Surname Wondrasch - Meaning and Origin
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Wondrasch: What does the surname Wondrasch mean?
The last name Wondrasch is believed to have originated from the Middle High German word “wundrasch” which is derived from the Germanic root “wand” meaning “wander” or “to wander.” This root is associated with a number of Germanic surnames that imply travelling or migrating—names such as Wanderull, Wanderheck, and Wondra.
The Wondrasch family likely derived the surname sometime in the late Middle Ages when traveling was relatively more common. During this period it was common for people to take a new last name to reflect a major life change—in this case, moving from one place to another.
In centuries since, the Wondrash family has spread beyond Germany and can be found in various other countries. Today, Wondrasch is a fairly uncommon name, but there are still many people around the world who proudly bear the name.
The Wondrasch and Wandrasch surname is one of a few variations of the same root and it can be associated with a unique heritage—one of wanderings, curiosity, and exploration. By using the same surname, the Wondrash family carries a shared identity that connects them to a shared history and culture, no matter where they are in the world now.
Order DNA origin analysisWondrasch: Where does the name Wondrasch come from?
The last name Wondrasch is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It first appeared in records from the 13th century and is derived from the Germanic personal name 'Wandrad'. This name is composed of the elements 'want' meaning 'desire' or 'affection' and 'rad' meaning 'to think' or 'to counsel'.
In more recent records, Wondrasch is a fairly common surname in Germany, where it is most prevalent in the states Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. According to the Genealogy and Family History online resource Ancestry.com, it is currently the 1,781st most common last name in Germany and is the 131st most common surname in Austria.
In other parts of the world, Wondrasch is much less common. It is not listed as a top 500 surname in the United Kingdom, according to the British Government's Office for National Statistics. You can also find the last name Wondrasch in the United States, Canada, and Australia, with a small concentration of individuals bearing the name in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Alberta.
So, the last name Wondrasch is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, although there are still a few scattered individuals bearing the name throughout the world. With its 13th century origins in Germany, this last name has spread as far as the United States and Canada, albeit with a much lower frequency than its ancestral home.
Variations of the surname Wondrasch
The surname Wondrasch is derived from the West Slavic word 'wondr' which means 'anger' or 'terror'. This surname is mainly common in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The most common variant is Vondrášek or Vondrašek. It is derived from the diminutive form of the surname Wondrasch.
Other variants in the same spelling range include Vendrasek, Vondrasek and Wondrasek. Femine forms of the name include Vondrášková, Vondrašková, Vondřašková, Vogondrasch and Vondraseková.
The spelling of Wondrasch in other languages may also vary. In German, the spelling is Wandrasch or Wandrash, in French it could be Voinedrasci,Voindraski or Voindraschi and in Italian the spellings could be Vondraski, Vondrasky or Vondrašky.
In the United States, the variants of the surname Wondrasch may include Wondracek, Wondrash, Wundrasch, Vaondrasch or Vandrasch.
All these variants of Wondrasch are derived from the same word and have the same origin — West Slavic language. Though the variants may spell differently, they all refer to the same surname and the same origins.
Famous people with the name Wondrasch
- Paul Wondrasch: Paul Wondrasch is a former professional American soccer player who appeared in the Major Indoor Soccer League and the American Indoor Soccer Association.
- John Wondrasch: John Wondrasch is a deputy director of the National Security Agency.
- Jeff Wondrasch: Jeff Wondrasch is a songwriter from Nashville whose credits include Dwight Yoakam, Luke Bryan, and Jason Aldean.
- Bill Wondrasch: Bill Wondrasch is a sound engineer who has mixed audio for film and television, including on projects such as "The X-Files" and "Criminal Minds".
- Neil Wondrasch: Neil Wondrasch is an actor and voiceover artist known for appearing in "Fortune's Fool", "Justic League Unlimited" and "Van Helsing: The London Assignment".
- Matt Wondrasch: Matt Wondrasch is a former professional basketball player who has played in leagues across the United States and Europe.
- Sophie Wondrasch: Sophie Wondrasch is a contemporary artist from the United Kingdom who is known for her unique abstract works.
- Nathan Wondrasch: Nathan Wondrasch is a video game developer and designer whose credits include "Gears of War,” “Gears of War 3,” and “Splinter Cell Blacklist”.
- Vicky Wondrasch: Vicky Wondrasch is a former model, turned fashion entrepreneur, who gained recognition for her fashion blog, "The V Files".