Surname Wittmar - Meaning and Origin
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Wittmar: What does the surname Wittmar mean?
The last name Wittmar is of German origin. It can be seen as an occupational name, with wit meaning 'white' and mar meaning 'horse'. This may imply that the original bearer of the name was a groom or horse dealer.
This surname can also be seen as a habitational name, stemming from the German town of Wittmar in Landkreis Sachsen-Anhalt.
Wittmar is also a variation of the name Wittmer, which is derived from the Middle High German term ‘witemer’ or ‘witmar’ meaning ‘white lake’ and referring to someone who lived near a white lake.
The earliest recorded mention of the name dates from the 13th century. One record shows a Konrad Wittmar entering the Franziskaner-Kloster of Magdeburg in 1227.
Other historical records indicate the name was adopted by members of the Wittmar family from the region of Brandenburg in the 15th century.
The Wittmar family has spread further afield in modern times, most notably to the US, Canada, Australia and South America.
Today, the Wittmar name is most commonly found in Germany where it has many variations. In the US the name is much rarer, with the 2010 census showing only 157 people bearing the Wittmar name living in the country.
Order DNA origin analysisWittmar: Where does the name Wittmar come from?
The last name Wittmar is most commonly found in Germany and parts of the Netherlands today, as well as in the United States. It originated in the Mittelmark region of Brandenburg, Germany, during the Middle Ages, when surnames were beginning to appear. It is likely that Wittmar was derived from a topographical name or a nickname that indicates the family’s place of origin.
In Germany, the highest concentration of people with the Wittmar surname is in the states of Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and North Rhine-Westphalia. In the Brandenburg area, especially near the city of Brandenburg an der Havel, it is an especially common name, and it is believed to be from this area that the Wittmars from the Netherlands and the United States also trace their origin.
In the Netherlands, the highest concentration is found in several cities in North Holland, including Amsterdam, Goes, and Haarlem. Many Dutch Wittmars moved to the U.S. in the 1800s, and today their descendants are found mainly in the midwestern states of Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
In the United States, the last name did not become truly established until after the country was founded and immigration began. The states with the highest concentration are Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. In modern times, the Wittmar name is still heavily associated with Germany and the Netherlands, and many people with the name have not strayed far from their roots and still live close to the place they were born in Europe.
Variations of the surname Wittmar
The surname Wittmar can have a variety of spellings and variants, as well as different surnames originating from the same initial surname. Some of the common variations and spellings of Wittmar include Wittmer, Wittermark, Wittmark, Wuttmark, Wattmar, and Wuttmar. These variations may also be found in other German-speaking countries as well, as they have adopted their own versions of the spelling.
In addition to these variations, there are also some surnames derived from Wittmar that could be considered similar, such as Wittmair, Wittman, Wittmann, Wittmayer, Wittmeyer, and Witthauer. These variations stem from the German term ‘witt’, which translates to ‘mind’ or ‘cleverness’, meaning these surnames are very likely originating from the same root.
In continental Europe, many of the variations and surnames derived from Wittmar have been used by different tribes, families and countries for centuries. It is thought that the Wittmar family originated in present-day Austria and then spread to many other areas of Europe. However, due to the lack of historical records, this claim can not be confirmed.
Overall, the surname Wittmar has a variety of spellings and derivatives, including several distinct surnames. These variants range from Germany to other European countries, and could even have derived from different tribes. The exact origin and source of these surnames remains unclear, as there is limited evidence to support any one claim.
Famous people with the name Wittmar
- Elton Wittmar: German athlete and Olympic sprinter
- Claudia Wittmar: German politician and Member of Landtag of Bavaria
- Christina Wittmar: German judiciaire
- Pitter Wittmar: German speed skater
- Ferdinand Wittmar: German surgeon and anatomist
- Ladislaus Wittmar: German mathematician
- Sarah Wittmar: German bodybuilder
- Eric Wittmar: American beach volleyball player
- Jace Wittmar: American performer, singer, and filmmaker
- Emma Wittmar: American sculptor and musician