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Surname Güldenpfenig - Meaning and Origin

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Güldenpfenig: What does the surname Güldenpfenig mean?

Güldenpfenig is a German surname meaning “golden penny” or “golden-pence”. The name originated in the 19th century when it was adopted as a surname to signify a person who worked with valuable coins. The name likely originated from an abundance of gold coins circulating in Germany during the period, indicating that the owner of the name dealt in these coins or worked in some capacity related to them.

The German prefix “Gülden” means “golden”, and the suffix “pfenig” is derived from a German form of the word “penny”, making the name a literal combination of “golden penny”. As a form of currency, the “pfenig” - or “pfennig” as it is more commonly known - had been the coin of choice in Germany since the medieval ages, with the exception of a brief spell during which it was replaced by a French currency. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the name remained closely associated with coins throughout German history.

In more recent times, the surname Güldenpfenig has been adopted by families outside of Germany to indicate a great value on wealth or a great interest in coins and currency. As the last name Güldenpfenig has become more widespread, it’s also come to signify those who appreciate the financial value of having stock or long-term investments.

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Güldenpfenig: Where does the name Güldenpfenig come from?

The last name Güldenpfenig is most commonly found today in Germany. It is a German name that is derived from two roots: "Gülden," meaning "golden," and "pfenig," meaning "coin" or "small money." The literal translation of the name is "golden penny" or "small golden coin."

Güldenpfenig is primarily a regional German surname and is most commonly used in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and parts of Austria. The name is not found much outside of these areas. Records in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia, and Hesse are scarce, indicating a much lower prevalence in those regions.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Güldenpfenig surname was mainly found in western and southern rural Germany. However, migration to larger cities and other parts of the country has led to some expansion of the name's reach. Since the 1950s, there has been significant emigration of people with the name outside of Germany, with today's citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand all having German ancestors with the Güldenpfenig surname.

Overall, Güldenpfenig remains a primarily regional name rooted in German history. It is still found in many of its original locations, yet its reach has extended somewhat over the last century due to waves of emigration.

Variations of the surname Güldenpfenig

Güldenpfenig is a German surname. It is an occupational surname and has variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. The variants of Güldenpfenig include Goeldenpfennig, Goeldenpfenning, Goeldenpfenninger, Goeldenpfenring, Geldenpfenning, Gaeldenpfenning, Gueldenpfenig, Gueldenpfenning, Gulpenfenig and Gulpenfenig.

Güldenpfenig could also have been spelled into alternate spellings in time such as Goldpfenig, Goldenfenig, Guldenfenig, Goldenpforming, Gouldinfenning and Goldingpfenning.

The surnames of the same origin as Güldenpfenig include Pfundpfing, Pfaffenpfing, Faspenpfund, Faspfenpfing, Faspfenpfunden and Pletpfing. All of these surnames are occupational titles and come from the same root word, 'pfing', which means 'an ornament or trinket of gold or silver'.

The occupation most likely referenced by this surname was likely that of a jewelry-maker who worked with gold and silver to create trinkets and ornaments. Some variants such as 'Goldpfenig' even suggest the jewelry-maker made coins or coins to a certain extent. This would also explain why a family might have adopted this occupation name as their surname, since creating coins would have been seen as a profitable occupation in that era.

Therefore, it appears that Güldenpfenig is an occupational surname which has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These spellings, variants and surnames all come from the same root word, 'pfing', and refer to a jewelry-maker who created coins or other trinkets from gold or silver.

Famous people with the name Güldenpfenig

  • Jost Güldenpfennig (German field hockey player)
  • Markus Güldenpfennig (German footballer)
  • Pascal Güldenpfennig (German judoka)
  • Marcel Güldenpfennig (German ice hockey player)
  • Lennard Güldenpfennig (German swimmer)
  • Hannah Güldenpfennig (German explorer and environmentalist)
  • Kalle Güldenpfennig (German footballer)
  • Henning Güldenpfennig (German slalom canoeist)
  • Joanna Güldenpfennig (German composer and musicologist)
  • Jan-Christoph Güldenpfennig (German football coach)

Other surnames

GuldenpfennigGüldenpfennigGüldenpfenning

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