Surname Weißpfenning - Meaning and Origin

Weißpfenning: What does the surname Weißpfenning mean?

Weißpfenning is an interesting German surname. It is derived from the word “weiss” meaning “white” and “pfenning” meaning “a penny or small coin.” Altogether, the name translates to “white penny.”

This last name has some interesting implications, as it may indicate a specific profession or location of origin. In medieval Germany, a “pfenning” was the name of an official coin, and since it was silver and slightly larger than a penny, it was called the “white penny.” Thus, Weißpfenning may have been a surname given to either a professional money-changer or a moneylender. This could be a particularly appropriate name for those who hailed from the old land of Weißpfenning, near Braunschweig in Germany.

Over time, the name has been slightly adapted and changed, so it is possible to find different variations, such as “Weisspfennig”, “Whitepfenning” or “Weisspfenig”. Regardless of the spelling variation, the meaning remains largely the same and still carries its historical connotations.

In modern times, it is estimated that there are around 225 people with the last name Weißpfenning in Germany. It is a rare surname, but one that carries a bit of the nation’s medieval history within it. Its various spellings are a testament to how flexible names can be, and to how much they can change over time.

Weißpfenning: Where does the name Weißpfenning come from?

The last name Weißpfenning is an old German surname that is still quite common today, primarily in the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It originated from a German preposition that roughly translates into English as “white-headed” and was likely originally a nickname bestowed upon someone with white hair. It is also sometimes found in the form Weisspfennig.

The population density of the “Weißpfenning” surname is highest in Germany where it is found in large numbers throughout the country’s southern regions, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg. It is also quite common in the states of Rhineland Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia and in several eastern regions of Germany such as Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg.

In Austria, Weißpfenning can be found mostly in its easternmost state of Burgenland. It is also found in more moderate levels in the nation’s northern states of Lower Austria and Upper Austria. The surname is also reasonably common in Switzerland, especially in the canton of Zurich.

Outside of German-speaking areas, the surname can also be found in varying levels in other European countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and France. Additionally, there is a small population of people bearing the surname in the United States, Canada, and Australia, where traces of the name can be found in some of the country’s older immigrant and Amish communities.

Variations of the surname Weißpfenning

The surname Weißpfenning is of German origin and originates from a physical place. The various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Whitepfenning, Weispenning, Wespennig, Whitepenning, Weispfein, Weispfenning, Waspenning, and Weisspenning.

The surname Weißpfenning is derived from the Middle High German word weisspfanne, which means "white dish" or "white bowl". In a religious context, it is believed to refer to the Communion chalice, which was originally made of white metal such as tin or pewter, though this is not certain.

The variants of the name all come from the same root word, though they took different twists over time. The different versions of the word were often found in different German-speaking regions, so the name has changed over time as well.

Whitepfenning and Weispenning may be the older spelling variations of the name as they most closely resemble the Middle High German word. Wespennig is also a similar spelling and may have been used in part of Germany.

Whitepenning may have been used in other parts of Germany, and Weispfein and Weispfenning might have been used in Austria and Switzerland. Waspenning may have been used in parts of the German-speaking regions like Bavaria, and Weisspenning may have been used in the parts with French influence.

Famous people with the name Weißpfenning

• Merten Weißpfenning: German comics artist
• Andrea Weißpfenning: German swimming athlete and Paralympic medalist
• Johannes Weißpfenning: German footballer
• Christian Weißpfenning: German composer
• Hans Weißpfenning: German entomologist
• Rainer Weißpfenning: German professor of economics at the University of Bonn
• Melanie Weißpfenning: German skier and alpine ski coach
• Jonas Weißpfenning: German television presenter and actor
• Vladislav Weißpfenning: composer from Russia
• Gerd Weißpfenning: German photographer and filmmaker

Other surnames

Weißpfennig