Explore the Family Name Wanzer

The meaning of Wanzer

Americanized form of Flemish or Dutch Wanshaer, itself possibly an altered form of German or, alternatively, Wallon Wansart: from the medieval personal name Wanshart, formed with the ancient Germanic elements wan ‘hope, expectation’ + hart ‘hardy, brave’; alternatively, perhaps a habitational name from Wansart in Grand-Rosière, Wallonia. The surname Wanzer is also common among African Americans. The surname Wanshaer is not found in the Netherlands or Belgium. Compare Wanser, Wansor, and Wonser. History: The progenitor of the majority of the Wanzers was Jan Jansen Wanshaer (1621–c.1673), who came to New Amsterdam in New Netherland (now New York City, NY) from the Netherlands around 1642 and married Baertje Hendricks Kip in 1649. At the time of the marriage he used the surname Van Tubingen (later corrupted to Van St. Ubus, Van St. Obyn, etc.), indicating that he or his father might have been of German origin (from Tübingen, Germany). By 1662 he was already using the surname Wanshaer, and shortly after his death the surname of his widow was recorded as Wansaert. His descendants also bear the surnames Wanzor, Wanser, Wansor, and Wonser.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.