Surname Querengäßer - Meaning and Origin
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Querengäßer: What does the surname Querengäßer mean?
The surname Querengäßer is a German toponymic surname derived from Querengäß, which is a type of narrow street or alley found in German cities and towns. It appears to have emerged as a surname in the late nineteenth century, likely as a result of a growing population and increasing urbanization.
The literal meaning of the term Querengäß is “cross alley”, referring to cross streets in a city between two main roads. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or owned an alley of a similar shape, suggesting that Querengäßer is an occupational or habitational surname for someone who lived in or near such a street.
Over time, however, this family name may have come to refer to more than just a street; many Querengäßer families today can trace their roots back to a specific city or region, suggesting that it has evolved into an ancestral surname as well.
Aside from the common German surname variants, Querengäßer may also appear as Querenberger, Querinberger, Queringeßer, or Queringer.
Order DNA origin analysisQuerengäßer: Where does the name Querengäßer come from?
The last name Querengäßer is quite common today and can mostly be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other surrounding countries. It is believed to be a relatively old last name, dating back to the 12th-14th centuries, when it was employed by various noble families in the Weinviertel region of Austria, before migrating to other countries over time.
The 'Querengaeser' spelling of this surname is derived from the Middle High German 'Querdencker', which translates to 'Crook-Thinker'. This is based on the original Latin 'quercus' - 'a kind of oak', which in turn is derived from the proto-Indo-European 'perku'.
Nowadays, Querengäßer is still in use primarily in the area of the Lower Austria and Austria-Hungary region, as well as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, and South Tyrol. Most likely this is due to migratory efforts of families across borders of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and the modern-day European Union.
In the United States, the name is featured in the Social Security Administration's top 1000 last names since the 1800s, largely due to European immigrants, and the Population Statistics in the Sweden Database suggests that since 1880, the name Querengäßer is common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other related countries.
Variations of the surname Querengäßer
Querengäßer is a German surname originating from the Middle High German "querne gaßer", which translates to "street swivel". This surname is said to have been given to people who lived on a cross street or in the vicinity of such a street. Variants of the surname include Querengasser, Querengaesser, Querengaeser, Querenkaeser, Querenkasser, Querenkaesser, Quernekaeser, Quernegasser, and Quernekaesser.
Though Querengäßer is a German name, it can be found in other countries, mainly thanks to migration. This has led to variations and spellings of the same name in different countries. Some of these international variants and spellings of Querengäßer include Kwarengasser (Poland), Kwarengasser (United States), Kwarengasser (Lithuania), and Kwarengasser (Czech Republic).
The surnames Querengäßer, Querengasser, Kwarengasser (Poland, United States, Lithuania, and Czech Republic) all originate from the same German name, Querengäßer. People bearing these different surnames can trace their lineages back to the same familial roots in Germany.
Famous people with the name Querengäßer
- Jean Querengässer: French watercolorist from the early 1900s.
- Emma Querengässer: German archivist, historian, and film producer.
- Friedhelm Querengässer: German environmental and landscape planning specialist.
- Alfred Querengässer: 20th century German architect, sculptor, and professor.
- Uwe Querengässer: German Hessian court of appeal judge.
- Charly Querengässer: 20th century German singer and entertainer.
- Marita Querengässer: 20th century German painter and sculptor.
- Jürgen Querengässer: German graphic artist and illustrator.
- Richard Querengässer: Austrian politician.
- Abie Querengässer: Austrian judge.