Surname Wassermann - Meaning and Origin

A Journey of Self-Discovery: Unraveling the Depth of 'Wassermann' through My iGENEA DNA Test

The journey with my iGENEA DNA test not only provided a wealth of fascinating information about my family's past, but it also profoundly impacted my view of my surname 'Wassermann' and personal family identity. The results of my test, tracing back to diverse European roots, including German and Jewish heritage, has deepened my understanding of 'Wassermann' and what it means to carry that name forward.

P. Wassermann

Wassermann: What does the surname Wassermann mean?

The last name Wassermann is of German origin and it literally translates to "waterman" in English. It could signify a variety of occupations linked to water in the Medieval era. The bearers of this surname could have been fishermen, sailors, or individuals who lived near bodies of water. Variations of the surname include Wasser, Wasserman, Waterman, and de Wasserman. The surname is geographically widespread throughout central and northern Germany. Famous people with this last name include Albert Wassermann, a German banker, and August von Wassermann, a German bacteriologist. As with many surnames, the exact origins and meaning can differ based on regional contexts and family histories. But generally, Wassermann is seen as an occupational surname referring to professions related to water.

Wassermann: Where does the name Wassermann come from?

The last name Wassermann is most commonly found today in the German-speaking countries in Europe. This is due to its German origins, where it is classed as a patronymic (surname derived from the father’s given name). The name Wassermann can be found throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium, with pockets of its usage in neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and the former Yugoslav republics.

The last name Wassermann has also been adopted as a name outside of Europe. For example, the name is also found in South Africa, where many German-speaking emigrants settled in the 19th century. There is also an influx of the last name from the diaspora of Ashkenazi Jews, who have been moving from Eastern Europe to the United States and other English-speaking countries since the 19th century. It is also popular amongst Spanish-speaking populations, due to similar-sounding Spanish equivalencies such as Vaserman,

Wassermann is still a relatively common name, according to Geni.com and their Global Family Tree. A popular social networking site for genealogists, Geni shows over 72,000 people bearing the last name in their family trees. Overall, the last name is still found widely throughout Europe, as well as pockets in other regions of the world that have adopted it as part of their families’ heritage.

Variations of the surname Wassermann

Wassermann is a common surname name found throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the United States. In German and Jewish cultures, the surname Wassermann (also spelled Wassermen, Waserman, Vassermen, and Wasserman) is derived from the word “wasser” (water) and “mann” (man) and originally meant "water man." The spelling variations of the surname Wassermann are vast, as it has been adapted to many different cultures.

In Russian, the name may be spelled Wassermaan, Vassermaan, or Vassermaan. In Poland, the surname has many variants, including Waserman, Vassermen, Wassermen, Wasserman, Vosseman, Weisztman, Weismann, Vasefman, Vasefma, Vasirman, and Wassermann. In Biblical Hebrew, the stem is “Vosse”, making variants, such as Weisz and Weiszman. Another spelling in the same culture is Vaisman.

In both Ukrainian and Hungarian, the surname might be written as Vasserman, Vassermen, or Vassermaan. In Hungarian, though, another spelling is Vacekman. In Slovak, the name might be spelled Vassermaan (closed o) or Vassemaan (open o). It is also spelled Vascermann and Wasserman in other countries around the world.

Wasserman is also an Ashkenazic Jewish surname, spelled variations such as Vassermaan, Vasserman, Vassermen, Wassermen, Waserman, and Wisemann. It is derived from the Yiddish "vasser" meaning "water" and "man" meaning “man.”

The surname Wassermann has been heavily adapted to other cultures and languages due to immigration. Yet people with the surname will likely be related in some way, sharing a common ancestor with the same surname.

Famous people with the name Wassermann

• Dave Wasserman- an American statistician and political consultant.
• Harvey Wasserman- an American journalist, author and activist.
• Jack Wasserman- an American lawyer and jurist.
• Jakob Wassermann- a German writer.
• Jay Wasserman- an American sportswriter.
• Joerg Wassermann- a German actor, director, and theater entrepreneur.
• John Wasserman- an American politician and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.
• Leopold Wassermann- an American lighting designer and stage manager.
• Mina Wasserman- an American photographer and social photographer.
• Myra Wasserman- an American museum executive and art historian.
• Paris Wasserman- an American actor, film producer, director, and television writer.
• Richard Wasserman- an American film editor.
• Robert Wasserman- an American philosopher.
• Tony Wasserman- an American software engineer and professor.
• Vicki Wasserman- an American actress, singer, and producer.

Other surnames

WassermanWassermeierWassermeyer