Surname Wegmueller - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wegmueller: What does the surname Wegmueller mean?
Wegmueller (or Wegmüller, occasionally spelled without the umlaut) is a German surname originating from either northern Germany or Switzerland. The name is derived from the word "wege", which means 'way'. It is believed to refer to someone who easily found their way around, or was good at finding or constructing roads.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname come from Switzerland, with the first mention being from 1708. Wegmueller was a fairly common name during the 19th century in Switzerland, mainly in the canton of Solothurn. After this, records show the name spread and become more common in northern Germany and Austria in the 20th century. It is also occasionally found in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, usually through emigration.
Today, many people with the surname Wegmueller still live in both Switzerland and northern Germany, as well as other countries like the United States, Canada and Australia.
In addition to being a surname, Wegmueller is somewhat rare given name, particularly for girls. It is also a name affixed traditonal Bavarian family coat of arms and is occasionally used as a trade name.
Order DNA origin analysisWegmueller: Where does the name Wegmueller come from?
The last name Wegmueller is most commonly found today in Germany and Switzerland, where it is a moderately common last name. The origin of the name likely lies in the Middle High German verb "wëge", which means "to have power, to be strong". This likely referred to someone who was a leader or in authority in some manner.
In Switzerland, Wegmueller is primarily found in the cantons of Solothurn and Basel-Stadt. In both cantons, the name is found in small numbers. In the Swiss canton of Bern, the last name can also be found in some areas, although it is less common than in Solothurn and Basel-Stadt.
In Germany, Wegmueller is fairly common mainly in Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. In both states, the last name is found primarily in rural parts of the region, although there are still some Wegmueller families who live in the cities. In Bavaria, there is even a Wegmueller family that has been living in the area since the 17th century.
The last name Wegmueller can also be found in limited numbers in Argentina, France, Brazil, Australia, and the United States. In the US, Wegmueller is found primarily in California, Texas, and New York.
Overall, the last name Wegmueller can be found in multiple countries around the world, with the highest concentrations being in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Wegmueller
Wegmueller is a surname with Germanic roots which could take the forms Wegemuller, Wegmeyer and Wegmeijer. It derived from the German word "wiger" which means "farmer". This surname was common in the 17th and 18th centuries in Germany.
The spelling variations of Wegmueller include Wegmuller, Wegemueller, Wegmillar, Wegmillers, Weemueller, Wegmiller, Weegmueller, Weegmiller, Wegmueller, Wegmiller, Wegemuller, Wegmöller, and Wegmeijer.
Wegmueller is sometimes seen as an Americanised version of the surname Wegmeyer, both of which are derived from the Old German "wiger" which translates to "farmer". The spelling of the surname varies depending on which country it has come from, with Wegmeyer originating in the German-speaking region of Switzerland and Wegemueller originating in Germany.
The surname Wegmueller can also appear with a variety of other spellings such as Wegmueller, Wegmeyer, Wegmeijer, Wegmailler, Wegmileer, Wegmyller, Wegmuller, Wegemueller, Wegoemueller, Wegmillar, Wegmilers, Weemellers, Wegmiller, Weegmueller, Weegmiller, Wegemuller, Wegmöller and Wegmeijer.
Most variants of the surname stem from a similar Germanic root and likely refer to someone who was a farmer or worked as a steward in charge of renting out farmland. With its origins in Germany in the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Wegmueller has since spread throughout the world, being adopted by generations of families belonging to various cultural backgrounds.
Famous people with the name Wegmueller
- Armin Wegmüller: Swiss footballer
- Cédric Wegmüller: Swiss ski mountaineer and mountain guide
- Fabrice Wegmuller: French Paralympic athlete
- Felix Wegmüller: Swiss footballer
- Irina Wegmüller: Swiss politician
- Kate Wegmüller: Swiss handball player
- Marcel Wegmüller: Swiss racing cyclist
- Philippe Wegmüller: Swiss film director, photographer, and writer
- Rudi Wegmüller: Swiss footballer
- Thomas Wegmüller: Swiss luger
- Tobias Wegmüller: Swiss orienteering competitor