Surname Penninger - Meaning and Origin
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Penninger: What does the surname Penninger mean?
The last name Penninger is of German origin and is a habitational name derived from various places in Germany called Penning. These places are believed to derive the name from the Old German words "penning" or "penung" meaning "pasture". This last name is also said to be derived from the Middle Low German word "penning" which was used to denote a monetary unit. Penningers were likely originally those who worked in or owned the pasture, or those who were in charge of overseeing the exchange of coins or currency.
The Penninger family have likely been in Germany for centuries, first appearing in documents as early as the 12th century. Over the centuries, this family spread throughout Germany and beyond, and the family has likely been present in many of Germany's locations and regions, with many of the Penningers remaining in Germany until today.
In more recent years, many of the Penninger family have also emigrated to other countries, including the United States. Penninger family members in today's society continue to trace their heritage and celebrate their German roots. They are often proud of their family name and enjoy learning about their family's history.
Order DNA origin analysisPenninger: Where does the name Penninger come from?
The last name Penninger is primarily concentrated in Germany, Austria, and South Tyrol, Italy. It's an old family name that first appeared in Bavarian documents and manuscripts in the 16th century. In Austria, the name is most popular in the federal states of Vorarlberg and Tyrol; in Germany, the name is most common in the states of Munich and Bavaria. It's also quite common in Australia, Canada, and the United States, especially in areas with large German-speaking populations, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
The Penninger surname is thought to have originated in the Alps, and it's believed to be a variation of the word "Pengo," which was used in ancient times to describe a person who lived in or around the Bavarian Alps. Historically, the Penninger surname has been associated with hunters and gatherers, farmers, and charcoal burners in the Bavarian and Austrian mountains. Today, the Penninger family name lives on in many places around the globe.
Variations of the surname Penninger
The surname Penninger has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These are:
Penninger – This is the most common spelling of the surname. It is derived from the German expression “Penning”, which means “coin”, and hence, can manifest as a specialized occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with coins or money.
Penneger – This is a variation of Penninger, indicating the same sort of occupational origin.
Peninger – This is a variant taken from the southern dialect of Germany.
Penniger – This is a regional variant, found mainly in the southwestern part of Germany.
Panninger – This is another variant, indicating the same origin as the other spellings.
Panniger – This is a variant of Panninger, and means the same thing.
Penigard – This is a surname derived from the Franconian language, which is spoken in certain parts of Germany, Austria, and other parts of central Europe.
Peniger – This surname is derived from the same origin as the other aforementioned variants and spellings, and is found mainly throughout North Germany and in certain parts of Central Europe.
Poninger – This is a spelling found mainly in the form of a regional variant, in the northeastern part of Germany.
Ponniger – This is another regional variant, found mainly in the northern part of Germany.
Punicer – This is an Italian variant of the surname, which is derived from the same origin as the other spellings.
All of these variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin can be traced to the Penninger surname, with the same origin of meaning and purpose.
Famous people with the name Penninger
- Dr. Josef Penninger: Austrian-Canadian immunologist and geneticist who was the Scientific Director of the Life Sciences Institute at the University of British Columbia and the founder of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology at the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
- Ingrid Penninger Knoblich- Austrain showjumping trainer and competitor.
- Jola Penninger: Austrian visual artist.
- Paul Penninger: German-Austrian footballer.
- Sandra Penninger: Austrian actress and singer.
- Tatiana Penninger: Austrian operatic soprano and teacher.
- Andrea Penninger: Canadian Paralympic swimmer.
- Patrick Penninger: Austrian ski mountaineer.
- Kellie Penninger: Australian Paralympic volleyball player.
- Wendy Penninger: American voice actress.