Surname Waldner - Meaning and Origin
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Waldner: What does the surname Waldner mean?
The last name Waldner is of German origin and is believed to have derived from the word “wald” meaning “forest” and “ner” meaning “man”. Waldner itself translates to “one who lives in the woods or forest”. It is uncertain whether it was an occupational surname for those whose livelihood derived from the forest, a topographical name to identify one who lived in a forest, or both. Regardless, the Waldner surname was a strong indicator of its bearer having a connection to the forest and its resources.
The name can be found in records of the Middle Ages in the districts of Germany, Bavaria, and Austria. Through the 19th and 20th centuries, the name Waldner spread through Germany, Austria, and other areas of Europe. Many American Waldner families are believed to have arrived from the 19th century from Bavaria, Germany, and Austria. Because of this, many Waldners today come from a European heritage.
The Waldner surname is believed to be a very old German name, with records dating back as far as the 14th century. Although its roots may be found in Europe, the name is now found all around the world, particularly in English speaking countries such as Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Throughout its history, the Waldner surname has remained a strong indicator of a connection to the forest and the resources that reside there. The Waldner family name stands as a symbol of hardworking people who have kept their connection to the woods and maintained the family name for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWaldner: Where does the name Waldner come from?
The last name Waldner is most commonly found within German-speaking regions. This includes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It is also found in parts of the United States, especially in areas with strong German heritage or those with recent German immigrants, such as Wisconsin and South Dakota.
In Germany, Waldner is a fairly common surname. According to records, it is currently ranked as the 385th most common surname in the country. It was particularly prevalent in the state of Bavaria where it is the 43rd most common surname. In Austria, Waldner is the 141st most common surname. It is also found in the United States particularly in Wisconsin and South Dakota, where it is the 308th and 389th most common surname respectively.
Since the name originates from the Middle High German term “waldener”, which meant a person living near a wooded area or forest, it is possible that the surname was adopted as many of the original Waldners were forest-dwellers. This would explain its prevalence in certain regions like Bavaria with its abundance of forests and wooded areas.
The Waldner surname is still found in many parts of the world today, particularly in areas of Germanic influence. While it is most common in parts of Germany, Austria, and the United States, it can also be found throughout other countries with German-speaking populations such as France, Hungary and Serbia.
Variations of the surname Waldner
The surnames Waldner, Waldner, Waldener, and Wallyner are all variants of the same origin. Waldner is the original German spelling of the name, and is also thought to be derived from wald, meaning "forest". Waldener and Wallyner are two variants that are related to the original German spelling.
Waldener is a form of the German word Walden, which is the name of two locations in Germany (Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Hartland, Wisconsin). Wallyner is a variation of Waldner which has been used primarily in the United States.
The surname Waldner is also spelled in different ways in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and parts of France, such as Wallner, Wallnner, Waltner, Weltner, and Wältner.
The surname is also believed to have originated from "Waldner", a German title meaning "forest guard". It is also thought that Waldner may be of Slavic origin, from the word "vladnesti", which means "rule".
The different spellings of Waldner may be used depending on location and the person's ancestry. Some of the variants may have been adapted to fit in better with the language and culture of the region in which the person's ancestors lived. For example, the Wallyner variant may have been used by people of German descent who settled in the United States.
Famous people with the name Waldner
- Roger Waldner: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Michael S. Waldner: American film editor and director
- Massimo Waldner: Swiss professional badminton player
- Natascha Waldner: German sport shooter
- Tobias Waldner: German academic and politician
- Andreas Waldner: Austrian football goalkeeper
- Manuel Waldner: Swiss professional football player
- Martin Waldner: German ski mountaineer, mountain runner and long distance mountainbiker
- Georges-Émile Waldner: Luxembourg politician
- Roman Waldner: Swiss professional snowboarder
- John K. Waldner: American author and educator
- Ferdinand Johannes Waldner: German prelate and Bishop of Fulda
- Zbynek Waldner: Czech professional table tennis player
- Kurt Waldner: Austrian heavyweight boxer
- Oskar Waldner: Austrian professional alpine skier
- Ilse Waldner: Austrian alpine skier
- Florian Waldner: German professional handball player
- Hans Waldner: Austrian professional ski jumper
- Rudolf Ernst Waldner: German sculptor
- Günther Waldner: German tennis player