Surname Wegscheidl - Meaning and Origin

Wegscheidl: What does the surname Wegscheidl mean?

Wegscheidl is a Germanic surname derived from weg, meaning "path" and scheidl meaning "little" or "partition." This surname is thought to refer to a location with a distinctive path or partition, such as a road, bridge, or boundary marker. The surname is primarily found in Bavaria and Austria in the region of Upper Austria and a small number of people living in the United States of German descent also bear the surname Wegscheidl.

This surname is an example of varying local dialect and is found in a few different spellings, including: Wetzscheidel, Wegscheigel and Wagscheidel in Germany, and Widoweschiidl and Widweschidl in Austria.

The Wegscheidl surname dates back to at least the 16th century when Wilhelm de Wetzscheil was documented as owning land in 1549 near Altenburg, Bavaria. The Wegscheidl surname can also be found in south eastern German and Austrian records as early as the 13th century.

The Wegscheidl surname is also mentioned in the marriage record of Susanne Wegscheidl and Peter Pfeifer in 1730 in Moravia in the present day Czech Republic. The marriage records of the later 19th century from Palestine, Texas also show a number of Wegscheidls in the local area.

Today the Wegscheidl surname is still fairly common in Bavaria and Austria. Although, due to increased mobility, more people with this surname are found scattered around the world.

Wegscheidl: Where does the name Wegscheidl come from?

The last name Wegscheidl is primarily associated with Germany and Austria. The name is believed to be derived from an old German word, "Wegschieden," which means "to separate." Today, the last name Wegscheidl is still very common in both Germany and Austria, though it has experienced varying levels of prevalence in other countries around the world.

In Germany, the last name Wegscheidl is one of the 50 most common names, with nearly 6,000 people bearing the name within the country. Most of those with the last name Wegscheidl in Germany are located in Bavaria, with the cities of Nuremberg and Munich having especially high concentrations. Across Austria, around 300 people are estimated to have the last name Wegscheidl.

Outside of Germany and Austria, Wegscheidl is still a relatively popular surname. It is most common in the United States, with more than 3,000 people bearing the name. Most of those living in the U.S. with the name Wegscheidl are either German or Austrian immigrants, or their descendants. The surname is also prevalent in Australia, New Zealand, and various other European countries.

Though the last name Wegscheidl is still most famously associated with German-speaking countries, it has slowly spread to many other parts of the world over the centuries. Archives show that people with the last name Wegscheidl were living outside of their homeland as far back as the 16th century, giving credence to the idea that while the name is still most common in Germany and Austria, it has taken root in many other countries as well.

Variations of the surname Wegscheidl

The surname Wegscheidl is a German topographic name for someone who lived by the roadside or a place called Wegscheid. This surname could also have been derived from the word “wegschlegen”, which could have been interpreted as an occupation name for a roadway builder.

The variants, spellings and surnames of Wegscheidl include:

Wegsheid

Wegshaid

Wegshilde

Wegscheider

Wägscheider

Wegscheidler

Wägscheidler

Wegscheidel

Wegscheit

Wegscheitter

Wegscheiderl

Wägscheiderl

Wegscheitl

Wegscheittle

Wegscheytel

Wegscheydel

Wechsler

Wegseider

Wäxelder

Wecsler

Wesle

Wechsleaner

Wegscheidl is an uncommon surname; however, it is mainly found in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is believed to have originated in Bavaria, Germany, and its variants have spread throughout several European regions. It is thought to have also been used in areas such as Czech Republic, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

In some cases the surname may have a modified spelling because of the surname being passed down orally through generations. Depending on the area, individual letter sounds in the surname may have been switched out. For example, in Czech Republic the surname today may appear as Wegshaid or Wegshilde. Shortened versions of the surname may also exist such as Wegsite, Wegsy, Wegsye, and Wegsyea.

The surname Wegscheidl is unique yet diverse. Its variants, spellings and derivations are evidence of its diverse history. No matter how the surname is spelled, if someone is a Wegscheidl, they come from a common ancestor and share a proud heritage.

Famous people with the name Wegscheidl

• Allesandra Wegscheidl: German reality TV star
• Aaron Wegscheidl: American long-distance runner
• Lea Wegscheidl: Former German women’s football midfielder
• Chris Wegscheidl: American baseball player
• Janett Wegscheidl: German table tennis player
• George Wegscheidl: Austrian alpine skier
• Christoph Wegscheidl: German footballer
• Otmar Wegscheidl: Austrian footballer
• Christian Wegscheidl: German biathlete
• Rudolf Wegscheidl: Austrian musicologist
• Peter Wegscheidl: Austrian author and Coach
• Ruth Wegscheidl: Austrian singer
• Maria Wegscheidl: Austrian figure skater
• Walter Wegscheidl: Austrian hockey player
• Andreas Wegscheidl: German ice hockey player
• Lorenz Wegscheidl: Former Austrian broadcaster
• Erich Wegscheidl: Austrian figure skater
• Johann Wegscheidl: Austrian musicologist
• Kurt Wegscheidl: Austrian sommelier
• Eduard Wegscheidl: Austrian musicologist

Other surnames

WegscheidWegscheider