Surname Zentner - Meaning and Origin
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Zentner: What does the surname Zentner mean?
The surname Zentner originates in the German speaking countries of Europe and has been found in the area for centuries. The name is derived from the German word "zentner," which translates to "centner," or “hundredweight.” It is an occupational name, used to denote a kind of merchant who traded in goods that were measured in multiples of hundredweights.
The surnames Zentner and Zentnerin (used to denote a female Zentner) began to be widely used during the Middle Ages, when the use of surnames became more widespread among the peasant and working classes. As the surnames spread throughout Europe, the spelling varied, and was sometimes even changed depending on where a family had settled. Today, the surname Zentner is found in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and more.
A common interpretation of the surname Zentner is “one who deals in hundredweights,” or “one with a concentrated mind.” Some interpret it to mean “honest broker” or “wise man,” given the associations with the trading of goods and the need to think and decide quickly.
The Zentner family name is associated with the idea of a hard-working and down-to-earth person, someone who can be a trusted advisor and dependable business partner. Members of the Zentner family come from a long line of successful traders, and likely embody these traits today.
Order DNA origin analysisZentner: Where does the name Zentner come from?
The last name Zentner has a long history dating back to medieval Germany, and is found in many different countries today. The origins of Zentner stem from the Middle High German word "zintner", meaning "small cent". This was likely a name adopted by merchants or craftsmen who dealt in small coins or measures of weight.
The most common regions with Zentner descendants today include Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. There are also scattered occurrences of the surname in the U.S. and Canada.
In Austria, Zentner is especially common in Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Vienna. It is also found sporadically in Styria and Carinthia. In Germany, the last name is concentrated mainly in Bavaria, with some additional representing in Thuringia. In Switzerland, the Zentner surname is most prominent in the cantons of Zurich, Aargau, Solothurn, and Bern.
In the United States, the surname is found mainly in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, although other states with notable Zentner populations include Wisconsin, Maryland, and New York. In Canada, the surname is found in several provinces, especially Alberta and Manitoba.
Overall, the Zentner surname is still found in many countries throughout the world, although most descendants have roots in Germany and the surrounding regions.
Variations of the surname Zentner
The surname Zentner can take a few different forms, spellings, and variants. The most common of these are Sentner, Zenner, Zeinter, Zeentner, Seentner, Zeintner, Zender, and Sender.
The surname Zentner is of German origin and is derived from the German word "zender", which means penny or gros. It was originally a nickname given to someone who was good with money or was considered to be "rich".
The surname Zentner can be found in Germany, Austria, and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. It is also found in France, Sweden, and the United States. In German-speaking countries, the surname is often pronounced as "tsentner".
The variants of Zentner can also be found in the United States. Zenner and Zender are two popular spellings, while Zeinter, Zeentner, and Zeintner are less common. Sender and Sentner are slightly rarer, and both are derived from the French version of the surname.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, all of the aforementioned spellings are basically variants of the same surname. They are all derived from the German word "zender", and therefore can be considered to have the same origin.
The popularity of the surname Zentner varies from country to country. In Germany, for example, it is among the top 500 most common surnames. In France, it is much less common, and in the United States, it's one of the least common surnames.
Overall, the surname Zentner has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these are more common than others, but all of them can be traced back to the same German word "zender" that originally gave rise to the surname.
Famous people with the name Zentner
- Richard Zentner: a content creator and filmmaker from New York.
- Alexa Zentner: an American author of young adult and middle grade literature.
- Dr. Jennifer Zentner: a professional osteopathic physician serving patients in Pikeville, Kentucky.
- Mark Zentner: a professional ice-hockey player currently playing for the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.
- Pat Zentner: a former professional basketball player in the American Basketball Association for the St. Louis Spirits.
- Ray Zentner: a former professional American football player who played offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League.
- Charlie Zentner: a former Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.
- Katie Zentner: an American pop-rock singer-songwriter and actress.
- Gene Zentner: a former American football halfback in the National Football League who played for the Chicago Cardinals.
- Peter Zentner: a television actor from Canada, best known for his appearances on such shows as CBC's "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" and "Road to Avonlea".