Surname Wegh - Meaning and Origin
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Wegh: What does the surname Wegh mean?
The surname Wegh is believed to have originated from the Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany. It is considered to be a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the personal name of the father or ancestor of an individual.
In the Netherlands, the name Wegh is believed to have come from a combination of two ancient Dutch words; ‘weg’ and ‘heer’. ‘Weg’ means path or road, and ‘heer’ means lord or master. Therefore, the name Wegh would have originated as a term for a land owner or landlord.
In Portugal, the surname Wegh is believed to have derived from the personal name ‘Guego’ (which is a contracted form of the name ‘Egidio’). This name is still popular in Portugal today, with the masculine form ‘Guig’ being a common term for ‘lord’ or ‘master’.
Finally, in Germany, the surname Wegh is thought to have derived from the personal name ‘Wiggo’, which is a contraction of the Old German name ‘Wigbert’, meaning ‘strong warrior’.
Altogether, the surname Wegh is thought to have originated from the countries of Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany, with the meaning of the name referring to a person of either a powerful or masterful role.
Order DNA origin analysisWegh: Where does the name Wegh come from?
The last name Wegh is not common today, but historically it has occurred more frequently in the Netherlands and Belgium. The name Wegh first appeared in records during the Middle Ages, originating from plurality of Flanders, Netherlands. It literally translates to mean "a branch of wood" or "a branch of a tree", likely referring to someone who worked in timber.
The earliest known records of the surname Wegh date back to the year 1257 in Flanders. From then until the mid-17th century the name gradually began to spread across Europe, with people named Wegh settling in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United States.
Today, the surname Wegh is not very common and is not encountered frequently. However, many Dutch-Americans still bear the surname. There are also a few families with this name living in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The Wegh name is rare today, but because of its origin in Flanders and the Netherlands, it holds an interesting and unique place in European history.
Variations of the surname Wegh
The surname Wegh is a Dutch surname rooted in the word “weg”, meaning “way” or “road.” Variants of the surname include Weghs, Weghe, Wieg, Wiegh, Wig, Wighe, Wyg, and Wygh. It is spelled in various other ways as well, including Weijs, Waeg, Weecks, Weecksen, Weijken, Weijgen, Weihe, and Weken.
This surname has spread through many areas of the Netherlands, producing multiple branching surnames. One such branch is Wegman, created by individuals of the Prestebiede farming community. The spelling can also take the form Weghman, Wigman, Wigmans, Weegman, Weekman, and Wegmens. Wegsman is another variant of the surname.
The surname has also been associated with nicknames. Weghmans can take on the nicknames of Wegmen and Wegsman. Wyghs can also become Wigman or Wysman.
Moreover, Wegh has also been used as part of compound surnames. Hengstwegh and Wildwenger are two versions of compound surnames that include Wegh. The incorporation of the word into the names creates a vivid and lasting image in the mind of the person who carries this name.
Wegh is an ancient surname, and despite its modest prevalence, has created a global network of descendants. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Wegh demonstrate a great variety of ways in which this surname has grown and branched out over time.
Famous people with the name Wegh
- Kees Wegh: Dutch architect
- Jules Wegh: Dutch footballer
- Hartale Wegh: former Dutch stockbroker
- Harry Wegh: prominent Dutch entrepreneur
- Wim Wegh: Dutch trade unionist
- Willem Wegh: Dutch mobile game developer
- Edward Wegh: Dutch sculptor
- Emiel Wegh: Dutch musical conductor
- Richard Wegh: Dutch radio and television presenter
- Henk Wegh: Dutch professor of sociology