Surname Kreitenweis - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kreitenweis: What does the surname Kreitenweis mean?
The last name Kreitenweis is of German origin and has a few speculated meanings. It is thought to have originated with the old German word “Kreiden”, which refers to limestone. It is believed that the name, which has been around since the 1500s, was first used to describe people from areas surrounding large limestone quarries. Additionally, some genealogists interpret the meaning of the name as “Kreide” or “clay”, suggesting an origin near areas where clay is abundant.
The name can also be translated to mean “edge dwellers”, as “Kreit” can be used to describe an edge or margin. In this context, the name could have referred to individuals who lived outside the boundaries of a small town or settlement. Alternately, the derivation could be explained in relation to its use of the old German word “enwes”; this can be interpreted as “at home”, which could be applied to a family who lived on the edge of a certain area.
The last name Kreitenweis is a unique thing to reflect upon from a cultural standpoint, as every family’s interpretation of its meaning is different and argues for the preservation and celebration of their German history. Considering its age and complicated interpretations, it undoubtedly strengthens the distinctiave identity of the many families who bear this name.
Order DNA origin analysisKreitenweis: Where does the name Kreitenweis come from?
The last name Kreitenweis is most commonly seen in Austria and Germany, where most of the bearers of the name still reside. Specifically, the name is most common in the regions of Bavaria and Bohemia, bordering the Czech Republic, as well as the region around the city of Salzburg. According to the ancestry.com website, there are currently about 500 people with the Kreitenweis name in Germany, mostly distributed in the northern part of the country. In addition, there are approximately 100 Kreitenweis families in Austria, mostly in Vienna, Lower-Austria and Tyrol.
Kreitenweis is an old Germanic name, likely derived from the Medieval Germanic given name 'Kreiten' (meaning 'Krider'), and the diminutive suffix 'weis,' meaning 'son of.' Combining the two elements gives us 'Kreiten's son' as a possible origin for the name. It has remained relatively unchanged since it was first found on official records from the 15th century. The name is most closely associated with the Um-Häusel family of Billom, east of central France.
Despite its central European origins, there are currently some bearers of the name living in the United States, Canada, and Australia. For instance, the Pennsylvania-based family tree 'Bischoff-Kreitenweis' traces the ancestry of its members back to Bavaria in 1774. Similarly, the Canadian surname listing website 'canadianfamilynames.com' lists Kreitenweis as one of the names present in Canada.
Overall, the last name Kreitenweis is most common in Austria and Germany, with a smaller presence in North America, Canada, and Australia. It is an old Germanic name that hasn't changed much since the 15th century, having been quickly adopted by modern-day family members who seek to trace their ancestry.
Variations of the surname Kreitenweis
Kreitenweis is a German-language surname derived from the Middle High German terms kreitten ("plait") and weis ("white"). It is a habitational name, which indicates that the original bearer of the name was from a place identified with these words, such as those beginning with Kreiten- or -weis.
Variations of Kreitenweis include the following:
Kritenaues, Kreitenow, Kreidaues, Kreietenau, Kreidowe, Kreitteow, Kreitenoue, Kreitenue, Kreittenow, Kreittenowes, Creitenue, Kreitenowis, Kreittenau, Kreitenowe, Kreitenou, Kreitenowse, Kreettenowes, Kreitenowte, Kreittenay, Kreitenwes, Kreitenwais, Kreitenwo, Kreaitenowes, and Kreittenweis.
Despite their slightly different spellings, these variations all refer to people of the same origin. The key to recognizing these variations is to look for slight differences in spelling that have been preserved from the original Middle High German terms. Variations such as Kreidaues, for example, are derived from the original terms Kreitten (plait) and Weis (white), which have mutated into Kreid- and -aues. Similarly, other variants may include variations in spelling of Middle High German terms, such as in Kreitenoue and Kreitenou. In the end, all variants of the same surname refer to a single family of origin.
Famous people with the name Kreitenweis
- Stefanie Kreitenweis: a former German field hockey player and Olympic gold medallist.
- Werner Kreitenweis: a former German footballer who played as a defender.
- Mathias Kreienweis: a German beach volleyball player who competed in the Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2003.
- Maxi Kreitenweis: a German figure skater who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Karl Kreitenweis: a former German Olympic water polo player.
- Wolfgang Kreitenweis: a German skier who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics.
- Uli Kreitenweis: a former German football player who played for Sportfreunde Siegen and Werder Bremen.
- Hans Kreitenweis: a former German Olympic boxer.
- Hermann Kreitenweis: a former German football player who played for FC Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen.
- Wolfgang Kreitenweis: a former German blading champion.