Surname Wittmayer - Meaning and Origin

Wittmayer: What does the surname Wittmayer mean?

The last name Wittmayer is of German origins and derives from a word meaning ‘wild’ and ‘meadow'. It is likely derived from a combination of the two words ‘wild’ and ‘meer’, meaning meadow or clearing – a reference to the Pugersheim family’s ancestral home of Ysenheim. The Wittmayer family was first documented in Ysenheim in the late 16th century, and is related to several others of the same surname, including the families of Wittmayer Müller, Wittmayer Leis, and Wittmayer Schneider.

The Wittmayer family has since spread to other parts of Germany, and now can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Members of the Wittmayer family have been active in a variety of industries, and have achieved great success in business, law, military service, education, and the performing arts.

The last name Wittmayer is a beautiful and distinguished one, embodying centuries of accomplishment and growth. It is a reminder of a family’s ties to its ancestral home, and exemplifies a commitment to hard work, loyalty, and success across multiple generations.

Wittmayer: Where does the name Wittmayer come from?

The last name Wittmayer is primarily associated with German roots and is most commonly found throughout Germany today. However, it can be seen in other countries across the world such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.

In the United States, the last name Wittmayer is most commonly found in the states of Illinois, Texas, and New York. Within Germany, it is most commonly seen in the state of Bavaria.

The use of the last name Wittmayer dates back to the 12th century when it first appeared in Bavarian documents. It was derived from personal names based on the Middle High German term “wideman”, which translates to “widely distributed”, likely reflecting a migration of the clans bearing its name.

In recent history, notable persons bearing the name Wittmayer include Johannes Wittmayer, who worked as a typesetter in 1844 in Stuttgart, and Dr. Jakob Wittmayer, a German philosopher and theologian from the 19th century.

The last name Wittmayer is still common today, maintained in many families from their German roots. It reflects the personal history of the families it belongs to and is still seen prominently throughout Germany, the United States, and other countries today.

Variations of the surname Wittmayer

Wittmayer is a surname of German, Swiss-German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term "witte magere," or "white chaste," and was initially given to a person or family who had a white complexion or were of pure heritage. The surname is spelled in several different ways, including Wittenmayer, Wittman, Widmania, Widmayer, Vitman, Vittman and Wittemeyer.

Some notable people with the Wittmayer surname include French choir director Luigi Wittmayer, German-born Olympic athlete and horse rider John R. Wittmayer, and French Catholic priest and historian Françoise-François Wittmayer.

All of these variants of the surname stem from the same source but may have slightly different origins depending on the variant. For example, Vittman is a variant of the name found among Ashkenazi Jews and is believed to derive from "vitten," which refers to a "frightened animal." Similarly, Widmania is a variant popular among people living near the German-Czech/Sudetenland border and likely refers to someone living near a spot called "Widman."

The Wittmayer surname is also found in several North American countries, usually as a result of migration from the Germanic regions. In the United States, the surname is primarily located in Pennsylvania county and borough, while in Canada it is found mostly in Ontario. Despite some regional differences in usage and spelling, the Wittmayer surname is ultimately derived from the same source, and all its forms can be traced back to Middle High Germany.

Famous people with the name Wittmayer

• Steven Wittmayer: comedian, actor, television personality and voice actor.
• Richard Wittmayer: Austrian painter and illustrator.
• Joey Wittmayer: leading jazz vocalist and songwriter from the Netherlands.
• Tini Wittmayer: early 20th century Austrian cabaret singer, professional clown and vaudeville performer.
• Gabriela Wittmayer: former figure skater from Austria.
• Menz Wittmayer: German handball player from the late 1950s and early 1960s.
• Margit Wittmayer: opera singer from Austria.
• Christa Wittmayer: Broadway and musical theater performer from Austria.
• Astrid Wittmayer: Austrian actress and producer.
• Thomas Wittmayer: German photographer and travel photographer from Munich.

Other surnames

Wittmayr