Surname Nonnenmacher - Meaning and Origin
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Nonnenmacher: What does the surname Nonnenmacher mean?
The last name "Nonnenmacher" is an occupational surname for a maker of nuns' clothing, derived from the German words “Nonne” meaning “nun” and “macher” meaning “maker.” This surname can be traced back to areas in Germany and surrounding countries where Catholicism was once prevalent.
Although the exact origin of the name is unknown, it is believed to have originated many centuries ago. Records suggest that the surname had been established in medieval times when the Catholic Church was in power. As a result of the decline of the Catholic Church in later centuries, the ancillary trades like that of making nuns’ clothing were no longer in demand. Thus, the name Nonnenmacher became less common.
Many variations of the name Nonnenmacher exist, including nonenmacher, nonnenmacher, nonnemacher, nonenmaker, nonemaker, and nonemacher, all based on the original spelling. Each variation of the last name is likely to be associated with a different region where the craft of making nuns' clothing was either more popular or had a slightly different spelling.
Today, the name Nonnenmacher can be found in areas where the Catholic Church still has a presence, as well as families with German ancestry who have spread all over the world. As this surname is closely associated with religion, it is likely to remain a part of family histories for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisNonnenmacher: Where does the name Nonnenmacher come from?
The surname Nonnenmacher is commonly found in Germany and its surrounding regions today. It is particularly prominent in the Southern Rheinland-Pfalz region, the birthplace of the Nonnenmacher family. Nonnenmachers also continue to populate certain areas in Mosel-Saar, Hessen, and Baden-Württemburg.
Nonnenmacher is said to be derived from the German words Nonna meaning "nun" and machen meaning "to make". This suggests that the name was likely originally given to someone who created clothing and religious garments for nuns. Though the origins of the name are uncertain, records show that the Nonnenmacher surname dates back to the 16th century and was first found in Bavaria.
Throughout the centuries the Nonnenmachers have continued to live in large numbers in the same Rheinland-Pfalz area which they first populated. Many famous people have gone on to acquire the name, including art historian and professor Jean Hughes Nonnenmacher, journalist Jutta Nonnenmacher, and politician Egbert Nonnenmacher.
Today the Nonnenmacher surname can still be found in the towns and villages of Southern Germany, where it is believed to have originated. Its presence is still strongest in the Rheinland-Pfalz region, though it is known to be present in other parts of the country.
Variations of the surname Nonnenmacher
The name Nonnenmacher is an ancient German surname originating in the state of Bavaria where it became popular in the 13th century. Nonnenmacher is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German ‘nonnenmachere’, which means ‘maker of nuns’.
The variant spellings of this surname include Nunnemacher, Nonemacher, Nunemacher, Nonenmacher, Nunemaker, Nunnemaker, and Nonemaker.
Surnames of similar origin and meaning include Nonnemacher, Nonnmaker, Nunemöller, Nonnberg, Nonnenbrucher, and Nonnentreger.
The surname Nonnenmacher today is most commonly found in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Immigrants bearing this name sailed to America, settling in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York during the early 19th century. Later in the late 19th century, more than 100 Nonnenmacher families arrived in the US with the majority of them settling in Pennsylvania and Iowa.
There is also a sizable German and Swiss population bearing the Nonnenmacher name today. Records show that the Nonnenmacher families living in Germany are mainly concentrated in the southern states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. There is also a thriving community of Nonnenmachers in Switzerland residing in the Canton of Zurich.
Nonnenmacher is an interesting occupational surname, but it is unknown when it was first adopted by an individual or family as a hereditary surname. It is believed, however, that it was adopted by a maker of nuns for their profession, and the name slowly gained popularity and spread throughout Germany and eventually to other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Nonnenmacher
- Frank Nonnenmacher, former German football midfielder.
- Stephen Nonnenmacher, American broadcast news anchor and television journalist.
- Gary Nonnenmacher, retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher.
- Leonhard Nonnenmacher, German Baroque lutenist and composer.
- Melanie Nonnenmacher, German radio and television presenter.
- Jens Nonnenmacher, German drummer and member of the bands Haggard and Virgo.
- David Nonnenmacher, former German downhill skier and alpine skier.
- Erhard Nonnenmacher, German composer of stage and incidental music.
- Kaspar Nonnenmacher, Swiss painter.
- Franz Nonnenmacher, German artist who was responsible for the designs for the glass buildings in Düsseldorf.