Surname Waeckerle - Meaning and Origin
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Waeckerle: What does the surname Waeckerle mean?
The last name Waeckerle is a German surname developed from the given name "Wackel" which means “to move rapidly”. It was likely taken on by a person who was known to move about quickly or was characterized by movement in some way or another. The name would have evolved over many centuries, some of the earliest records of it being found in Germany and Switzerland. In English, it has been translated to mean “shaker”, a likely reference to the original meaning of the surname, as well as “roamer” or “wanderer”, another likely reference to the original meaning.
Most commonly found in Germany and Switzerland, the Waeckerle surname has been adopted by a wide variety of cultures and ethnicities over hundreds of years of increasing globalisation. It can be found spread far and wide throughout the world, including in countries such as the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam.
The Waeckerle surname is widely considered to be of German origin, but it is likely that due to its international presence, it is a combination of various cultures and ethnicities. This is suggested in part by the range of translations given for the surname, as well as its various spellings: Wackerle, Weckerle, Wackerli, Wäckerle, Waeckler, and others.
Order DNA origin analysisWaeckerle: Where does the name Waeckerle come from?
The last name Waeckerle is common throughout Europe today, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, the name is found mainly in the southwestern regions of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, as well as a few small pockets in the neighboring countries. This name is also found in other European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium.
In the United States, the last name Waeckerle is not very common. It is mainly found among German-American immigrants and their descendants. According to the US Census for 2020, a total of 1,083 people in the United States have the last name Waeckerle. The majority of these people are found in the states of California, Illinois, and Michigan.
The last name has its roots in the German language, with its original spelling “Wäckerle”. Its literal meaning is “to guard, protect, or keep.” It is believed to have originated from the Middle High German word “wackelen” which means “to watch or keep.” The name has been used for centuries and has become very popular in Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Waeckerle
The surname Waeckerle has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Wäckerle, Waeckerly, Wöckerle, Waeckle, and Wakerly. It is possible that other spellings exist, but these are the most commonly listed variants.
The surname Waeckerle is believed to be of German origin and is a variant of the word "waker," which means a watchman or guard in German. As such, the surname likely originated as an occupational surname for those who served as watchmen or guards for a particular location. As such, there is a good chance that the original spelling of this surname was Wäckerle, a spelling which is still used in Germany today.
The surname Waeckerle can also be found in the form of Wakerly, which is thought to be an anglicized version of the German original. This version of the spelling has been used since at least the 1800s in the United States and is likely derived from the same German word which served as the original source of the surname.
Finally, the surname Wöckerle is also a variant of the same name and is a Germanic version of Wackerley, which is still found in the United Kingdom today. It is possible that this is an obsolete form of the surname, as it has not been used in Germany since at least the early 20th century.
In summary, the surname Waeckerle has multiple variants and spellings, which are all related to the original meaning of the word in its German context, and likely to its use as an occupational surname for watchmen or guards. The variants include Wäckerle, Waeckerly, Wöckerle, Waeckle, and Wakerly.
Famous people with the name Waeckerle
- Stan Waeckerle: Stan Waeckerle is a former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the National League from 1973 to 1982.
- Michel Waeckerle: Michel Waeckerle, Miché Wäckerlé, was born in France in 1912 and was an officer in the College of Arms in Switzerland from 1935 to 1964.
- Franz Waeckerle: Franz Waeckerle was a German artist, born in 1908, who specialized in portraits and landscapes.
- Albert Waeckerle: Albert Waeckerle was the mayor of Freiburg from 1913 to 1930, during which time Freiburg was called the “city of peace”.
- Joseph Waeckerle: Joseph Waeckerle was an American botanist born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1907. He specialized in lichens and was a professor of botany at Missouri State University.
- Hermann Waeckerle: Hermann Waeckerle was a German-American World War II recipient of the Medal of Honor. He was a platoon sergeant with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and was honored for his bravery during the liberation of Italy in 1945.
- Heinrich Waeckerle: Heinrich Waeckerle was a German professor and writer who specialized in biographical and historical works. His most famous work was his five-volume encyclopedia of German reijss, published from 1883 to 1893.
- Julius Waeckerle: Julius Waeckerle was a legal scholar from Germany who wrote extensively on civil and criminal law. He was also an editor and lecturer in criminal law at the University of Vienna from 1902 until his death in 1927.