Surname Wedeking - Meaning and Origin
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Wedeking: What does the surname Wedeking mean?
The last name Wedeking is of German origin and comes from the region of Westphalia. It derives from the Middle High German personal name Waching, a combination of wach (“alert”, “watchful”) and -ing (“son of”). The name Waching first appeared around the year 1000 and was popular in Germany until the mid-eighteenth century.
The Wedeking surname has several variant spellings. Examples of these include Weding, Wedtkening, Wedeking, Wadking, and Wedig. Variations of the name have been found in Germany as early as the 1400s, indicating that the name is of some antiquity in the country.
Most Wedekings living in the United States today are descended from immigrants of the German Palatinate who arrived in the 1700s. They are mainly concentrated in the Midwest, with small numbers living throughout the rest of the country.
Wedeking is a name with a proud history in Germany, and its legacy lives on throughout the United States. It reflects the hard work and bravery of generations of German immigrants, commemorating their success in setting down roots in a new land.
Order DNA origin analysisWedeking: Where does the name Wedeking come from?
The surname Wedeking is most commonly found today in the United States and Germany. In the United States, the name is found mostly in rural, Midwest sections of the country, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota.
In the Germany, particularly in the northern states, Wedeking is a more popular surname. It is a very common name in the cities of Lower Saxony and the state of Schleswig-Holstein, where it is among the 50 most common surnames.
The name Wedeking can also be found in other smaller numbers in locations around the world. This includes Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia.
The origins of the surname are difficult to pin down, but some believe that it may have started as a variation of the original German name Wegking, which means “king of the way” or “king of the road.” Others argue that it may be derived from the Old German "vega" meaning field.
Regardless of its origin, the Wedeking surname remains an interesting and unique part of culture. If traced through generations, this family history can provide unique insight into what life was like for our ancestors. Wedekings may be proud of their unique name and the history behind it.
Variations of the surname Wedeking
Wedeking is a patronymic German surname that originated as a variation of the root surname Wiedeking. It has branched out over the years with other spellings including Wedeking, Weddeking, Wiedeking, Weddink, Wedekinge, and Vedding. Variants in other languages also exist, including the Dutch Wiedekinge, the Polish Wiedeńka, and the Danish Vedding.
The surname is derived from a German personal name, Wido or Widoin, which was formed from the Old High German element Wido meaning 'wood', and the suffix -in, a diminutive. Thus, the surname Wiedeking directly translates as 'little wido'.
Over time, Wedeking has morphed and changed its spelling, with some families arriving in America from Germany spelling their names Wedelingz or Wiedink. The surname can also be seen as Wiedekinge in some countries. At its most simplified, it has taken on the spelling Wedekin, Wiedekin, and Weedikin, making it a surname for families and individuals who have migrated to different countries and regions.
The name is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, Canada, Poland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It is also popular in Austria and Switzerland.
Wedeking is a unique surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. As families and individuals migrated to different countries and regions, the spelling this surname has adapted to the local language and dialect. While it is easy to identify Wedeking as being the same surname, regardless of how its spelled, its fascinating to trace how families from different countries have modified the original name.
Famous people with the name Wedeking
- Lex Wedeking: professional American football player
- Rupert Wedeking: German World War II flying ace
- Willi Wedeking: German actor
- Joe Wedeking: American football coach
- Harry Wedeking: American historian
- Larry Wedeking: American college football coach
- John Wedeking: American politician
- Cornelius Wedeking: German actor
- Daniel Wedeking: German field hockey player
- Albert Wedeking: German World War I flying ace
- Carl Wedeking: German actor
- Ernest Wedeking: German World War I flying ace
- Thuren Wedeking: Major League Baseball pitcher
- Kermit Wedeking: American college football coach
- Robert Wedeking: American Midwest political leader
- Robert Wedeking: American evangelist
- Don Wedeking: American racing driver
- Timothy Wedeking: American microbiologist
- Rolf Wedeking: German World War II flying ace
- Bob Wedeking: American college football coach