Surname Wegelin - Meaning and Origin
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Wegelin: What does the surname Wegelin mean?
The last name Wegelin stems from an occupational surname, with its origin possibly originating from the Middle High German word “weggele” indicating a seller of waffles. Alternatively, it could refer to someone involved in the selling of holy water, or “wonen” in the Middle High German language.
The surname is likely to have been popularised in the medieval period when surnames began to be used as a way of distinguishing one individual from another. During this period Wegelin is likely to have been most popular in the Germanic region especially in the Old Kingdom of Bavaria. Its affix -in is a sign that a later Christianization process had taken place.
Wegelin has multiple variants in spelling, the most popular being Wegelein or Weglein. These variants often appear with the same frequency as the original version.
The last name Wegelin has a rich history and often holds significant familial pride for those who bear it. It has remained popular in the modern day and is still argued to be most common in the Germanic region where it is believed to have originated.
Order DNA origin analysisWegelin: Where does the name Wegelin come from?
The last name Wegelin is most commonly found in the German-speaking world, particularly in Switzerland. The name was derived from the Middle High German word “weglin” which originates from the Latin “vacillare”, meaning “to waver”. Wegelin first emerged in Switzerland in the 12th century and later spread to other parts of Europe.
Today, the last name can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking countries. It is also found in areas with a large population of Swiss descendants, such as North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
As of 2019, Wegelin was the 935th-most-common last name in Germany, 1180th-most-common in Switzerland, and 4155th-most-common in Austria. It is more common in rural areas than in cities, and is particularly found among the Protestant population of the traditional regions of German-speaking Switzerland.
The Wegelin Clan of Europe is a non-religious organization open to anyone that bears the Wegelin name. It was founded in 2018 and currently has members in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The organization celebrates Wegelin heritage and aims to promote contact and social interaction amongst its members. It also works to raise awareness of Wegelin history and discuss future developments of the Wegelin dynasty. The members of the Wegelin Clan take part in activities such as regular meetings, social events, and sporting activities.
Variations of the surname Wegelin
The most common variant of the surname Wegelin is Wegelin, and other common spellings include Wägelin, Wegelein, and Wegele.
Wegelin is a German surname derived from the Middle High German wige, meaning "meadow", and the suffix -lin, which is a diminutive suffix often applied to place names. The name was likely used to describe someone from a meadow or who lived near a meadow.
There are many Germanic variants of Wegelin, with a few being Wegeline, Weglin, Wigeline, Wiggelein, Wügelin, and Wygelin. Other variants can be found in various languages, including Weglen in Dutch, Wegel in Swedish and Norwegian, and Vëgelin in Luxembourgian.
In the United States, Wegelin is also seen as an Americanized form of the German-Swiss surname Vogelin. This variant of the surname was likely created by immigrants who altered the sound of the original surname when they came to the United States.
Wegelin is also very rarely seen as an aristocratic Basque or Spanish surname originating from the Spanish term vogelín, which means "the littlest one." However, it is important to note that the vast majority of people bearing the Wegelin surname do not originate from these two countries, and the name's origin is most likely Germanic in nature.
Famous people with the name Wegelin
- Rudolf Wegelin (1922-2005), German cross-country skier.
- Charles Wegelin (1842-1910), Swiss industrialist and financier.
- Deborah Wegelin (1935-1998), American artist and illustrator.
- Ludwig Wegelin (1804-1865), German theologian.
- Johann Jakob Wegelin (1744-1804), Swiss lawyer and politician.
- Thomas Wegelin (1584-1631), German mathematician.
- Johannes Wegelin (fl. 1567), Swiss architect and cabinetmaker.
- Peter Wegelin (1817-1903), Swiss politician and diplomat.
- Julius Wegelin (1748-1827), German archaeologist and historian.
- Dr. Christian Wegelin (1762-1855), Swiss composer and director of music.