Surname Wefer - Meaning and Origin
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Wefer: What does the surname Wefer mean?
The last name Wefer is of German and Dutch origin. The name is composed of two elements, 'We', which is the German version of the English word 'we/us' and 'fer', which is the Old German term for "ferryman". Thus, the name Wefer signifies the occupation of a ferryman, or someone who transports people or goods across a body of water, usually for a fee. The occupation of ferryman was an important one in medieval Germany, where it was often used to transport goods and people across rivers and other bodies of water.
Throughout history, the surname Wefer has been used by a variety of different families in both Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the United States. It is quite a common name in Germany, as well as other European countries like Austria, Netherlands and the Czech Republic. In the United States, the surname Wefer is still comparatively uncommon and there is no exact number available of just how many people in the United States bear the name Wefer.
The meaning of the last name Wefer reflects a common occupation by which many people supported their families and contributed to the growth of local economies throughout history. For those that have the last name Wefer, it is a reminder of the important role that ferrymen played in connecting people and goods from different sides of a body of water, continuing to be a respected name in many countries today.
Order DNA origin analysisWefer: Where does the name Wefer come from?
The last name Wefer is most common in the countries of Germany and Austria, where it has been traced back to the 15th century. It is thought to have originated in northern Germany and is believed to be a variation of Weber, a common surname. In Germany today, Wefer is a relatively rare name; only 0.0005% of the population has it.
It is also found in the United States, where the earliest known record of Wefer was found in 1870 in Illinois. It is believed to have been brought to the US by German immigrants. Wefer is most heavily concentrated in the Midwestern regions of the United States, especially in the areas of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. The name is found in small numbers elsewhere in the US, but it is not particularly widespread. It is estimated that fewer than 10,000 people have the last name Wefer in the US today.
In addition to Germany and the United States, the name Wefer can be found in some other countries, including The Netherlands, Australia, and Canada. It is also possible that some people with the last name Wefer may be found in parts of Latin America, as many German migrants have settled in Latin American countries.
Variations of the surname Wefer
The surname Wefer is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Wippo, which is a contraction of the Germanic elements wih, meaning “battle”, and hraban, meaning “raven”. Early variants of the surname Wefer included Wiffer, Weiffer, Weffer, Wefel, Wepfel, Wappel, Woffer, and Wiefer.
It is likely that many derivatives of the surname Wefer exist in other countries. Variants of the surname in the United Kingdom include Wiffer, Woffer, Weafer, Weiffer and Weaper. In Japan, Wefer is pronounced uefaa/wefar.
Spelling variants of the surname Wefer throughout Europe are Wefers, Wenners, Weifers, Wafers and Weffers. In the United States, the surname is spelled as Weiffer, Weafer, Weeper, Wifer, Wiefer, Wapper, Weave, Weata, Wope, Wipp, Wibb, Wiefart and Wipper.
The German surname Wefer is also found in Austria and Switzerland as Wiffer and Wafers, in Denmark and Sweden as Wiefer or Wiper, in France as Weepair, Dweeper and Wiazeur, and in Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania as Wiefer.
Surnames that are pronounced similarly, or have similar meaning, to Wefer include Wipper, Weiper, Wypers, Wappel and Wijah. These surnames may or may not have the same origin.
The surnames mentioned above are only some of the myriad of spellings and variations of Wefer that have emerged over the years. Anyone researching their family ancestry can look up each of these surname variants to discover more information about their own family history.
Famous people with the name Wefer
- Hans Wefer, German World War I flying ace
- Henrik Wefer, Danish explorer
- Carl Friedrich Wefer, German geologist
- Robert Wefer, Austrian professional tennis player
- Alfred Wefer, German ophthalmologist
- Gerd Wefer, German oceanographer
- Nicholas Wefer, American architect
- Rudolf Wefer, Austrian painter
- Sophie Wefer, French author and philologist
- Gisela Wefer, German painter