Surname Tannhäuser - Meaning and Origin

Tannhäuser: What does the surname Tannhäuser mean?

The last name Tannhäuser is of German origin and is believed to have originally been derived from the medieval German given name Tannhäuser, which means “Tanner” or “Tanning Specialist”. This name is most likely derived from the profession of a tanner – one who processes animal hides into leather. It is believed to have originated in the state of Saxony in the 12th century.

The Tannhäuser family likely first populated the area of Gotha in modern-day Thuringia, where records indicate that the last name was commonly found in the 13th century. It is believed that the first recorded instance of the last name Tannhäuser was in 1296, when a Conrad Tannhäuser was mentioned in a document from the region.

The Tannhäuser surname can be found in many different countries around the world today, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Variant spellings of the Tannhäuser include Tannhauser, Tanhouser, Tanhausen, Tanhausar, and Tannhouser.

It would appear that the ancestors of the Tannhäuser family were amongst the original craftsmen who settled in the region. This name has since served as a reminder of their hard work and skill in their chosen profession.

Tannhäuser: Where does the name Tannhäuser come from?

The surname Tannhäuser is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is of German origin and is derived from the old German name Tannhäuser, which means “Tanner.” Tanners were people who handled the leather production process in antiquity, including removing hair from the hides, tanning the leather with oil, and treating it with other substances.

This occupational surname is still quite common throughout German-speaking regions, especially in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and the Rhineland-Palatinate, with an estimate of more than 1,700 individuals bearing the name in Germany alone. Due to the popularity of this name, there are hundreds of listings on Germanwitze.de, a genealogy website for German surnames.

In the United States, the surname Tannhäuser is much less common as relatively few German immigrants of this particular name settled here. However, scattered throughout the United States, specifically in New York, California, Florida, and Ohio, there are still about 1,500 people who carry the Tannhäuser name.

For the most part, the Tannhäuser surname is still concentrated in German-speaking places. As time goes on, it is likely that more people with this surname will settle in new locations around the world.

Variations of the surname Tannhäuser

The surname Tannhäuser is derived from the Middle High German word “Tannhäuser”, which means “tanner”. It was usually used to refer to someone who was involved in the leather-tanning trade, which was an important profession in medieval times.

The variants and spellings of the surname Tannhäuser include Tanhuyser, Tanheuser, Tanhuser, Tanheuser, Tanhueser, Tanhauser, Tanhausner, Tannhauser, Tannhausen, Tannhausser, Tannhäuser, Tannhaus, Tanhausser, Tannhauss, Tanhaus, and Tanhäuser.

Surnames of the same origin include Tanzy, Taenzer, Taentzler, Taentz, Tanzy, Tenzer, Tansey, Tences, and Tances.

In some cases, the name has been translated into English and the variants may include Tanner, Tannera, Tana, Tannar, Tanuer, Tanueri, Tanuri, Tanure, Tanori, Tanney, Tanny, and Thunner.

These various versions of the name are linked to different regions of Europe where the tanners’ trade was most popular and can be found in both Germany and Switzerland. The Tannhäuser surname may also be found in France and other parts of the world. The variants are often registered differently in records depending on the language spoken in the region.

Famous people with the name Tannhäuser

• Otto Tannhäuser: German astronomer who worked at the Hamburg Observatory.
• Eugen Tannhäuser: German painter and graphic artist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Jörg Tannhäuser: German physicist and molecular biologist, noted for his research on the structure of proteins.
• Richard Tannhäuser: German comic book artist and illustrator.
• Cornelius Tannhäuser: German entomologist who specialized in the aphididae family.
• Erwin Tannhäuser: German professor and researcher specializing in biochemistry.
• Fritz Tannhäuser: German generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II.
• René Tannhäuser: German author, journalist, and publisher.
• Hans Tannhäuser: German conductor and composer of the romantic era.
• Arnold Tannhäuser: German-born architect and town planner who designed numerous projects in what is now Germany, Spain, and the United States.

Other surnames

Tannhausen