Surname Wayman - Meaning and Origin
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Wayman: What does the surname Wayman mean?
The last name Wayman is of Old English origin and is a variant of the surname ‘Weman’, which means ‘trader’ or ‘tradesman’. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English word ‘wīgmann’, meaning ‘warrior’ or ‘soldier’. The earliest recorded variant of the surname appeared in 1194, when a man named Hugh Weman was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire.
Traditionally, families bearing the Wayman surname are believed to be descended from a freeman, a man who was willing and able to travel in search of new markets and opportunities. It was not uncommon for these freemen to move from one town to the next in pursuit of their business interests.
The Wayman surname can also have Germanic origins, from the Middle Low German word ‘wāme’ meaning ‘husband’. The earliest recorded variant of this surname appears in 1241, when one named Ancret Wemman is mentioned in records from the Livonian Chronicle of Henricus Lettus.
Today, people with the Wayman surname can be found in countries around the world, tracing their origins to both England and Germany. In either case, the name most likely suggests the ancestor of that family was in pursuit of a better life through trading and hard work.
Order DNA origin analysisWayman: Where does the name Wayman come from?
The last name Wayman is quite common today, as it can be found in many countries around the world. In the United States, the name is the 914th most common surname according to the 1990 census. It is most common in the southern states, especially in states such as Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Similarly, it is also a popular last name in the United Kingdom, being the 735th most popular surname. It is most common in the regions of England, such as Lancashire, the West Midlands, and the Yorkshire and The Humber area.
The name is also found in other countries throughout the world, such as Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and France. It is also quite common in other countries in Europe with Slavic origins, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The name can also be found in some South Asian countries such as India and Bangladesh, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. In these countries, the name could have been adopted from British or western influence or may have been adopted from a local pronunciation of a similar name.
The name Wayman appears to have originated from the Germanic personal name Waimar or Weimar. It is believed to have derived from the words “wager” and “marsh”. Thus, the name is thought to mean “a man from the marshes.” This suggests it was likely a name for someone who lived near a marshland, often found in wealthy or noble families.
Variations of the surname Wayman
The surname Wayman has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, each with its own unique history. The most common variations of Wayman include Waymon, Weyman, Weiman, Weymann, Weymar, Woyman, and Woymar.
The Germanic form of the name, Weiman, is derived from the Old High German personal name Weimo, which was itself derived from either the Germanic element wig, meaning “war”, or from the Germanic element wig, meaning “protection”. The Old English form of the name was Wegmann, which is derived from the Old English elements wig, meaning “war” and man, meaning “man”.
In Germany, variants of the name include Weiman, Weymann, and Weymar. In America, the variants span various regional spellings including Waymon, Woyman, and Woymar. The Scottish version of the name is Wiemann, derived from Old Norse elements wig, meaning “battle” and mann, meaning “man”.
The meaning of the surname Wayman has several possible explanations. It could mean “one who fights” or “protector” or “a man from the way or road”. It could also mean “a wagon driver”, “a watchman”, or “one who resides by the highroad”. There are also records that indicate that the name means “stranger”.
Famous people with the name Wayman
- Shirley Wayman, former Republican Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
- Skeeter Wayman, former college football coach
- Jim Wayman, cryptographer and diplomat
- Ted Wayman, screenwriter and playwright
- John Wayman, classical composer
- DJ Wayman, hip hop artist
- Antoinette Wayman, actress
- Francis Wayman, physicist
- Ernie Wayman, American jazz saxophonist
- Cora Wayman, British physician
- Kenny Wayman, Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Robert Wayman, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HP.
- Tiwon Wayman, Professional Basketball player
- Chris Wayman, former professional American football offensive lineman.
- Monte Wayman, voice actor.
- Scott Wayman, trombonist in the British jazz funk band Back To The Bone.
- Jack Wayman, former mixed martial artist.
- Tracy Wayman, actress.
- Artie Wayman, British social entrepreneur.
- Jeff Wayman, American television director.