Surname Theiwes - Meaning and Origin
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Theiwes: What does the surname Theiwes mean?
The last name Theiwes is of Dutch and German origin. It is a variation of the German word "theuwes", meaning "servant". The nobility of the early Middle Ages used a feudal system to organize their societies, thus requiring service-based relationships between the ruling class and their servants. This system gave rise to a variety of surnames, with Theiwes being among them.
The name Theiwes is most likely derived from an occupational role that was held by the original bearer. It could refer to any number of people responsible for providing services, ranging from cooks or stewards to estate managers and agricultural labourers. The term could also refer to a military trustee.
Theiwes is a particularly ancient name and is likely to have been in use since the 11th century. It has a strong presence in Holland as well as northern and eastern Germany, making it a name that extends across multiple regions.
In more recent times, Theiwes has become a fairly common name in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is also becoming increasingly popular in the United States and Canada. In addition, there are various spellings of the name, such as Theives, Teewes and Thewis, which highlights its shared ancestry with other surnames.
Theiwes is a surname that has deep roots in European history. It carries with it a sense of strength and security, as well as of loyalty and service to those who held positions of power.
Order DNA origin analysisTheiwes: Where does the name Theiwes come from?
Theiwes is a surname of German origin that is mainly seen in the United States today. It was first spotted in the 1500s in the Rhine-Ruhr area of western Germany. However, most of the Theiwes family in the United States are descendants of three brothers, who emigrated to America in the early 1800s and settled in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Wisconsin.
Theiwes is most common in the Midwest and southeastern states. It is the 359th most common last name in the US with about 2,678 current individuals carrying the Theiwes name. Illinois has the highest number of Theiwes in the US today, with 1,088 individuals. Wisconsin follows with 371, then Pennsylvania with 366, and Missouri with 201. Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan account for the rest of the Theiwes population in the US.
Most of the Theiwes in the US today are descended from Jacob and Jacobina Theiwes, who were two brothers from the same German family. Jacob Theiwes immigrated to Wisconsin in 1849 and Jacobina Theiwes to Maryland in 1853. The two families have steadily increased in population since then, with both sides of the family living mainly in the Midwest and southeastern states.
Theiwes is a unique name, and there’s a good chance that someone with the surname is related to a distant relative somewhere in the US, whether they know it or not.
Variations of the surname Theiwes
The surnames Theiwes, Teiwes, Tewes, Tewesen, Teiwesen, and Teiwessen all have the same origin and are interchangeable spellings of the same surname. Each variant originated from the German surname “Thiebes”, which itself descended from the Low German term “Thieb” or “Thijb” meaning “servant” and was popular as a byname. It is thought that all these variants may have evolved in different regions of Germany and Netherlands, leading to their varied spellings. The most common spelling, “Teiwes”, has its origin in areas around the Rhineland region of Germany.
Variants of the same surname can also be found in other parts of the world, such as Ireland, where “Tewes” is the most common spelling. In the United States, “Theiwes” is the predominant variant. The surname can also be found in some Latin American countries, such as Argentina, as “Tivis”.
Theiwes is a Germanic surname whose variants, spellings, and surnames can provide a helpful resource for genealogists and people interested in learning more about their family history. Being able to trace the variants of one’s surname, such as with Theiwes, is useful in gaining greater insight into one’s roots.
Famous people with the name Theiwes
- Dieter Theiwes: German professional footballer and manager
- Jürgen Theiwes: German actor and editor
- Margit Theiwes: German league fencer
- Nigel Theiwes: English cricketer
- Paul Theiwes: British curler
- Reinhard Theiwes: German modern pentathlete
- Sabina Theiwes: German rower
- Tamara Theiwes: German chess master
- Torsten Theiwes: German aviation manager
- Herta Theiwes: German painter and graphic designer
- Marcus Theiwes: Brazilian rugby union player
- Nico Theiwes: German former footballer
- Joerg Theiwes: German volleyball player
- Jorg Theiwes: German jazz musician
- Vort Theiwes: Dutch sculptor
- Johannes Theiwes: Dutch cross-country skier
- Giel Theiwes: Belgian sculptor
- Fred Theiwes: Canadian professor
- Henri Theiwes: Austrian Olympic swimmer
- Alexander Theiwes: American food engineer
- Pierre Theiwes: Swiss judge