Surname Wayt - Meaning and Origin
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Wayt: What does the surname Wayt mean?
The surname Wayt is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the pre 7th-century Old English word "wiht," which translates to "weight" in the modern language. It was used as a nickname for a person of significant bulk or substance or a trader in weights. Nicknames were given to people based on their physical characteristics, occupation, locality, and a variety of other factors. The surname may also be associated with the medieval name 'Waite' or 'Wait', an occupational name for a watchman or guard. The early recordings of this name are found in various regions of England. As with many old English names, there have been variations in the spelling over the years including Waite, Wayt, and Wait among others.
Order DNA origin analysisWayt: Where does the name Wayt come from?
The last name Wayt is most prominently found in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were about 548 people in the United States with the last name Wayt as of the most recent survey in 2018.
In terms of geographics, the last name Wayt is most commonly found in the Southern states. This includes states like Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and Kentucky in particular. According to Ancestries, it is most predominantly found in the Southern Appalachian Mountain region.
Outside of the U.S., the last name Wayt is particularly common in Canada. It is also found in smaller numbers throughout England, Germany, and New Zealand.
The last name Wayt is thought to have originated in Wales. It is an Anglicized form of the Welsh-Gaelic name “Wight” or Vanderwight. This name was brought over to England during the Angles and Saxon settlement period of the 5th century. It reflects a certain type of landscape in Gwynedd. It is thought that those with this name were descendants of a certain noble family who were loyal to Welsh kings.
Overall, the last name Wayt is most commonly found throughout the United States, particularly in the Southern states. It is also noticeable in other English-speaking countries such as Canada and New Zealand, as well as London, Germany, and Wales.
Variations of the surname Wayt
The surname Wayt is an uncommon and interesting family name. Its variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin dates back to the medieval times, when most people living in the British Isles regionalised their surnames and changed them in time due to several different political and cultural influences.
Variants and alternative spellings of Wayt include Wacht, Whaite, Wate, Waight, Wateh, Wieht, Wiecht, Waite and Waid.
The Wacht surname has its origins in the small village of Wachtendorp, in the province of Overijesel, Netherlands. The surname Whaite is of English origin and was originally given to those people who worked as gate keepers or were involved in the trade of woolen cloth.
The Wate and Waight surnames are Anglicisation of the Old French word "Waite", meaning guard or sentinel. The Wieht and Wiecht versons are also of Germanic origin, and they refer to someone who served as a retainer, or someone given authority to protect and guard someone.
The Waite surname is French in origin, and its spelling was changed over time to Waid and Wayt. This surname was usually given to people living near a small creek or stream.
The surname Wayt is a combination of several different surnames of the same origin, and its variants, spellings, and other surnames are the result of centuries of migrations, cultural shifts, and regionalisation.
Famous people with the name Wayt
- Michael Wayt: a three-time winner of the Monaco Grand Prix and a successful endurance racing driver.
- Blake Wayt: a professional basketball player with the WNBA and a two-time All-Star selection.
- Karen Wayt: the first female congressman from the state of North Dakota and a member of the United States Senate from 1995-2001.
- Fred Wayt: an Emmy Award-winning journalist who was the host of the popular show Frontline from 1980 to 1995.
- Robert Wayt: a critically acclaimed actor who played the lead role in the Broadway hit play “The Miracle Worker”.
- Brian Wayt: an American pop singer who achieved success in the early 1990s with his hit singles “If You Were Mine” and “Walk Away”.
- Jill Wayt: an artist who has exhibited her work in galleries around the world and has received several awards for her paintings.
- Scott Wayt: CEO of the top psychic network, Wayt Communications, Inc., who has been featured on the cover of entrepreneur magazine twice.
- Gary Wayt: a professional photographer whose work has been featured in some of the world’s top fashion magazines.
- Martina Wayt: three-time winner of the U.S. Open and a professional tennis player who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002.