Surname Gönner - Meaning and Origin
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Gönner: What does the surname Gönner mean?
Gönner is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word gönnere, meaning "favorites". This is in reference to government officials such as mayors and sheriffs who were appointed to their positions due to being favored by or related to higher officials.
Gönner may also be a variant spelling of the German surname Gauner, which is derived from the Middle High German gâwer and means "deceiver". This is in reference to people who were considered to be cunning or opportunistic.
The name Gönner first spread among families in central Germany during the Middle Ages. It then spread further throughout Germany as families moved to different areas in search of work or political opportunities. For example, a family named Gönner moved to Ulm, the capital of the Kingdom of Württemberg, during the 16th century.
The Gönner family crest is a shield with three wavy bars on a red background. The three bars may symbolize power, order, and discretion or protection, beauty, and peace.
Today, Gönner is most common in Germany and Austria, but it has spread to Denmark, France, and even the United States. A search on the German genealogy website GenWiki shows around 700 people with the surname Gönner currently registered in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisGönner: Where does the name Gönner come from?
The last name Gönner is most common in Germany. It is a Germanic name and is likely derived from the Middle High German word "Gonre," meaning public official or lord. It may have also been derived from the occupation of "Konrad Gonner," which was a nobleman in Bavaria in the 15th century. The name is also found in France and Switzerland.
In Germany, the last name is especially common in the Rhineland-Palatinate region and the northern region of Bavaria. It is one of the most common names in the city of Berlin as well. The name is also popular in Austria, but is much less prevalent in other countries.
In the United States, the name Gönner is primarily found among people of German descent, especially in states with a strong German cultural heritage. This includes Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. However, the surname is found in other states too.
Due to its German roots, you can also find people with the name Gönner in other countries with large German populations, such as Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. The name is also found in South Africa and Namibia, which have sizable German diasporas as well. The name is less common in other regions, but it is still possible to find people with the last name Gönner across the globe.
Variations of the surname Gönner
The surname Gönner is derived from the Middle Low German word ganne, meaning “one who is pleasant and entertaining”. As a surname, it is a patronymic name and is spelled differently in different regions and languages.
The most common variants of the Gönner family name include Gunner, Günner, Goenner, Gannar, Goener, Goennar, and Gohnner. All of these spellings are derived from the same root word and have been used interchangeably throughout history.
The Gunner and Goenner variants are particularly prominent in Scandinavia, while Günner is more common in Germany. Gannar, Goennar, and Gohnner are the primary variants found in North America, most notably in Pennsylvania, a site of heavy migration from Germany in the 1800s and 1900s. The variations in spelling are due to the difficulties of Anglicizing the Germanic ‘ü’ in written form, resulting in alternate spellings.
Similarly, alternate spelling of surnames also exist, such as Günner, Gunner, Goenner, Goenner, Gannar, Goennar, Goennar, Gohnner, Guner, Gunder, Günder, Kuner, and Kunner.
The Gönner family name can also be found in the form of other surnames, which share the same origin. These include König (King), Ure (father), Sohn (son), Keiter (keeper), and Keult (guardian).
This surname is unique in its range of spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin, all deriving from the Middle Low German word “ganne”, which means pleasant or entertaining.
Famous people with the name Gönner
- Alexander Gönner: a German politician who was the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg from 2011 to 2016.
- Birgit Gönner: a German politician who is a Member of the German Bundestag since 2017 and a representative of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany.
- Hans Gönner: a German sculptor, best known for his outdoor sculpture “The Game”, located in Berlin.
- Meg Gönner: an English comedian, best known for her YouTube channel and her appearance in the series Red Dwarf XI.
- Michael Gönner: a German film producer, director, and actor, best known for films such as “The Baader Meinhof Complex” and “The White Ribbon”.
- Wolfgang Gönner: a German sport shooter who competed in the men's 50 metre rifle three positions event at the 1964 Summer Olympics, finishing in fifth place.
- Camilla Gönner: a German actress best known for her roles in TV series such as “Deutschland 83” and “Berlin Station”.
- Florian Gönner: a German musician and songwriter, best known for his two albums “Desperate Love” and “XY”.
- Cornelius Gönner: a German rower who participated in the men's coxless four event at the 1952 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.