Surname Weghmann - Meaning and Origin
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Weghmann: What does the surname Weghmann mean?
The last name Weghmann is of German origin. It means “from the meadow” or “from the pasture land”, derived from the Middle High German “weche”, referring to a grassy area. It is a common German name or surname, and is primarily found in the western Low German language area. It can also be seen in parts of Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
The meadows and pastures were an important part of the Germanic homeland, so the term for the name Weghmann may have originally been derived from a person or family living near these natural corridors, and thus securing the way for widespread farming. Those bearing the name tended to have larger farms in the region, and thus be economically wealthier and secure than others.
Over time, the name Weghmann has been adapted in various spellings, which accounts for differences in its pronunciation between various regions. While bearers of the name still live primarily in the countries of origin, membership of various Germanic societies or the German diaspora has seen the name become more global in recent years.
Order DNA origin analysisWeghmann: Where does the name Weghmann come from?
The last name Weghmann is found predominantly in Germany, primarily in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. A map of Germany's administrative divisions, often referred to as "kreise," shows the highest concentration of Weghmanns in the Cologne and Wuppertal areas.
The name Weghmann is derived from Wegmann, which itself is derived from a Germanic word trump, meaning "tramp" or "pedestrian." This suggests that the family may have been itinerant, meaning they likely moved around extensively.
The name first appears in documents dating back to the 15th century. In 17th century Germany, the Weghmann name was commonplace, particularly in rural areas such as the Rhineland.
The name Weghmann is an occupational surname, usually used to refer to a manual laborer who moved around from location to location or a trader who traveled between villages. Since the Middle Ages, manual labor and trading were important professions in rural areas, so those with the Weghmann surname were likely quite common hundreds of years ago.
Today, the name Weghmann is still quite common in Germany. Ancestry records suggest that thousands of people with the Weghmann surname still live in Germany. Furthermore, people with the Weghmannlast name are now found all over the world, as many individuals have moved away from Germany to other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Weghmann
The surname Weghmann is of German origin and first appeared in Old High German records. Variants of this surname include Weghman, Wegman, Wegmann, Wagman, Wagmann, Waghman, Waghmann, and Wogman.
The spelling of this surname may have changed slightly over time due to the widespread illiteracy in former times. Therefore, some related surnames may include Wackman, Vackman, Vakman, Vakmann, Vochman, and Wackmann.
Another form of this surname is derived from the German word, “weg”, which translates as "path" or "way". This form of the surname would be spelled Wegmann or Wegman.
In some cases, surnames with similar pronunciations and spellings can share the same origin. Other surnames related to Weghmann that may have the same origin include Wagholz, Waechmann, Waegemann, Vahle, Vahrenholz, Vogel, Wachholz.
European immigrants bringing the Weghmann surname to America also changed its spelling over time. Some American versions of this name include Wachtmann, Wackerman, Wakeman, and Wagnman.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and surnames with the same origin as Weghmann. While most are derived from German, some also stem from other European countries. All of these forms share a common origin and likely descend from a common ancestor.
Famous people with the name Weghmann
- John Henry Weghmann (1840-1915): He was a German-born American newspaperman, magistrate, and soldier who served during the Civil War and became both a Confederate and Union officer.
- Theodor Weghmann (1844-1908): He was a German economist and journalist.
- Harry Weghmann (1905-1969): He was an American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies.
- Fritz Weghmann (1909-1945): Also known as Heinrich Fritz Weghmann, he was a German soldier and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
- Dennis Weghmann (1925-1976): He was an American stock car racing driver who competed in the NASCAR Grand National and American NASCAR series.
- Robert Weghmann (1935-2013): An American politician, he served as an Alderman and Treasurer of the City of Hartford, Connecticut, and was a member of the Connecticut Senate from 1983 to 1987.
- Lee Weghmann (1942-present): He is an American painter, printmaker and mixed media artist based in Washington D.C.
- Michael Weghmann (1953-present): He is a German-born photographer living in South Florida, primarily photographing landscapes and abstracts.
- Lisa Weghmann (1964-present): She is a German actress and singer best known for her work in German films like der Nachtfalke and Das Hexencollege.
- Gunnar Weghmann (1999-present): He is a German actor known for his roles in films like Tal der Wölfe: Viva La Libertad and Die Rückkehr des Tanzlehrers.