Surname Niggewöhner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Niggewöhner: What does the surname Niggewöhner mean?
The last name Niggewöhner is a very old German name, thought to originate from the medieval times. The literal translation of the name translates to nibbler or gnawer in English.
It is believed that this name was given to people who were quite poor, and as a result, had to rely on eating whatever food they could get their hands on. It might also be that the name indicated that the family were known for scavenging - eating whatever food they could find discarded by others.
The name could also indicate that the family was known for raising a specific type of small farm animal such as goats or rabbits. They would have been able to survive off of the small animals, nibbling on them and using their milk and other products to survive.
Whatever the origins of the name, it is likely that it has long been associated with poverty and the need to make the most of whatever resources are available. This speaks to the resilience of the people who have gone before and offers us a unique insight into the history of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisNiggewöhner: Where does the name Niggewöhner come from?
The last name Niggewöhner is most commonly found today in Germany, especially in the states of North-Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is rare outside of Germany, with few records of the name in other European countries.
Niggewöhner is a patronymic surname, derived from a given name starting with the letters "Nigge". This type of name was most often given to children whose father had a similar sounding name. The suffix "wöhner" comes from the German word "Wohnen", meaning "to live", and at some point this became part of the family name as families moved around or relocated to different parts of Germany.
The earliest records of the Niggewöhner family are found in Nordrhein-Westfalen and date back to the 1500s. From there, the name spread across Germany and beyond. Over time, many branches of the Niggewöhners have moved to different regions, both within Germany and abroad.
Today, Niggewöhner remains a common name in Germany, and continues to be a popular choice among families in the region. While it is rare abroad, there are some records of the name in other European countries, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Outside of Europe, there are a few limited occurrences of the name in the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Niggewöhner
The surname Niggewöhner is derived from the Middle High German word negehwür, which means someone who lives nearby or in a field adjacent to another farm. This name is found in the different variations such as Neegwöhner, Neegwhöhner, Näggehwöhner, Nüggenhower, Nüggehwöhner, Nagewoner, Näggehwoner, Nägelwoner, and Niggewöhner. The name has also found its way into some other languages in Europe such as Niggewonner in Germany, Niggewooner in Netherlands, Nagelwoner in Denmark, and Niggelwonne in Switzerland.
The variations of Niggewöhner can also be broken down into a few different elements—Nigge, Nägge, Nügge, and Wöhner. The first element is common in German surnames and means someone who is small or diminutive, and is often associated with the name Nikolaus, which means “victory of the people”. The second element, Wöhner, refers to someone from Wöhr, which is a small town in Bavaria.
When we look at the modern spelling, Niggewöhner, we can break that down into two parts as well: Niggew and Öhner. The Niggew element is derived from the Middle High German words nigele and nonen, which referred to a small person or peasant. The Öhner element is derived from the Old High German word ougen, which means to dread or fear.
In addition to the different spellings of Niggewöhner, some variations have also adopted other similar surnames, such as Niehoff, Niehof, and Niehoven. Similarly, some spellings and surnames are derived from the given names Niggel or Niegel, such as Nigge, Niegge, Neige, and Neigge.
Overall, the surname Niggewöhner has been found over the years in many different spellings and surnames across Europe, and it's thought to have derived from the Middle High German words meaning a nearby resident or a small person.
Famous people with the name Niggewöhner
- Dorothea Wilhelmina Niggewöhner: She was a German artist who focused on painting, drawing, and mixed media.
- Christian Niggewöhner: A German entrepreneur and software developer.
- Christian Niggewöhner Jr.: An American entrepreneur and software developer. He is the son of Christian Niggewöhner Sr.
- Andrea Niggewöhner: A German musician and singer who also works as an actress.
- Sebastian Niggewöhner: A German model and actor.
- David Niggewöhner: A German musician and artist.
- Christoph Niggewöhner: He is a German painter and sculptor.
- Robert Niggewöhner: A German sculptor and painter who specializes in abstract art and installation pieces.
- Marcel Niggewöhner: A German painter who is best known for his works in expressionism.
- Manfred Niggewöhner: A German architect and designer. He’s best known for his collaboration with the Deutscher Werkbund movement.
- Günther Niggewöhner: A German actor and director.
- Henning Niggewöhner: A German actor, director, and screenwriter.
- Werner Niggewöhner: A German photographer and art director.
- Alfred Niggewöhner: A German composer and musicologist.
- Heinrich Niggewöhner: A German professor of art history and author.