Surname Wagemakers - Meaning and Origin

Wagemakers: What does the surname Wagemakers mean?

The last name Wagemakers is a Dutch patronymic surname, derived from the Germanic personal name Wagemaker, which indicates the occupation of the ancient ancestor who first bore this surname. Wagemaker translates as "wagon-maker" or "wagon-driver" in English, and it is likely that the ancestor in question was a tradesman or artisan who worked with wagons.

In the Netherlands, Wagemakers is an uncommon surname. It is most concentrated around the province of Groningen, particularly in the city of Drachten, where it was quite widespread by the 19th century. It is possible that the first Wagemakers who settled in the Netherlands were of German origin; however, there is no evidence to support this.

Wagemakers is a patronymic surname, meaning that the use of the surname was passed down from father to child. Thus, the last name of Wagemakers was likely born centuries ago, and has been passed down through generations in the Netherlands.

Today, Wagemakers remains a rare surname in the Netherlands, with only thousand of people bearing the name. It's interesting to note that even though the original bearer was a wagon-maker or wagon-driver, Wagemakers is typically found among people from all kinds of professions and backgrounds. In other words, the surname has evolved over time to become more like a last name than an occupational name.

Wagemakers: Where does the name Wagemakers come from?

The last name Wagemakers is most commonly found in the Netherlands, with significant concentrations in both North and South Holland. A small number of people with this name have also been found in Belgium, particularly in the Flemish part of the country. Additionally, a some individuals named Wagemakers have emigrated to other countries, especially to the United States, Canada, and Australia. The surname is derived from the German and Dutch word "Wagen," meaning "wagonmaker." This name likely would have been given to someone who was a maker or driver of wagons.

In the United States, Wagemakers can be found in states like New York, California, Michigan, Texas, and Oregon. In Canada, they may be found in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. The southernmost tip of Africa also has an individual with this name. distribution of Wagemakers has largely remained in concentric circles around Europe, with very few, if any, having moved to countries produced further away from their homeland.

In the Netherlands, Wagemakers is not a particularly common last name; it is ranked around 700 out of the most common surnames in this country. Estimates suggest that there are currently fewer than 10,000 people with this name worldwide.

Variations of the surname Wagemakers

The surname Wagemakers (or Waggemakers) is a Dutch occupational surname deriving from the word "wage maker" which means "carpenter" in Dutch. This surname can be found in the Dutch provinces of Zeeland and South Holland where the family is believed to have originated.

Variants of the surname Wagemakers include Waggemakers, Waemakers, Waagmakers, Waagemakers, Wagmakers, Waegemakers, Wagemakkers, Waigemakers, Waigmakers, Wagtmakers, Waittmakers, Wagtmakes, Wajgmakers, Waamakers, Wajtmakes and Waimakers.

Spellings of the surname Wagemakers can include Waggemakers, Waemakers, Wegmakkers, Waimakers, Wajtmakers and Waigmakers.

Some other family names which are believed to have originated from the same source as Wagemakers include Wageholder, Wagemaker, Wagenaar, Wagenaer, Waigeman, Waiges, Waggelmans and Waigt.

These names can be found in areas around Amsterdam, Rotterdam and South Holland in the Netherlands. As the Wagemaker family dispersed, their surname changed over time and eventually different spellings were adopted in other parts of the world, such as the United States.

Famous people with the name Wagemakers

• Yannick Wagemakers: a Belgian professional footballer who currently plays for RC Genk.
• Arthur Wagemakers: a Dutch priest who served as Vicar General for the Diocese of Utrecht.
• Jacky Wagemakers: a Belgian professional cyclist who has competed in the UCI Road World Championships.
• Jan Wagemakers: a Dutch Royal Netherlands Navy lieutenant-admiral during World War I.
• Price Wagemakers: a Dutch rower who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
• Willem Wagemakers: a South African visual artist and sculptor.
• Richard Wagemakers: a Belgian historian and academic.
• Fred Wagemakers: a Dutch footballer who played for Sparta Rotterdam and Feyenoord.
• Mark Wagemakers: a Dutch film and stage director, actor, writer and comedian.
• Ad Wagemakers: a Dutch professional tennis player who achieved a career-high singles ranking of 209 in 2006.

Other surnames

Wagemaker