Winterfeldt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Winterfeldt. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Winterfeldt family.

Early Origins of the Winterfeldt family

The surname Winterfeldt was first found in the Mark Brandenburg, where the name was associated with the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. They are one of the most ancient families associated with the Mark region, where they had their ancestral estates already under Kaiser Heinrich der Vogler. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Winterfeldt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Winterfeldt research. Another 224 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1671, 1706 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Winterfeldt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winterfeldt Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Winterfeldt include Winterfeld, Winterfeldt, Winterfelder, Winterfeldter and many more.

Early Notables of the Winterfeldt family

Notable figures of the time with the name Winterfeldt were

Hans Carl von Winterfeldt, a Prussian lieutenant general, Governor of Colberg, knight of the Order of the Black Eagle, lord of the estates Schmarsow in the Uckermark and Borschow in Silesia, who posse...

Winterfeldt migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Winterfeldts to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Winterfeldt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Friedrich Winterfeldt, who settled in Texas with his wife and five children in 1851