
- Christine Zehtner: an Austrian-American medical doctor and professor
- Tom Zehtner: a Dutch-American cyclist and stuntman
- Moritz Zehtner: a Hungarian-German film director
- Wilhelm Zehtner: an Austrian-American architect and cultural historian
- George Zehtner: an American gold medalist in the 1908 Summer Olympics