Surname Breitnauer - Meaning and Origin
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Breitnauer: What does the surname Breitnauer mean?
The last name Breitnauer is of German origin and is derived from the German words "breit" (broad) and "nauer" (meadow). This suggests that the original bearers of this surname likely lived in or near a broad meadow. It is also possible that those who bore this name at one time may have referred to themselves as being broad farmers, referring to their wide-reaching land holdings.
Variations of the name Breitnauer include Breitenauer, Breitnaur, Breitenour and Breitneuer. The earliest known recorded occurrence of the name in Germany dates back to 1423, in the city of Leisnig. Since then, the name has spread throughout Europe.
The Breitnauer surname is often found in churches and historical records. Its most common location in Germany is found in the area of Prussian Silesia. It is also frequently found in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, where a number of German families migrated in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
This surname is generally seen as a family name of distinction in Germany and the United States. It has been associated with many influential leaders and prominent citizens throughout its history. Those who bear the name Breitnauer are generally seen as proud, hard-working and generous individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisBreitnauer: Where does the name Breitnauer come from?
The last name Breitnauer is most commonly found in countries that comprise modern-day Germany. There are also instances of the name in Austria, Switzerland, and other countries with German-speaking influences.
The name Breitnauer is believed to have first been adopted in the 16th century as an occupational name for someone who worked as a broad-weaver of wool and linen. This type of career was often practiced in rural communities due to the abundance of natural materials available to be spun into fabric.
The name Breitnauer is also believed to have been an occupational name for someone who lived in a wide space, or who owned a wide piece of land. This would have been especially common in areas where landowners were in direct competition, or where lands were divided into small segments that could be sold.
In modern times, Breitnauer is still a relatively common surname in Germany. In Frankfurt, the city is home to many people with the last name, with the majority of them being descendants of families who moved to the area during the migration of Germans to the city in the 19th century. Germany as a whole also has a significantly higher proportion of people with the name than most other European countries.
Family crests bearing the Breitnauer name are still common today, with the most common design being a shield shape featuring a tree with two leaves on the left and a dove on the right. The crests are typically used as a visual representation of the family’s history and roots.
Variations of the surname Breitnauer
The surname Breitnauer has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Breitnauer is a German-originating surname, and is derived from the German word “breit”, which means “wide”. The most common variants of the surname include Breitenauer, Breitenbauer, Breitiener, Breitiner, Breitmeir, Breitmayer, and Breitmaier. These variants are often found in German-speaking regions of Europe, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the former Czechoslovakia.
The surname Breitnauer may also be found in other parts of Europe in the form of Bridenauer, Bridener, Bridener, Bridenbauer, Bridiener, Byrider, and Brid among others. This is due to the surname’s combination of similar-sounding letters b, r, and d. In some cases, Breitnauer has also been spelled as Bridenow and Bredniin at times.
Additionally, the surname Breitnauer is also found in other parts of the world as Breitmann and Breitenbach, especially in North and South America.
Overall, the surname Breitnauer is found in a wide variety of spellings and variants all around the world, with its variants having derived from German, German-speaking regions, and other parts of Europe and the world.
Famous people with the name Breitnauer
- Uwe Breitnauer: Uwe Breitnauer is a German football manager, having previously been appointed manager of FC St Pauli and Karlsruher SC. He is a past UEFA Cup winning manager when Hertha BSC took the honour in 1979.
- Christian Breitnauer: Christian Breitnauer is a former Austrian footballer who played for Velden and Bad Aussee. He made four appearances for the Austrian national team between 1981 and 1984.
- Matthias Breitnauer: Matthias Breitnauer is an Austrian professional footballer who plays for VfR Aalen in the 3. Liga, the third tier in German football.
- Jakob Breitnauer: Jakob Breitnauer is an Austrian certified lawyer and a former member of the Constitutional Court of Austria from 2004 to 2020.
- Markus Breitnauer: Markus Breitnauer is an Austrian football goalkeeper who plays for FC Liefering in the Austrian Football Bundesliga.
- Peter Breitnauer: Peter Breitnauer is an Austrian entrepreneur and chairman of the aviation technology company, AVTEC. He is also a former member of the Supervisory Board for the ECOPIA group of companies.
- Martin Breitnauer: Martin Breitnauer is an Austrian Human Rights award-winning journalist and the founder and program director of the Austrian Elend TV television station.
- Karl Breitnauer: Karl Breitnauer is an Austrian former ski jumper who competed in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Franz Breitnauer: Franz Breitnauer is a former Austrian sailor who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Thomas Breitnauer: Thomas Breitnauer is a former Austrian football defender and current player-manager for Hartberg FC.