Surname von Wiegand - Meaning and Origin
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von Wiegand: What does the surname von Wiegand mean?
The last name von Wiegand is a German surname deriving from the old German language. The meaning of the name is “military protection or guard”, suggesting that the family originated as protectors of a certain group or settlement. It is a very old name, found as far back as the early 1600s.
The name is believed to be a locative name, meaning that it is tied to a place or geographical area. It is derived from the German word “wiegeliste”, which translates to ‘guard’ or ‘protector’. It is possible that those with the name von Wiegand are descendants of those who held some kind of protective role or responsibility.
The von Wiegand family can be traced throughout German history, playing various roles in different occupations and fields. During the 1600s, it was not uncommon to find members of this family among the clergy, acting as bishops in some cases. In later centuries, much of the family’s history is linked to the military; many of its members are known to have served as officers in the Prussian, Austrian and German armies. Even today, members of the von Wiegand family are distinguished for their strong, military line.
The von Wiegand name indicates strong historical roots and an honorable background. It implies a protective and loyal character and a willingness to serve and protect one’s community.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Wiegand: Where does the name von Wiegand come from?
The last name von Wiegand is commonly found in several German-speaking countries, but particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, the von Wiegands can be traced to several different regions, including Franconia, Swabia, and the Palatine. In Austria, the von Wiegands are mainly found in Vienna and the surrounding area. In Switzerland, the surname is particularly concentrated in the cantons of St. Gallen and Aargau.
The von Wiegand surname is also fairly common in the United States and Canada, among the German descendant community. Family names such as Levi and Levi-Strauss bear the signature 'von' that is derived from the original surname. They are descendants of German immigrants who migrated to the US or Canada in the 19th or 20th century and, through marriage, kept the von Wiegand name.
Outside of the German-speaking countries, the von Wiegand name can also be found in other countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. Although it is not as widely used outside of the German-speaking countries, there are still von Wiegand families across the world today.
Variations of the surname von Wiegand
The surname von Wiegand is of German origin and is one of the oldest surnames in Germany. The original spelling is "von Wiegand" though there are several other variant spellings and surnames that all share the same root as von Wiegand.
Van Wiegand is one of the more common alternate spellings of von Wiegand. This spelling originated when many German immigrants to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries Americanized their surnames. German immigrants were particularly likely to change the spelling of this name to Van Wagand or Van Wiegand.
Other contemporary versions of this surname and its variants include Wiegent, Wiegant, Wiegert, Wieghart, Wiegandt, Wiegrath and Wiegren.
More ancient alternate spellings of the von Wiegand surname are the Latinised forms Vander Wiegant, de Wiegant and de Wiegandt.
The most common surnames related to von Wiegand are Wiegand and Wiegrantz, and these names are typically derived from the same root as von Wiegand.
Other surnames with the same roots as von Wiegand include Wiegandshöfer, Wiegandtröger, Wiegandhofer, Wiegandbräu, Wiegandhild and Wiggand.
All of these surnames derive from the same ancient ancestral name from which the von Wiegand name can trace its roots.
Famous people with the name von Wiegand
- Rudolf Von Wiegand: A renowned German physicist and specialist in mathematical physics who graduated from the University of Göttingen, he was a leading figure in early quantum physics.
- Karl von Wiegand: A prominent German-American journalist and foreign correspondent who worked for the International News Service (INS) and the Hearst newspapers.
- Ulf Von Wiegand: A world-renowned German interior architect who designed luxury hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers across the world.
- Harald von Wiegand: A German director and producer who created a number of award-winning feature films, including Soleil War and Die Wenn, die Nacht Anbricht.
- Friedrich von Wiegand: A German sociologist who published a number of important works, including Radikalisierung und Humanisierung and Bakunin und Der Sozialismus.
- Heinrich von Wiegand: A Bavarian lawyer and civil servant who served as a magistrate and later as the head of the local forestry department.
- Ulrich von Wiegand: A German physicist who published a number of influential papers concerning electricity and magnetism.
- Hugo von Wiegand: A Swiss physicist who taught at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and in the Universities of Bern and Zurich.
- Anna von Wiegand: A German painter who specialized in atmospheric landscape paintings.
- Philipp von Wiegand: A noted German diplomat who served as the German Ambassador to Russia during the late 19th century.