Family History

Origins of the Surname

Variations of the Surname

Family Coat of Arms

Ancestral Lineage

Ancestral Locations

Source Documents

Web Resources

Family Images Gallery

Family history

Family history

     Margaretha Wagner, my 8^th great-grandmother was born, 1670, in Germany.   She married Johann Peter Abel and is the only ancestor identified within this family line.  It was Margaretha’s son Johan Stephan Abel who came to America in 1753.   Margaretha Wagner passed away at the age at the age of 66 years, and is buried in Germany.

     It is not known precisely where in Germany Margaretha was from, but it is likely it was that area of modern day Germany commonly that is now part of the state of Hesse.

WAGNER Heraldry and Genealogy: A Geographical Perspective

URL:  http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=3396

This one-of-a-kind book is the second in a series exploring the heraldry and genealogy of common German surnames with a focus on the English speaking family historian. The book contain over 2,300 place names associated with WAGNER families of Germanic Central Europe, synopses of 31 historical states with links to family history records at FamilySearch, and genealogical information about 70 WAGNER families as well as 53 colorful coats-of-arms.

Origins of the surname

·       An Introduction to the Name

·       Meaning of the Name

·        History of the Name

·      Early Immigrants to North America

·      More About Surname Meanings & Origins

An Introduction to the Name 

    The practice of adopting hereditary surnames began in the southern areas of Germany during the second half of the 12^th century, and gradually spread northwards during the Middle Ages.  With the passing of generations and the movement of families moved from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today.  Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives.  Thus people rarely changed their surname.  Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription.  Research into the record of this Wagner family line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where German linguistic traditions are commonly found. 

Meaning of the Name

     Most modern family names throughout Europe originated from with of the following circumstances: occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); locational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong); status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

     Wagner is a German, Dutch, and Swiss surname, (also Wägner) and Jewish (Ashkenazic), occupational name for a carter or cartwright, from an agent derivative of Middle High German wagen ‘cart’, ‘wagon’, German Wagen, and as such was a metonymic for either a maker of horse drawn vehicles or possibly a transport contractor

History of the Name

     The Wagner surname was first found in the mediaeval Duchy of Saxony.   It is now well established in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, eastern Europe, and elsewhere as well as in German-speaking countries.

     The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Conrad Wegener, which was dated 1290, the medieval records of Schontal, Germany, during the reign of Emperor Rudolf I, 1273 - 1291.   Early examples of the church recordings include Atterna Wagner, who married Simon Mueller at Zeitz, Sachsen, on April 6th 1589, Alexander Wagen who married Barbara Engelfridt at Neckarkries, Wuerttemburg, on September 23rd 1571, and Adrian Wegener who married Otte Bouinck at Nottuln, Westfalen, on May 5th 1675. Other examples are Aeva Wagnerin who married Wilhelmus Hausner at Reinhessen, Hessen, on June 2nd 1733.  In England Elizabeth Wagner, the daughter of a Huguenot refugee, was baptised at St. Ann's Church, Soho, London, on June 1st 1715.   In its Dutch form as Van Wagenen, the name is one of the earliest in America, Geertie Van Wagenen being christened at Kingston, Ulster County, New York State, on September 5th 1686, whilst Georg Wagner, the son of Michael Wagner, was christened at Stone Arabia, Montgomery County, New York State, on January 2nd 1745.

    There are notable members of this name including Richard (Willelm) Wagner (1813-83) the German composer born in Leipzig. Otto Wagner (1841-1917) the German economist, born in Erlangen. He was professor at Vienna, Hamburg, Freiburg and Berlin.

Early Immigrants to North America

     During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to North America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity for to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents.  Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of Wagner, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.  Some of these immigrants were:  Andreas Wagner, who immigrated to America with his wife and two children in 1709; Abraham Wagner came to Philadelphia in 1737; as did Christoph Wagner in 1747.

     Many German surnames were re-spelled in America because of the close relationship between the English and German languages.  In some cases Germans are able to transform their names to the English form just by dropping a single letter.   After the start of the first World War, Germans in great numbers Anglicized their names in an effort to remove all doubt as to their patriotism. 

Use the following link to find more early immigrants with this surname:  Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records

More About Surname Meanings & Origins

German Surnames

 Many German names have their roots in the Germanic middle ages. The process of forming family names began around the year 1100 and extended through 1600. All social classes and demographic strata aided in the development of names. First Names (Rufnamen) identified specific persons. Over time the first name began to be applied to the bearer's whole family. At first through verbal usage, family names (Familiennamen) were later fixed through writing. Until the 17th century, first names played a more important role. The earliest family names derived from the first name of the first bearer (Patronym). Later names derived from the place of dwelling and location of the homestead. If a person of family migrated from one place to another they were identified by the place they came from. Of more recent origin are names derived from the vocation of profession of the first bearer. These names comprise the largest group and the most easily recognizable, for they tell what the first bearer did for a living. Another group are names derived from a physical or other characteristic of the first bearer. Finally, there are names that tell you the state or region a first bearer and his family came from; the age old division in tribes and regions (low German, middle German and upper German) is often reflected in names.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants.  As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families.  Spelling variations of this family name include: Wagner, Wegner, Wagoner, Wagener, Waganer, Waggener, Wagnerin, Wagen, Weagener, Wagnerin, Wahner, Wahnerr, Wehner and many others. 

