Have you ever wondered who is the most famous person with your surname? No? Well, you’re just being humble, I suppose. And that’s okay. But for those Mennonites who have less-than-traditional views on this matter, here is a list of the most famous person for many of the most common Low German Mennonite surnames. Please note, that for each surname, I’m including a notable person who has some kind of Mennonite background. Some surnames are shared among other groups of people, which explains why, for example, surgeon general C. Everett Koop is not included for the surname Koop, comedian Russel Peters is not included for the surname Peters or say, The Odd Couple‘s Felix Unger for the surname Unger. etc. You get the idea. Please send your complaints to you-forgot-my-uncle-Johan-he’s-pretty-famous-too@gmail.com
Barkman – Rev. Jakob Barkman – founder of Steinbach, Manitoba, drowned in Red River in 1875
Bergen – David Bergen – award-winning novelist
Brandt – Di Brandt – former Poet Laureate of Winnipeg
Doerksen – Brian Doerksen – Christian musician/worship leader
Dueck – Dora Dueck – award-winning Canadian novelist
Dyck – Howard Dyck – Canadian conductor and radio broadcaster
Ens – Sarah Ens – award-winning Canadian poet
Fehr – Darcy Fehr – Canadian actor known for his collaborations with Guy Maddin
Friesen – Dyan Cannon (nee Friesen) – American actress nominated for three Academy Awards
Funk – Annie Funk – American missionary, only known Mennonite victim of the Titanic disaster
Giesbrecht – Gordon Giesbrecht – physiologist known as “Professor Popsicle”
Goertzen – Kelvin Goertzen – former Premier of Manitoba (briefly)
Groening – Matt Groening – American cartoonist, creator of The Simpsons
Harder – Peter Harder – Canadian senator
Heppner – Ben Heppner – renowned tenor, opera singer
Hiebert – Paul Hiebert – award-winning author of Sarah Binks
Janzen – Rhoda Janzen – best-selling American author
Klassen – Cindy Klassen – six-time Olympic medalist in speed skating
Koop – Wanda Koop – renowned visual artist
Loewen – Ray Loewen – founder of Loewen Funeral Group as depicted in 2023 film The Burial
Neufeld – Patrick Neufeld – Grey Cup-winning offensive lineman
Penner – Fred Penner – legendary children’s entertainer.
Peters – Vic Peters – Brier-winning curler
Plett – Casey Plett – Giller-nominated author
Reimer – James Reimer – goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres
Rempel – Aganetha Dyck (nee Rempel) – Governor General’s Award-winning artist
Sawatzky –Michelle Sawatzky – Olympic volleyball player and radio personality
Thiessen – Tiffani Amber Thiessen – American actress, Beverly Hills 90210 (a Thiessen through her father’s stepfather)
Toews – Miriam Toews – major figure in 21st century Canadian literature
Unger – Andrew Unger – award-winning satirist … okay maybe it’s hockey player Garry Unger
Wall – Brad Wall – former Premier of Saskatchewan … or maybe his son Colter?
Wiebe – Rudy Wiebe – renowned Canadian novelist
