Surname Waßer - Meaning and Origin
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Waßer: What does the surname Waßer mean?
The surname Waßer is of German origin and comes from a locational term. It refers to someone from a 'Wasser' which is the German word for 'water'. It was most likely used as a name for people who lived near a body of water or near a well or spring. It was sometimes also used for people who worked as merchants or administrators of water-related goods.
The surname Waßer is relatively uncommon in Germany today, however there is a relatively small Home of Waßer in Südtirol, Austria which is named after the surname. The village was first recorded in 1228 as ‘Einwasser’ which translates to ‘one water’.
The surname Waßer is often spelled with an umlaut, similar to that placed over the a in ä, which represents an 'a' with a 'v' sound. It is important to note that the proper spelling of the surname Waßer always includes the umlaut.
It is estimated that around 120,000 people in Germany today still bear this name, and there are a plurality of Waßer family members living in the United States. In other countries, including the United Kingdom, every spelling of the surname Waßer is considered rare.
Order DNA origin analysisWaßer: Where does the name Waßer come from?
The last name Waßer is mainly found in Europe and is most commonly seen in Germany and Austria. It originated from the Old High German word “wasser,” which means “water.” The name was likely used for someone living near a river or stream, or as an occupational name for someone who worked with water.
Waßer is still a fairly common last name in Germany today, ranking 820th in popularity. It is found in many large cities throughout the country, such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Dresden. It is also found in Austria, where it is much less common and ranked around 1,476th in terms of popularity. It is common in the west and south of the country, however, especially in Vienna and Salzburg.
The name is also found in parts of the United States, Canada, Israel, and South America. Mostly, though, the name is concentrated in Germany and Austria, particularly among people who are of German or Austrian descent.
Overall, Waßer is a fairly common last name across Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. It is likely to remain a popular name for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Waßer
The most commonly used variants, spellings and surnames for Waßer are: Wass, Waaser, Waeser, Waisser, Wasser, Wassmer, Wasmuth, Wassmuth, Wasmer, Vosser, Fasser, and Pfasser.
The earliest usage of Waßer appears to originate from Germany; in which the name originated from an Old High German (OHG) personal name composed of the OHG elements wazzer, vazo (meaning “fire”, “hot”) and heri (“army”, “warrior”). The most common form of the surname Waßer is then derived from the OHG given name Waszar which means “fire and war” or “hot and angry”.
Waßer can also be a short form of the nickname “Wasser-” (water) + “mann” (man); thus originating as an occupational name for a person who earned their living from wetlands or as a waterman i.e. a person who navigates a boat along waterways.
The surname Waßer is then found throughout Europe with many spellings, such as “Vosser” in Dutch, “Vaassen” in Belgium, “Vasser” in France, “Wozniak” in Polish, and “Vizner” in Czech.
In America, Waßer is mostly found under the spelling Wass, Waas or Waaser. The Waßer surname is mainly found in the Midwestern, Western and Southern states, and is believed to have immigrated into the United States from Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
The surname Waßer might have also evolved from other surnames such as: Fasser, an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word “fastel” meaning “tile”; Pfasser, a nickname derived from the Middle High German word “pfas” meaning “tile”; or Wasmuth, an occupational name from the Middle High German word “waz” meaning “wood” and “muot” meaning “courage”.
Waßer is a surname of Germanic origin and can be found in different spellings and variations throughout Europe and parts of the United States.
Famous people with the name Waßer
- Max Waßer: Famous German 10-meter high diver, with seven international titles, won four consecutive titles in Aachen, Holland.
- Peter Waßer: Award-winning Austrian electrical engineer, researcher, and professor.
- Sarah Waßer: Professional surfer and successful international competitor.
- Anna Waßer: German comedian, actress, and singer.
- Charley Waßer: Professional snowboarder, former U.S. National Member, and recipient of several U.S. Open championship awards.
- Ekkehard Waßer: German actor, director, screenwriter, and vocalist.
- Phillip Waßer: German computer scientist, professor, and researcher.
- Anna Maria Waßer: Austrian artist, known for her abstract expressionist paintings.
- John Waßer: Former American professional basketball player, and current NBA broadcaster.
- Johann Waßer: German author, playwright, and director.