Weininger

Weininger is a German-language surname. It is most commonly found in German-speaking regions and among descendants of emigrants around the world. The name is generally considered to be toponymic or ethnonymic in origin, likely deriving from a place name or settlement associated with the -inger suffix, which denotes origin or affiliation in German. Etymology can vary by family history, and precise origins may differ among individual lineages.

The most widely known bearer of the name is Otto Weininger (1880–1903), an Austrian philosopher born in Vienna. He published Sex and Character in 1903, a work that attracted considerable controversy for its views on sexuality, gender, and race. He died by suicide in Vienna at the age of 23. His writings have been discussed in the context of modern philosophy and literary criticism, though they remain controversial and are not representative of mainstream philosophy.

Beyond Otto, other individuals with the surname Weininger appear in historical and genealogical records in German-speaking regions, but none have achieved the same level of international recognition. As a surname, Weininger remains relatively uncommon, yet persistent in scholarly and cultural histories associated with German-speaking communities.