Surname Wegehaupt - Meaning and Origin
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Wegehaupt: What does the surname Wegehaupt mean?
The last name Wegehaupt is an occupational surname originating from Germany, derived from the Middle High German “wegehûb” or “wegehobener” meaning an overseer of roads. This type of occupation could have been a guard, patrolling the roads, or a local official responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of roads and bridges in towns and villages.
The first recorded use of the name in Germany dates back to 1326 in which it appears in the records of the city of Merseburg. From there, its usage spread across northern parts of Germany, from modern Poland all the way to Bavaria. During the 19th century, Wegehaupt emerged as an established name throughout Germany.
Wegehaupt is a strong surname that indicates both ambition and industriousness. Its origins in the Middle High German period suggest a long lineage and history of hard work, reflective of the German character. As a reminder of this perseverance, Wegehaupt is still a common last name in German households, and remains a source of pride for those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisWegehaupt: Where does the name Wegehaupt come from?
The last name Wegehaupt is a German surname and is relatively common throughout the country. It can also be found in other German-speaking regions such as Austria and Switzerland, although it is much less common in both countries than in Germany. The name is not found in great numbers outside of the German-speaking world, but some individuals bearing the name may be found in the United States, Canada, and other places with German immigrant populations.
The most common region in which to find the name is Northern Germany. It is particularly common in the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. However, it can also be found in other German states. For example, a survey conducted in Bavaria in 2015 revealed that the surname was the 859th most common name in the region.
The frequency of the name is likely to have decreased as a result of emigration. German emigrants typically had the same name as their German counterparts, so the name Wegehaupt is likely to be found in a number of other countries. For instance, it is not uncommon to find people with this surname in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and more.
Overall, the last name Wegehaupt is a relatively common German surname, particularly in Northern Germany. It can also be found in other countries with German-speaking populations, as well as elsewhere in the world due to emigration.
Variations of the surname Wegehaupt
Wegehaupt is a German surname deriving from the words weg (‘path’) and haupt (‘focal point’ or ‘main’). As a result, Wegehaupt can be interpreted as ‘main path’, a literal or metaphorical pathway. Alternative spellings and variants of Wegehaupt include Wegehopt, Weghehaupt, Waegehaupt, Waeghaupt, Wegehaupt, Weghaupt, Waeghoptt, Waagehaupt, and Weagenhaupt.
Variants of the Wegehaupt surname can also be found in other Germanic countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. In these countries, the surname can appear as Vayhaupt, Weaghehaupt, Waaghaopt, Waegehoptt, Vaagehaupt, Waagehoptt, Waaghehaupt, Wegehadd, and Wegehoft.
In addition to the variants listed above, there are several derivatives of the Wegehaupt surname. For instance, surname spellings such as Wege, Wegh, Wegen, Weger, Wager, Wagler, Wegeler, Weidel, Weidler, and Weidman could potentially indicate an ancestor who was related to the Wegehaupt family.
Finally, common surnames among the Wegehaupt family would include names such as Wegehoft, Wegehadd, Waagehoft, Waeger, Wagler, Weger, Weaghehaupt, and Wegen. These names could indicate a common ancestor with the Wegehaupt surname.
Famous people with the name Wegehaupt
- Joseph Wegehaupt (1743-1800), German composer of many opera and symphonic works
- Richard Wegehaupt (1863-1951), German-born American industrialist and philanthropist
- Johann Georg Wegehaupt, German archaeologist and historian
- Wilhelm Wegehaupt (1722-1780), German mathematician and theologian
- Ernst Wegehaupt (1847-1930), German organist and composer
- Friedrich Wegehaupt (1872-1948), German explorer and geographer
- Willi Wegehaupt (1890-1943), German master craftsman and wood carver
- Ulrich Wegehaupt (1875-1939), German poet and writer
- Walter Wegehaupt (1865-1931), German university professor and author
- Helmut Wegehaupt, German artist and painter