Surname Wittiber - Meaning and Origin
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Wittiber: What does the surname Wittiber mean?
The last name Wittiber is of German origin. It is a combination of two words and translates to "white bedroom," originally derived from the Middle High German vitti, which means "white," and berahti, which means "chamber or room." The name is believed to refer to a person who lived in a white-colored room or chamber, or one who was given that name because of their residence. It could also have referred to a person who worked with white fabrics such as cotton, linen, or silk.
Wittibers are believed to be descendants of laborers who lived in the northern regions of Europe, particularly in the areas that are now Germany and the Netherlands. The most common variant of the name is Wittiber, but it can also appear in various other forms, such as Witthauer, Whitebacker, or Whitebane.
Today, the name is still quite popular in Germany and in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. As the popularity of the name grew over time, its meanings have diversified, and it could now mean several different things depending on the context. It could either refer to someone who is intelligent and well-spoken, someone who is wise, or someone who is creative and has an eye for beauty.
Order DNA origin analysisWittiber: Where does the name Wittiber come from?
The last name Wittiber is most commonly found in Germany. According to the German-based genealogy website, Familiennamendatenbank, the last name was recorded in various regions of Germany in the late 1800s, indicating it is a local German surname. Within Germany, Wittiber is particularly focused around the Rhineland and Baden-Württemberg regions.
The surname is also found in Austria, especially around Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Salzburg. It has been noted that those residing in the Austrian regions are descended from the Wittibers who had escaped religious and political persecution from Germany.
Outside of Germany and Austria, the last name is significantly less common and has only begun to spread to other countries in recent times, with emigration from the Germanic countries in the late 19th century. It can be found today in the United States, with the highest concentrations being in New York, Ohio, and California. There is also a smaller presence in Canada and a handful of instances in the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Wittiber
Wittiber is a surname of German origin. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include: Wittibere, Wittiberus, Wittiberius, Wittibehr, Widtibauer, Widtibau, Witibauer, Wittibauer, Wittibaure, Witibaurer and Wittibauer.
Wittiber or its variants are not in the top 1000 names in Germany and therefore could be quite rare. The first known record of the Wittiber surname dates back to the early 17th century when a Hans Wittiber of Bavaria was documented. Wittibers were some of the earliest immigrants to the United States from Europe, with some arriving as early as the late 17th century. Descendants of Wittibers can be found throughout the United States, especially those with roots in Pennsylvania and Maryland, as well as throughout Germany and other German speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland.
The Wittiber family, or variations thereof, may have derived from a combination of two or more personal or professional words, such as “widt” (wise) and “bauer” (farmer). Given the prevalence of both of these words in the German language, it is likely that this is the root of the Wittiber surname. Another theory claims that the Wittiber surname is derived from the German words meaning “white” (weiss) and “bearer” (trager), indicating a person who was a cloth or material bearer.
Given the long history of the Wittiber surname and its variations, today descendants of this surname can be found all over the world. Its variant spellings and surnames help to further broaden the lineage of the Wittiber family and provide an interesting look into its historic roots.
Famous people with the name Wittiber
- Jenna Wittiber: Actress best known for her role as Caitlin in the Disney Channel original movie ‘The Swap’.
- Nick Wittiber: Actor best known for his role in ‘The Middle’ television series.
- Lindsay Wittiber: Actress and singer who’s been in numerous theater productions, most notably landing the lead role in ‘Cats’ on Boehm Stage.
- Dominic Wittiber: Step dancer and contortionist who has been on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and appeared in ‘So You Think You Can Dance’.
- Nathalie Wittiber: Motivational speaker, personal coach, entrepreneur, and author. She is the founder of Viage Coaching, which is focused on empowering millennials to create success in their lives.
- Josh Wittiber: Stand-up comic, actor and writer, best known for his comedy special ‘Josh Wittiber: Groan Out Loud’.
- Courtney Wittiber: Fashion designer featured in Vogue Magazine who specializes in custom dresses that are designed with a modern twist on classic styles.
- Meghan Wittiber: Dancer, choreographer and contortionist who's been cast in numerous dance projects.
- Steven Wittiber: Award-winning composer and orchestrator whose work has been featured on films, television series and albums.
- Stephanie Wittiber: Visual artist who has exhibited her work in galleries around the world. Her art combines photography and digital painting techniques.