Surname Wayment - Meaning and Origin

Wayment: What does the surname Wayment mean?

The surname Wayment is of English origin, more precisely from the South West region of England. This last name is considered very rare and unique. The term Wayment is believed to have derived from an ancient word "wayman" which is thought to mean "a roadman," or "a traveler." Over time, "wayman" evolved in pronunciation and spelling to the more contemporary "Wayment." It thus might have been an occupational surname initially given to individuals who worked as road builders, or it could perhaps have been used to identify individuals who traveled often. Like many surnames of older English origin, the exact meaning and origin of "Wayment" get lost in the mists of time. It is often hard to trace a direct line of etymology due to linguistic changes and the passage of time. Therefore, the surname Wayment can be subject to varying interpretations.

Wayment: Where does the name Wayment come from?

The last name Wayment can be found all over the globe, with the highest concentrations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. According to the US census of 2020, there are over 4,500 individuals with the last name Wayment living in the United States, with the highest concentrations in Utah, California, Idaho, Colorado, and Oregon.

In the United Kingdom, the Wayment surname is found in several counties, including Kent, Surrey, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, and Lincolnshire. Canada has a few hundred Wayments, mainly located in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Similarly, Australia and New Zealand are also home to a handful of Wayment family members.

It must be said that the name Wayment is a relatively uncommon surname. There are, however, several organizations and initiatives that provide guidance and support to members of the Wayment family everywhere. For example, the Utah Wayments family has a genealogical website that brings together individuals with the last name Wayment, as well as a Facebook page, where people share stories, photos, and other information related to the family.

All in all, Wayment is a unique and fairly rare surname. Although it is not as popular today as it was a few decades ago, it is still found in many countries throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Wayment

The surname Wayment is an English surname that is derived from the Old English pre-7th Century personal name Waehelm. It is thought to be an early topographical name for someone who lives by a road or lane, derived from the Old English 'waeg' meaning a road, together with the Old English 'ham' meaning a settlement. It may have had a more general sense of someone who travelled or moved around.

The variant spellings of Wayment include Wayman, Waymon, Weyman, Weyment, Waeyman, and Waeyment; and surnames of the same origin include Weyman, Weymouth, Weymans, Weymann, Weymer, Weimer, Weemed, and Waeman.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname is that of a Geoffrey Wygheman in the 1166 Pipe Rolls of London, and other notable people with this surname include the American Mason Weyman, who was a member of the New York State Assembly in the late 1800s.

The most likely place of origin is in Bedfordshire, England, where the Wayments and Weymans, were recorded as being among the earliest settlers in the late 12th century. The same family could also be found in South Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire in the 13th Century, and later in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

In modern times, the Wayment surname is mostly found in the United States, where it is found in both New England and the Midwestern states. In other countries of the world, the surname Wayment appears to be quite rare, with the highest density of population being in Australia.

Famous people with the name Wayment

• Don Wayment, professional baseball player from the United States
• Carl Wayment, former Olympic diver from Australia
• Andrew Wayment, professional footballer from New Zealand
• David Wayment, pro golfer from the United States
• Graham Wayment, former British single scull rower
• John Wayment, NBA player and coach from the United States
• Stephen Wayment, former NBA player from the United States
• Azariah Wayment, former Canadian badminton player
• Veronique Wayment, Belgian table tennis player
• Abner Wayment, former British Olympic steeplechase runner

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