Surname Neufanger - Meaning and Origin

Neufanger: What does the surname Neufanger mean?

The last name Neufanger is of German origin, coming from the words “neu” meaning “new” and “fanger” meaning “capturer”. It is an occupational name given to someone who traps wild animals or birds, which was a common profession in certain parts of Germany. Its literal translation is “new capturer” or “new trapper”.

The name Neufanger is found mostly in Southern Germany, but it is also commonly found in other German speaking countries such as Switzerland and Austria. It also appears in smaller numbers in the Netherlands.

In German the family name Neufanger is usually pronounced as “NOY-fong-ger”. In some cases the spelling of the name has been slightly altered, most commonly to Neuforger and Neuforgi.

The name Neufanger has been in use since the 17th century, making it one of the oldest existing surnames in Germany. As a result, many descendants of this family still proudly carry this name today in tribute to their forebears and their legacy.

Neufanger: Where does the name Neufanger come from?

The last name Neufanger is primarily associated with Germany. It is considered to be a patronymic surname, meaning that it is derived from a personal name, in this case, "Neufang," which literally translates to "new settlement." There is also evidence of the name being found in the Dutch-speaking areas of Belgium, as well as in the Netherlands. Today, the last name Neufanger is still quite common in Germany, as well as other countries with German ancestry, such as Austria, Poland, and the United States.

In the USA, the name can be found in states with large German-American populations, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. It is also common in areas with states who were part of the German-American Migration Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In Europe, the last name is most predominant in Germany and its bordering countries.

Overall, the last name Neufanger is moderately common today. It is mostly associated with German ancestry and can be found in areas with sizable German-American and German-European populations.

Variations of the surname Neufanger

The surname Neufanger is a German name that is derived from the Old German word ‘neufang’, which means ‘new catch’. It is a primarily German name and is most commonly found in countries where German is spoken, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. However, variations of the name can also be found in France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and even Canada.

The primary variants of this surname are Neufanger, Neufang, Neufange, Neufen, and Neufenberger. Other variants include Neufeld, Neufenberger, Neufenboer, Neufandt, Neufelle, Neufleisch, Neufleece, and Neufenko. The anglicized versions or the spellings of the surname that have been changed over the years are Neufonger, Neufanger, and Neufenger.

The surnames that have a similar, but different, origin to the Neufanger surname would include Neufchatel, Neufson, Neufmart, Neufer, Neufsinger, Neufs, Neufus, Neufacher, and Neufoss. All of these surnames originate from the same root word - ‘new’ - and so can be seen as being related.

As the Neufanger surname is particularly old, with records of the name being found as far back as the 16th century in Germany, there are various branches of the family spread across Europe. Despite this, each branch keeps the core German spelling of the name and only varies it slightly according to the country or region in which it is found.

Famous people with the name Neufanger

• MajorGeneral Frederick Neufanger: Frederick Alexander Neufanger served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army in the early 20th century.
• Craig Neufang er: Craig Neufanger is an American attorney and former Democratic Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives in North Carolina's 13th congressional district.
• Tracy Neufanger: Tracy Neufanger is a Canadian former soccer player for the Canadian National Women's Soccer Team.
• Mary Neufanger: Mary Neufanger is an Australian Paralympian who won bronze in the 2000 women's wraparound singles at the Sydney Paralympic Games.
• Lawrence Neufanger: Lawrence Neufanger is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who played three seasons in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers.
• James Neufanger: James Neufanger is a former American college basketball player and current professional basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the SEBA Cadiz team in Spain.
• Eric Neufanger: Eric Neufanger is an American artist best known for his abstracted figurative paintings, drawings and sculpture.
• Pierre Neufanger: Pierre Neufanger is a French disc jockey, radio host and record producer.
• Henry Neufanger: Henry Neufanger was an American engineer and professor who was a pioneer in the development of deepwater shipbuilding.
• Alina Neufanger: Alina Neufanger is an international competitive swimmer who represents Germany.

Other surnames

Neufang