Surname Schwanner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schwanner: What does the surname Schwanner mean?
The last name Schwanner is derived from the Middle High German words “schwan” and “ar”. The word “schwan” means “swan” in English, and “ar” means “man” or “an inhabitant of”. Therefore, Schwanner roughly translates to “swan man” or “man of the swans”.
The Schwanner surname was likely first used to identify individuals who lived near a river or a lake with a swan population. As time went on, it may have come to be used as a symbol of strength, intelligence, beauty, grace, and loyalty.
One legend tied to the Schwanner name is that the family descended from a white swan with the power to change into human form. According to the ancient tale, one of the sons of a swan transformed with such powers married a human woman and had numerous children who adopted the surname of Schwanner.
Today, Schwanner is a fairly uncommon last name and is mainly found in the German-speaking regions of Austria, Switzerland, and South Tyrol. The family coat of arms, which features a swan holding a flower in its mouth, is a reminder of the family’s relation to the swan.
The Schwanner family is said to be a hard-working, independent and loyal group of people, and the swan is a symbol of their strength, intelligence and grace.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwanner: Where does the name Schwanner come from?
The last name Schwanner is most commonly associated with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Today, it is especially prevalent in Germany and Austria. Schwanner is an occupational name, which means it is related to a particular job or activity. The literal meaning of Schwanner is "swan master," and it was likely first adopted as a name to distinguish swan masters from other trades.
In general, Schwanner families are spread across European countries, and its prevalence in certain countries has varied over time. In the 19th century, for instance, many Schwanner families emigrated to the United States, which led to a greater concentration of Schwanner families in North America. In the US, many Schwanner families can be found in states such as California, Ohio, and Oregon.
Today, the last name Schwanner can be found in many other countries such as Canada, France, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and Sweden, and even in countries in South America and Africa.
Overall, the surname Schwanner is mainly concentrated in German-speaking countries and North America, although it can be found throughout Europe and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Schwanner
The surname Schwanner is derived from the German word Schwanen which means ‘birds’ or ‘swans’. This surname is found all over the world, with different spellings and variants occurring in different regions.
In Germany, Schwanner is the most common spelling of the surname, but there are also variations such as Schwann and Schwanna. Other countries that have similar spellings of the surname include Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the United States, variations such as Swanner, Swannor, and Schwander can be found.
In addition to changes in spelling, the surnames Schwanner and Schwann have also been adapted to other regions through surname variants. The most common variants are Schwaner in Germany and Swanker in France. Other surname variants found in various countries include Schwanem, Schwanig, Swaney, Swanger, Swanheim, Swanhauser, and Schwanenberger.
Finally, there are also surnames that have their origin in Schwanner and Schwann, but are not directly related to these spellings. These surnames include Svancar in Slovenia, Svider in Hungary, and Szwarcer in Poland.
Regardless of the spelling or variant, all of these surnames derive from the same source. The origin of the Schwanner family is believed to be in Germany, and it has been traced as far back as the 16th century.
Famous people with the name Schwanner
- Petra Schwanner: former German World Cup alpine skier. Multiple World Cup victories in the Slalom event in the early 80s.
- Wolfgang Schwanner: Austrian sculptor and painter. Took part in art exhibit in Rome in 2003 and held several exhibitions in Germany in 2004.
- Florian Schwanner: German skier who represented his country in the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang in 2018.
- Jon Schwanner: American racecar driver. Competed in numerous events in NASCAR during the 2010s.
- Richard Schwanner: national champion in triathlon in Austria in 2017.
- Dieter Schwanner: German long distance runner with many European and German titles since the late 70s.
- Rupert Schwanner: Austrian tenor and bass singer. Participated in operas in Vienna, Munich, and Zurich since 2000.
- Benno Schwanner: Austrian downhill skier and freestyle skier. Won silver in the alpine slalom at the 2013 Winter Universiade.
- Claudia Schwanner: German former international tennis player. Reached the Top 100 in the world rankings back in 1990.
- Charlotte Schwanner: German former gymnast. Gold medal in the European Championship in 1989 and second place in the World Championship in 1991.