Surname Wenige - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wenige: What does the surname Wenige mean?
The last name Wenige is an uncommon German surname. It is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 people in the world that bear this last name. The origin of Wenige is believed to have derived from the Old German word "weninge", which means "one who is noble". It is also thought to be related to the old German word "wenic", meaning "small and thin".
It is likely that the name Wenige was first used as a nickname for someone who was small or thin, and over time it evolved into a surname. In some cases, the name is derived from the trade name of a blacksmith first using the "Wenige" prefix for his products.
The name is associated with the German states of Nordrhein-Westfallen, Sachsen and Baden-Württemberg, with the highest concentration of people with this surname living in the small town of Hannoversch Münden, which is located in the Grafschaft of Niederheid, Westfallen, Germany.
Today, there are many variations of the surname including Weninger, Wening, Weniger, Weninger, Wenig and Wenigmann. There is also a small number of people in North America that bear this last name, likely descended from descendants of German immigrants that immigrated to the United States and Canada during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWenige: Where does the name Wenige come from?
The last name Wenige is most commonly found in East and Central German regions, such as the states of Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt. It is believed to have originated in Old High German words meaning "brave wine," and is believed to have been used as either a personal name or a sign of strength and courage in battle.
Weniges can also be found in some smaller numbers in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, and Finland. In the United States, Wenige is primarily found in Pennsylvania and in parts of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. It is believed that the name was originally brought to America by immigrants from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland who settled in the Midwest in the mid-1800s.
Today, there are numerous variations of the Wenige name, including Wenig, Weniger, Wangige, and Wagneer. Due to the high concentration of German-American immigrants in the Midwest, the name is most commonly found in this region. Despite its relative rarity, it is possible to find Wenige families scattered across the United States and around the world.
Variations of the surname Wenige
Wenige (ranting) is a German name that generally has a toponymic origin, likely derived from a location in Germany of a similar sounding name. It is also likely derived from names of plants with a similar name, such as wenig.
Variations, spellings, and surnames can include but are not limited to:
Wenig, Weinig, Wening, Weenig, Weineg, Waeinig, Weaeinig, Waynig, Waenig
Weniger, Weninger, Weeniger, Wendiger, Weniger, Weineger, Waeiniger, Weiniger, Waeniger, Wseinger
Weninghofer, Weenighofer, Weenigshofer, Wardenghofer, Wenigerhoffer, Weineghofer, Weniggshofer, Weinerghofer, Waenigghofer, Wengghofer
Wenigman, Weenigmann, Wenignman, Weinegman, Waeinigerman, Weaeinigman, Weinigman, Waenigman
Overall, the surname Wenige is a German toponymic surname that generally derives from a location in Germany of a similar sounding name and is quite common today with multiple spelling and surname variants.
Famous people with the name Wenige
- Oliver Wenige: German actor, sometimes credited as Olivier Wenige.
- Arne Wenige: German former footballer.
- Daniela Wenige: German sailor who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Vladimir Wenige: Soviet Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
- Mathias Wenige: German tennis player who competed in the 1946 French Championships.
- Kurt Wenige: German bobsledder who competed in the 1950s.
- Christian Wenige: German judoka who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
- Markus Wenige: German rower who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
- Heinz Wenige: German fencer who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
- Jan Wenige: German handball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.