Surname Walscheid - Meaning and Origin

Walscheid: What does the surname Walscheid mean?

The last name Walscheid originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It likely derived from the Old High German words “wal,” meaning “forest” and “schaido,” meaning “clearing” or “meadow,” describing a person or family that lived in a settlement near a forest.

Originally, Walscheid was a topographic surname, that is, the name was derived from the landscape which the original bearer of the name lived in. It may have referred to a person who lived on or in a meadow, near a forest. It is also possible – though less likely – that the surname was derived from a local landlord, who may have held rights of stewardship over a meadow situated nearby a forest.

The surname Walscheid is prevalent in Germany and Austria today and occasionally found in Poland and Russia. It is also present in several other countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, and Sweden.

Walscheid is one of over 10,000 different surnames registered in Germany remains a popular German surname to this day, with around 1,700 people sharing the surname in Germany alone.

Walscheid: Where does the name Walscheid come from?

The last name Walscheid is most commonly found in Germany, where it is the 2,830th most common last name in the country, according to an analysis of the General Population Register of Germany as of December 31, 2018. Walscheid is primarily concentrated in the western part of the country, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria. It is the 123rd most common last name in North Rhine-Westphalia, the 311th most common in Hesse, the 460th most common in Lower Saxony, and the 1,384th most common in Bavaria. It is also found in other countries, such as Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium. Records show that the last name was carried to some of these other countries by immigrants from Germany.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous of the states where the name is found, over one hundred people bear the last name Walscheid. The largest municipality in which the name is found is Bochum, where over 25 people bear the name. An analysis of the last name suggests possible occupations of those who bear it, including workers in metallurgy and mechanics, such as blacksmiths, machinists, and coppersmiths.

Given its long history in Germany, the last name Walscheid reflects the heritage and culture of the areas it is commonly found in today. As a surname, it is still actively used and it is likely to remain in use for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Walscheid

The surname Walscheid has a number of variants and spellings which can be found across Europe. In German, the name is typically spelled Walscheid, but can also be spelled Walscheid, Waltscheid, Waltsheid, Walzscheit, Waltsheit, Wallscheid, Walltscheid, Waltscheit, Walscheit, Walltsheid, Walltsheit, Walzscheid and Walthscheith.

In English, the surname is usually written as Walscheid. It can also be found as Walchemyd, Walchemid, Walchemyd, Walchemed, Walched, Walced, Walcede, Walceyte, Walceid, Walseid, Walseyd, Walschyd, Walceyd, Walscyd, Walsceyd, Waulcheid, Walschid, Walschied, Walsheid and Waldscheid.

In French, the surname can be written as Walscheid, Valchez, Walnchez, Walchier, Valcheer, Walier, Walchery, Walchiez, Walchies, Valchez, Walter, Walcher, Valcher, Valchier, Valcheer, Valchee, Valchers, Valcherie, Waltier and Waltere. In other languages, such as Dutch, the name is typically spelled Walscheid but can also be written as Waltsheid and Walscheid.

Surnames of the same origin include Walshew, Walsheck, Walser, Walsel, Walsal, Walles, Wallesche, Walser, Walselin, Walcelen, Waltzel, Walslet, Walzel and Walselmann.

Famous people with the name Walscheid

• Eric Walscheid: German racing cyclist.
• Gustav Walscheid: German architect and designer who created the Walscheid Bicycle Company in the early 20th century.
• Fritz Walscheid: Actor and TV presenter from Germany.
• Gretha Walscheid: German classical violinist.
• Franz Walscheid: Austrian philologist of the late 19th and early 20th century.
• Franz Walscheid: German cross country and marathon runner.
• Hermann Walscheid: German laborer who was later awarded the Iron Cross for bravery in World War I.
• Joachim Walscheid: Germany born engineer and entrepreneur who invented the Maxi scooter.
• Johann Walscheid: German general in World War II who commanded 8th Panzer Division.
• Karl-Heinz Walscheid: German physicist and climatologist who studied the polar regions.

Other surnames

Wälscher