Surname Weeland - Meaning and Origin
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Weeland: What does the surname Weeland mean?
The origin of the surname Weeland is believed to come from England. The name is derived from the words "weal" which means an enclosure and "land" which literally means "land".
The surname Weeland likely originated as a geographical marker. People had a habit of naming the area they lived in with their family name, and Weeland may come from a certain region or estate in England.
During the Middle Ages, due to population growth and the emergence of gentry, many people needed to distinguish themselves from others with the same name by adopting the suffix "-land" and listing the name of a place in which they lived or owned. Thus, the Weeland surname is likely a physical reference to a place.
The surname Weeland is often found in its original spelling in England, as the name is still popular in several counties of the country, such as Hertfordshire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Essex, and Norfolk.
Overall, the surname Weeland represents a person’s connection to their place of origin. This name can also be found throughout writings, maps and archives, indicating the historical existence of this family.
Order DNA origin analysisWeeland: Where does the name Weeland come from?
The surname Weeland is of German origin. This family name is most commonly found in the United States today, particularly in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.
Wisconsin and Michigan host the largest concentrations of people with the Weeland surname. In both states, it is amongst the top 10,000 most popular surnames. Ohio, by comparison, ranks Weeland as the 19,998th most frequent last name. Illinois and Minnesota also have relatively high populations of Weelands.
The roots of this surname are thought to have come from the pre-8th century Old German words "weh," meaning "watch," or "watchman," plus "lant," which means "flat land." This could suggest that the original bearers of Weelands were those who held the duty of protecting their local area.
Additional glimpses of Weeland’s history can be found through the exploration of ancestral records. The earliest records reveal a number of historical figures, including Johannes Weelan, who was born as early as 1620 in Wittorf within Germany’s Lower Saxony region. Records of this Weelan family further descend to Pennsylvania, where a certain Friedrich Weeland appears in Philadelphia in 1747.
The longevity and consistency of the Weeland name, from its origins in Germany to its home today in America, makes it one of the many remarkable family stories to be discovered and remembered.
Variations of the surname Weeland
The surname Weeland is a popular variant of the name Welland. It is also spelled as Welant, Weiland, Wieland, Wellant, Wielandt, Wyland, Wylandt, Wayland, Waylandt, and, in some areas of Germany, Veyland or Veiland. The name Weeland can be traced back to the German word 'wilante' meaning 'valley where subsistence farming is practiced'.
The variant spelling Wyland/Wylandt is of Swedish origin and is derived from the Norwegian name Viland, a form of the first name Vilhelm, meaning 'he who is willing'. The corresponding Swedish name is Vilhelmi. In Dutch, the name Weeland is spelled Wieland or Wielandt which is derived from Gijsbert (or Giselbert) and means 'hostage bright'.
In England, the spelling of this line of names is Wyland, Wayland or Waylandt. This has its roots in an Old English word weland, meaning 'hunter.' In Scotland and Ireland, the Irish form of the name is Woland, Wholand, Wheland, or Whelan.
In the United States, the name is most commonly seen as Weeland, Welland, Wayland, Wyland or Whelan. Some American lines have taken the spelling Wieland, while many European families have adopted the chamber English spelling of Welland.
Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of Weeland are plentiful, making it one of the most widespread family names in Europe and the United States.
Famous people with the name Weeland
- Eddie Weeland: Dutch illusionist and master of ceremonies
- James Weeland: American Air Force Colonel and World War II veteran
- Christine Weeland: songwriter, producer, and artist
- Lance Weeland: NHL player, played for Edmonton Oilers
- Joshua Weeland: FIFA player, plays for U.S. National team
- Tommy Weeland: British stand-up comic and actor
- Heidi Weeland: German chess champion
- Kristina Weeland: singer and songwriter
- Martin Weeland: Danish film director and producer
- Nick Weeland: NFL wide receiver, played for Cleveland Browns
- Robert Weeland: American businessman and banker
- Sam Weeland: musician, toured the world with a variety of bands
- Bernd Weeland: German figure skater, placed 5th at Winter Olympics
- Nicky Weeland: Christian music artist, winner of several music awards
- Tracey Weeland: Scottish slalom snowboarder, competed in the X Games