Surname Wegert - Meaning and Origin
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Wegert: What does the surname Wegert mean?
The last name Wegert is of German origin derived from the word "weg," which means "way." It can be used to describe a path or a journey and may have been used to name an individual who traveled frequently or was a guide of some sort. Wegert is a common last name and was found primarily in the areas of southwestern Germany and Bavaria.
The name began appearing in records throughout the sixteenth century and it has been speculated to have been few families due to how widely dispersed the name is in Germany today. It has been suggested that it may have been a name assigned to individuals who settled in new villages or migrated to a new region at one time, and so it was adopted as their new family name.
Associated with the name, are the Wegert coat of arms and crest. There is a combination of three red and silver chevron shaped objects superimposed on a shield of two crossed swords. There are some variations in relation to the chevron shapes although they are all red and silver. This crest can be interpreted as symbolizing a way or journey that the family has taken in life or as an allusion to how the family moved to different places over the years.
The Wegert name is a reminder of journeys taken centuries ago and the legacy of travelers which has been left with this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisWegert: Where does the name Wegert come from?
The last name Wegert is most commonly found in Germany today. This name has its roots in Old German and it is derived from a personal name. According to the International Genealogical Index, it is especially prominent in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Thuringia, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
It is speculated that the name's origin dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries, and that the word Wegert was first used as a firstname, eventually evolving to become a surname. In terms of its popularity, more people with the last name Wegert live in Germany than in any other country.
Today, the most common variant of Wegert is Wiegert, although Wieger and Wiegandt are also relatively frequent surnames. The Wiegert spelling is particularly common in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, where the population of Wegerts is the highest.
In addition to Germany, several other countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada, also have people with the Wegert surname. Those of German descent living in the United States are most likely to have this last name. The Wegert surname is not especially common in any one country, but its prevalence throughout Europe indicates a long and illustrious history.
Variations of the surname Wegert
The surname Wegert is of German and Dutch origin, first found in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany. Spelling variations of this surname include Wegert, Weigert, Weigard, Weighard, Weigerdt, Wegerdt, Weighardt, Waegerdt, Weegert, Weghardt, Weigardt, Weigart, Weighard, Weigard, Wehhard, Wehgert, Wehgerdt, and many more.
In Germany, some variants of Wegert are found to have derived from a personal name “Wegar”, with the addition of “-hardt” or “-hart” meaning brave, hard or strong. The original Germanic forms of the root “weg” also means “field” or “paddock”. Wegert was likely the name adopted by a family who initially lived or owned land in these areas.
The Netherlands has also seen some variations such as Wegertsz, Weegers, and Weegher. These variations originate from the Dutch dialect and local pronunciation of the surname Wegert.
The Wegert surname is found in nearly every part of Germany, and in the Dutch provinces of Noord Brabant and Zuid Holland. Immigrants bearing the Wegert surname have also settled in countries such as Latvia, Russia, and the United States. In the United States, Wegert can be found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Overall, the Wegert surname has a great variety of spellings and variants all stemming from its German and Dutch roots.
Famous people with the name Wegert
- Karl Wegert: German engineer and author specializing in railwaynumatics and Fuel Cells.
- Dave Wegert: American actor appearing in films such as "The Shawshank Redemption".
- Chris Wegert: professional baseball pitcher who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Fritz Wegert: German Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling in 1912.
- Wayde Wegert: an Australian professional rugby league player.
- Henry Wegert: former F1 driver from Germany.
- Sarah Wegert: German-American actress and genealogist, appearing in shows such as “Schitt’s Creek”.
- Jodi Wegert: American artist known for her black and white photography.
- Karl Wegert: American artist specializing in oil painting and landscape painting.
- Kay Wegert: German visual artist working with multi media art.