Surname Wedderhahn - Meaning and Origin
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Wedderhahn: What does the surname Wedderhahn mean?
Wedderhahn is a surname originating from Germany. It is derived from the German words weder (meaning ‘against’) and hahn (meaning ‘rooster’), resulting in its literal translation of ‘against the rooster’. This name is usually found in northern Germany, especially in Schleswig-Holstein and Niedersachsen states.
Wedderhahn generally referred to a person with some military proficiency, given that rooster crowing was often used to signal the start of battle. The name could also be used for someone who was known to be brave, often likened to the bird's combative behaviour.
The surname Wedderhahn is also associated with Christianity, as its literal meaning is closely associated with Jesus’s victory against Satan. According to the Bible, Peter encountered a rooster who crowed three times, and it is said that this is the moment where Peter recognized his betrayal of Jesus.
More generally, Wedderhahn is a name that connotes courage and loyalty. Therefore, it can be seen as a source of pride for many individuals who carry this name.
Order DNA origin analysisWedderhahn: Where does the name Wedderhahn come from?
The last name Wedderhahn is most commonly found in Germany today. The name is derived from the German town of Wiederhahn, located in the Ruhr area of Germany. The Wiederhahn family of the village dates back to at least 1270 and the name is still found there today. The name can also be found in nearby areas such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Wedderhahn is a relatively uncommon last name in Germany today, with fewer than 3,000 estimated to currently exist. It is thought to have its origins in a family with the same name that lived in Germany since medieval times. The name was also found throughout other parts of Europe, including France, Austria, Czech Republic, and Russia, although today it is more concentrated in Germany.
The Wedderhahn family members are quite traditional in nature, and many of the older generations have held positions in the clergy or the military. It is likely that over time the family has maintained a close sense of identity, with members of the family frequently marrying within their own social circle.
Although the surname is rare in Germany today, the Wedderhahn family can still be found in some form, and remains a part of German tradition.
Variations of the surname Wedderhahn
The surname Wedderhahn has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant of this surname is Wedderburn. Other notable variants include Weddell, Wedderbarron, Wedderbee, Wedderburne, Wedderman, Wedderspoon, Werdersen, Vedderhahn and Vedderan.
The spellings of the name Wedderhahn can also vary. For example, Wedderhan, Wedderhahn, Wedderhorn, Wedderhorne, Weddherhan, Vedderhan, Vedderhahn and Vedderhorn are all different spellings of the same surname.
The surnames of the same origin are Wetherill, Wetherill-Smith, Wetherald, Wetherall, Wethrell, Wetherly, Wetherell, Wetherbee, and Wetherby.
Wedderhahn is a Germanic name, most likely derived from the German phrase “weder hann”, meaning “weather hill”. The name consists of two elements, weder, which translates as "weather" and hann, which means "hill". As such, the name likely refers to a person who was born on or near a hill that was exposed to the elements. The variants of the surname Wedderhahn would have been taken from other Germanic languages, such as Dutch and Schleswig-Holstein, which is spoken in the oldest parts of Germany.
Ultimately, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Wedderhahn all refer to the same origin - the German phrase “weder hann”, meaning “weather hill”. Despite their differences, they are still connected to the same ancestral origin.
Famous people with the name Wedderhahn
- Tanja Wedderhahn: Tanja is a German TV presenter who hosts events, interviews personalities, and reports on current affairs.
- Günther Wedderhahn: Günther Wedderhahn was the co-inventor of the car-free urban quarter, a concept of urban living that totally reverses the traditional traffic-oriented city plan.
- Axel Wedderhahn: Axel is a German lawyer who specializes in international commercial law, focusing on cross-border transactions and dispute resolution.
- Hermann Wedderhahn: Hermann Wedderhahn is a German industrial designer and engineer who specializes in the development of innovative staircases and balustrades.
- Joanna Wedderhahn: Joanna is a German Folklore illustrator and author whose works focus on the ever-changing faces that Germany has assumed over the centuries.
- Albrecht Wedderhahn: Albrecht is a German business consultant and entrepreneur who specializes in corporate strategy and the optimization of business processes.
- Mortiz Wedderhahn: Mortiz Wedderhahn is a German physicist and professor at the Leipzig Institute of Technology who specializes in the physics of nanostructures.
- Ellen Wedderhahn: Ellen Wedderhahn is an international fashion designer who specializes in creating unique looks for the modern woman.
- Christian Wedderhahn: Christian is a German engineer and entrepreneur who founded several innovative startups in the industry of renewable energies.
- Friederike Wedderhahn: Friederike is a German historian who has spent many years researching bout the representation of personal histories in the media.