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled.  This is especially true when searching census documents. The Soundex system was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname.  Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research.  The Soundex Code for Wagner is W256.  Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code: WAGENER | WAGGONER | WAGNER | WAGONER | WEGNER | WEISENAUER | WESNER | WISNER |

Searching for more Information about this and other surnames?

Then take a look at our:

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Family coat of arms

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

    There are at least 33* known associated arms for Wagner recorded in Reitstap’s Armorial General. The following additional information has been found regarding the coats-of-arms shown at the left:  Figure 1 granted in 1745 to a Wagner nobleman of the Rhine Province; Figure 2 cited as the armorial bearings of a Wagener, not identified by Reitstap; Figure 3 granted to a Wagner of Nuremberg, Germany.  The crest (not shown) features a leopard; Figure 4 granted to a Wagner in Germany.  The animal on the blue field is a unicorn; Figure 5  granted to a Wagner in Germany. The crest (not shown) would be an eagle.  Figure 6 granted to a Wagner of Nuremberg, Germany. The crest (not shown) would contain a pelican.

     No Wagner family mottoes are known. It is unusual for a German Achievement to include a motto.

* Reitstap, J.B., Armorial General, Volume II, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland, 1965, pages 1035-36.

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution.  Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.  A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname.  Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same.  The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry.   Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a  coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms.  The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry.  Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms.  At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object.  The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Direct Ancestors

Descendant Register

Generation 1

Margaretha Wagner-1 was born on 16 Aug 1670 in Germany. She died on 05 May 1736 in Germany. She married Johann Peter Abel, son of Johann Michael Abel and Anna Barbara Beissel. He was born on Jul 1664 in Germany. He died on 18 Apr 1740 in Germany.

Child of Margaretha Wagner and Johann Peter Abel is:

i.        Johan Stephan Abel, B: 08 Feb 1701 in Germany, D: Aft. 1754 in York County, Pennsylvania?,

          M: Germany.

Additional information about our DIRECT ANCESTORS  as well as a complete listing of individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on the following LINK.

DKPS Surname Locator

Free Genealogy Surname Search Help from Google

Use this free genealogy site to help you get the best genealogy searches from Google™ by using your family tree, for your research. It will create a series of different searches using tips or "tricks" that

will likely improve your results. The different searches will give you many different ways of using Google and the Internet to find ancestry information about this or any other Surname. 

Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where my ancestors lived has provided me with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in my family trees.  It has also led me to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.  The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the persons in the “Direct Ancestors” list (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

GERMANY

<Hesse>

Use this LINK to find out more about the locations listed above.

ANCESTRAL LOCATIONS

Where in the World

are My Ancestors?

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the left will take you to Maps, Gazetteers,   and  other  helpful   resources  that

will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations.  These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about the areas in which their ancestors lived.

Source documents

The documents and headstones contained within the “Source Documents Archives” have been located during my research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?;  (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE:  Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing  Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive.

  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with

 us via the contact information found at the end of this page.

Use the following LINK to view the source documents pertaining to this family.

SOURCE DOCUMENTS

Web resources

This search engine may

provide you with additional

information to assist with

your research about this topic.

General Surname Resources

Your genealogy research of this surname can be facilitated by use of SURNAME WEB. This website links to the majority of the surname data on the web, as well as to individual family trees, origin and surname meaning if known, and many other related genealogy resources. 

SURNAME FINDER provides easy access to free and commercial resources for 1,731,359 surnames. On each surname specific "finder" page, you can search a variety of online databases all pre-programmed with your surname.

Use ALL SURNAMES GENEALOGY to get access to find your surname resources .  There are almost 1300 links in this directory.

Additional Sites That We Recommend

Linkpendium Surnames - Web sites, obituaries, biographies, and other material specific to a surname.

Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family Associations & Family Newsletters Index - Sites or resources dedicated to specific, individual family surnames.

Free Genealogy Search Help for Google - This free genealogy site will help you use Google™ for your research. It will create a series of different searches using tips or "tricks" that will likely improve your results. The different searches will give you many different ways of using Google to find ancestry information on the Internet. 

FamilySearch.org - Family History and Genealogy Records - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.

Top Genealogical Websites - These mighty roots resources compiled by “Family Tree Magazine”, will give you the power to bust through research brick walls and find answers about your ancestors—all from your home computer.

SurnameDB Free database of surname meanings - This site SurnameDB.Com contains a large FREE to access database (almost 50,000 surnames) on the history and meaning of family last names.

OUR GENEALOGY REFERENCE LIBRARY

The following Link will take you to our library of genealogy reference books.   Here you will find bibliographies, family histories and books about names.  In addition, there are texts that pertain to ethnic and religion groups, history, geography as well as other books that will assist you with your research.

 Research Library – Table of Contents

Images gallery

During my research I have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family.  Some of them are presented on this website because I believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.

If you have any photographs or other images relating to this

ancestral family we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

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FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS and IMAGES

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Enter the topic you are searching in the box and click “Search Images”. At the “Images” display page you will see the image, as well as the website of which it is associated.

Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA

Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA