Surname Morgenstern - Meaning and Origin
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iGENEA DNA Test: Unraveling the Secrets of My Surname, Morgenstern
Before the iGENEA DNA test, Morgenstern was merely my surname. It held an abstract status, barely reflecting any significance beyond surface identity. However, the test results changed this perspective drastically, rendering new meaning and importance to my surname by illuminating my past and reshaping my understanding of myself.
H. Morgenstern
read moreMorgenstern: What does the surname Morgenstern mean?
The last name Morgenstern is a German name that means “morning star”. It is a very common surname in the German-speaking countries of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, where it originated as a patronymic from the given name Morgen (or Moritz). The spelling of Morgenstern has been altered in some cases to its English version Morgenstar.
Morgenstern can be traced back to the middle ages, when the surname Morgen was associated with the word for morning and denoted a person who was a morning person or an early riser. It was also used to refer to someone who was a star of the morning light, i.e. a bright person. The -stern suffix indicates a star or a bright shining light.
The Morgenstern surname was most likely given to someone because of their characteristics and qualities. Whether they were an early riser, a bright light, or a star in their field, the Morgenstern surname was a way of honoring their presence.
Today, it is not only a popular German surname, but can also be found in Jewish families who have origins in Germany. Though the variations of the name have changed over time, the meaning remains the same - “morning star”.
Order DNA origin analysisMorgenstern: Where does the name Morgenstern come from?
Morgenstern is a German surname which is common in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It is also popular among German-Jewish communities that migrated to North and South America, mainly the United States and Brazil.
In the United States, the Morgenstern surname is fairly common, particularly in states with large German-speaking populations like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. In Minnesota alone, there are thousands of people surnamed Morgenstern.
In Brazil, this surname is almost as popular as it is in the United States; many German-Jews fled Germany prior to WWII and settled in Brazil, and the name is still quite prevalent. Generally, in Brazil, the surname is spelled Morgenthau.
Morgenstern is also quite popular in Europe, especially in countries that were either part of the former East German Democratic Republic or were heavily influenced by East Germany. In fact, this surname is among the ten most common in East Germany and countries like Poland and the Czech Republic.
Finally, this surname is also very common in countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Israel. These countries have both Jewish and non-Jewish communities that embraced the German language and culture, so the Morgenstern surname is quite common among them.
Variations of the surname Morgenstern
Morgenstern is a common surname of German origin. It is primarily used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and is derived from the German words 'Morgen' meaning "morning" and 'Stern' meaning "star". Some of the many variants of the name include Morgenstein, Morgenstern, Morgenstrae, Morgenstiehl, Morgensteiner, Morgnant, Morgennant, and Mörgerstab.
In terms of spelling, the simplest versions of the surname are Morgenstern or Morgenstrae, though variants can be found both with double letters and with double-r. Variants with a double-r include Morgenstär and Morgestrer. Variants with a double-n include Morgennant and Mörgernant.
In other countries, the name often changes slightly depending on the language. In the English-speaking world, Morgenstern is sometimes spelled Morningstar, with the same meaning. In Jewish communities, the name is usually spelled Morgenstern, Morgenstern, or Morgenstrae.
In Austria, the name can also be spelled Morgenstrae. It is also common to see the name Morgenstein or Morgenstiehl. In Czechoslovakia, the name is usually seen spelled Morgarten, while in Polish it is usually seen as Morgenstir. In other parts of Germany, the name is usually seen as Morgestrer or Morgester.
The surname Morgenstern can also be found in many other languages including Dutch, French, and Spanish. There are even cases of the surname appearing in non-European countries such as Mexico and Brazil.
In conclusion, the surname Morgenstern has many different spellings and variants throughout the world, as well as different surnames originating from the same base name. Variants include Morgenstein, Morgenstär, Morgennant, Morgenstrae, Morgenstiehl, Morgão (in Portuguese), and many more.
Famous people with the name Morgenstern
- Michael Morgenstern: A professional tennis player who is a winner of the 1987 Australian Open and reached two Grand Slam semifinals.
- Christian Morgenstern: A German poet and humorist whose writings were noted for their outlandishness and absurdity.
- Frank Morgenstern: An American composer who wrote music for popular films such as Dances With Wolves, Die Hard, and Kindergarten Cop.
- James J. Morgenstern: A television producer and director who worked on shows such as Sanford and Son, Night Court, and Family Ties.
- Olivier Morgenstern: A French actor best known for his role as Inspector Jean Larcher in the detective series Les Enquetes Du Commissaire Maigret.
- André Morgenstern: A French bobsledder who competed in the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympic Games.
- Curt Morgenstern: An American actor most notably known for his roles in the Major League films and the television series Babylon 5.
- Katja Morgenstern: A German film and television actress best known for her appearances on Cologne P.D., Tatort, and DSF Firefighters.
- Peter Morgenstern: An Austrian director and writer whose work includes the popular television series Tod in der Schulstube.
- Sandy Morgenstern: An Austrian actress who appeared in films such as Exodus and The Sound of Music.