Surname Wend - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wend: What does the surname Wend mean?
The surname Wend is of German origin and was likely derived from the Germanic personal name "Wendel," which itself is derived from the verb "winden," meaning to wind or turn. This personal name was particularly popular in the Middle Ages and typically indicated a person who had migrated from another area.
The surname Wend is also believed to have been derived from the Old German word meaning "to travel," "to wander," or "to roam." This indicates that the bearers of the surname Wend likely had ancestors who were wanderers, having moved around from one place to another.
Today, the surname Wend is most commonly found in Germany and France. It is less common in other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States. In the United States, recorded Wend families are generally found in Catholic areas, suggesting their ancestors arrived here as part of German or French Catholic immigration.
In terms of character traits, the Wend name is said to indicate adventurous and inquisitive people who are determined to pursue their goals. Those with the Wend surname may also have a good eye for detail and a perfectionist approach to getting things done. Overall, the Wend surname has a long and interesting history that is still pertinent today.
Order DNA origin analysisWend: Where does the name Wend come from?
The last name Wend is not very common, although it has been found primarily in Germany and the United States. It is especially prevalent among the descendants of German immigrants who moved to the United States during the 19th century.
In Germany, the surname Wend is found across the whole country with the highest concentration in the states of Lower Saxony and Bavaria. The name is thought to have been derived from the Middle High German "wende" which means ‘a region’, ‘borderland’, or ‘place of trans-border inhabitance’, indicating either those who moved from one region to another or those who lived near a regional border.
In the United States, the surname Wend is found primarily in states which have historically had large German-immigrant populations, such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and Iowa. Of those US states, Pennsylvania has the highest frequency of Wend’s, likely due to its close proximity to Germany.
Although the last name Wend is not entirely uncommon in the United States or Germany, it certainly isn't as widespread as some other surnames. Still, the Wend name appears to have been around since at least the 17th century and found in countries on both sides of the Atlantic.
Variations of the surname Wend
The surname Wend (also spelled Wende or Winde) is a Germanic or Dutch surname originating from the Old High German word ‘wind’ meaning to ‘turn or bend’. It is most commonly found in the Rhineland region, which is located in western Germany.
Variants of Wend include Wendt, Wendel, Wind, Wynd, Venda, and Vendel. Wendel is the more common variant of Wend and is found mostly in South Germany, as well as Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. The spelling Wende is thought to be a Dutch variant of Wend, and is more commonly found in Northern Germany and Denmark. Wind is likely derived from Wendel, while Wynd is its Scottish variant. Hungarian variants of Wend include Venda, and Vendel.
The Wend surname does not have a lot of variation in spelling as it is derived from an Old High German term, which does not have many variants. The main variants of Wend are Wend, Wende, Wendel, Wind, Wynd, Venda, and Vendel. However, even with these variants, they all still trace back to the Old High German word ‘wind’.
Famous people with the name Wend
- Karl-Heinz Wend, German footballer
- John Wend, American professional golfer
- Marinus Wend, Dutch painter
- Karl Wend, Austrian alpine skier, World Cup champion
- Manfred Wend, East German ski jumper
- Hans Wend, Austrian footballer
- Ernst Wend, German politician
- Jörg-Uwe Hahn, German lawyer and politician of the Alliance 90/The Greens
- Albrecht Wend, Austrian canal engineer
- Dirk Wend, German football manager
- William S. Wend, American politician
- Wilhelm Wend, German general
- Martin Wend, Bavarian political advisor
- Max Wend, German general
- Christina Wend, Swiss ski mountaineer
- Håkan Wendt, Swedish footballer
- Werner Wend, Norwegian World War II resistance fighter
- Charles Wend, American evangelist
- Heinrich Wend, German minister of defense
- Richard Wend, American attorney and Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
- Marjorie Wend, American figure skater
- Uwe Wendt, East German canoeist
- Franz Wend, Czechoslovakia chess master
- Ahren Wend, Australian doctor and politician
- Wilma Wend, American museum director