Surname Weisgerber - Meaning and Origin
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Weisgerber: What does the surname Weisgerber mean?
Weisgerber is an occupational surname derived from the German language. It is derived from 'weiß' which means 'white' and 'Gerber' which means 'tanner' or 'leatherworker'. This indicates that the original bearer of the surname was a tanner or leatherworker.
In the Middle Ages, tanning was an important occupation as leather was used in clothing, furniture, and other items. Tanners would remove the hair from the hides of animals and then treat them with tannic acids or oils to make the leather more durable and much less susceptible to deterioration from water and moisture than untreated hide. As an apprentice, the new tanner would learn about the trade, such as how to cure hides, choose the proper ingredients to add to the hides such as tannin, and how to properly finish the leather.
The Weisgerber surname was passed down through families, and its original occupational meaning was retained. Today, the surname is still found in Germany, as well as in many other countries, and its original meaning is a reminder of the past. It also serves as an example of the importance that the leatherworking trade has had in the development of some of our most fundamental cultural advancements.
Order DNA origin analysisWeisgerber: Where does the name Weisgerber come from?
The last name Weisgerber is primarily found in Germany. Specifically, it is most commonly found in couple of regions within Germany, such as Nordrhein-Westfalen and Bayern.
The name Weisgerber is of German origin, and it was used to identify those that are related to a certain profession such as a weaver or a metalworker. It is derived from the German word weisgerbere which means ‘weaver’.
The last name Weisgerber is shared by numerous families within Germany. According to the Bundeswehr family records, the Weisgerber would have emigrated from Prussia, the former northern kingdom of Germany, to central and southern Germany about two centuries ago.
Due to inter-regional migration within Germany itself, it is possible that families with this last name are currently found in almost every big city and small town in the country. In addition, there is a possibility that the name spread to other countries as well due to emigration.
Though the spelling of the last name Weisgerber has slightly changed over time, it remains mainly the same as when it was first used centuries earlier. The last name is an important part of the German family history and is relatively common throughout the country.
Variations of the surname Weisgerber
The surnames Weisgerber, Weisgreber, Weisgreb, Weisgraeb, Weissgerber, Weissgreber, Weissgreb, and Weissgraeb are all variants and spellings of the same surname, which originates from German. Its meaning comes from the combination of the words "weiß," which means white, and "Gerber," which refers to a tanner, one whose occupation is to treat animal hides. As a result, the name roughly translates to "white tanner."
There are many variations of these same eight surnames that have been adopted in various languages throughout history. In the German language, the surname may also be spelled Weißgerber, Weißgreber, Weißgreb, and Weißgraeb. Variations in other languages include Welzgraeb, Weisgeber, Weiss-Graeb, and Weisgerb. In French, the variant Veisgerb may be used.
The surname has taken its own routes on different occasions. For example, branches of the Weisgerber family who live in the Rhineland area have adopted the name Weisgraev or Weizgrav due to a dialect change. Some family members may also have adopted the surname Weißgrav. Other variants of the Weisgerber surname include Weissgerbery, Weysgerber, Wuzgerber, Weizgerber, and Vaezgraeb.
Throughout its history, the Weisgerber surname has been embraced by various families in different parts of the world. The name originated in Germany over 500 years ago, but it can also be found in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. In some countries, members of the Weisgerber surname have taken other spellings or named themselves after other professions. This is a testament to the assortment of spellings and surnames of the same origin, which all trace back to the Weisgerber surname.
Famous people with the name Weisgerber
- Jared Weisgerber, an American tennis player.
- Michelle Weisgerber, the first female to become a U.S Army 5-Star General.
- Richie Weisgerber, a drummer and founding member for the Canadian rock band- Billy Talent.
- Henry Weisgerber, a German opera singer who was a contralto at the municipal Opera of Darmstadt, Germany.
- Terry Weisgerber, an American basketball player for the Harlem globetrotters.
- Derek Weisgerber, a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons.
- Alan Weisgerber, a business executive who held key positions in major corporations like Walmart, Best Buy, Fedex and Amazon.
- Ann Weisgerber, a double gold medalist who competed in the 1936 and 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Rhonda Weisgerber, an entrepreneur and organic farmer, best known as the pioneer of the sustainable food movement in Canada.
- Mark Weisgerber, a Los Angeles based singer and musician who is part of the pop duo The Wind and The Wave.