Surname Weidauer - Meaning and Origin
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Weidauer: What does the surname Weidauer mean?
The last name Weidauer is derived from the Middle High German words "wīte", meaning "meadow", and "dōr", meaning "threshold". Originating from the German region of Bavaria, Weidauer is thought to have referred to someone who lived near or on a meadow. This name became particularly popular during the late Middle Ages, as such meadows provided vital resources for livestock.
Today, more than two thousand people in the United States share the Weidauer name. Many German immigrants with this last name came to the U.S. during the 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily to the Midwestern and Eastern regions.
Weidauer is also found among Jewish families, where it was an ashkenazic, or German, Jewish name. Some believe it derives from the Yiddish word "weidenu", which means "meadow". It has also been suggested that it was taken on as a keeping with some other German names, and has no particular Jewish origin.
The Weidauer surname was likely taken on by occupation; its original meaning should, therefore, have maintained its relevance throughout the years, much like other occupational surnames like Smith, Baker, and Miller. Throughout the world, it remains a relatively uncommon surname, although the people who have it share a unique origin story of old meadows in Bavaria.
Order DNA origin analysisWeidauer: Where does the name Weidauer come from?
The last name Weidauer is most commonly seen in Germany. It is a German surname first mentioned as early as the 14th century, and is derived from the words weide (meaning meadow or pasture) and auer (or au or ahr, meaning stream). Weidauer is still found across the country today, in states including Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, and Thuringia. In the last 100 years, this surname has been particularly common in the states of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony.
Statistics from 2015 show that there were approximately 1,400 people in Germany bearing the name Weidauer. This is a relatively low number compared to other surnames, but the majority of them live in the states previously mentioned. These states, in addition to the popular cities of Dresden and Berlin, are home to numerous people of this surname who have been living there for centuries.
Though Weidauer is mainly found in German-speaking areas, there have been occurrences of this name in other countries as well. Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, and the United States all contain people with Weidauer as their last name, albeit to a much lesser degree than in Germany.
Weidauer is an old German name, and while it may not be as common as others in the country today, it still stands as an interesting part of German culture and heritage with a long history.
Variations of the surname Weidauer
Weidauer is a German name derived from the Middle High German 'widar, widare, or wieder', meaning 'again' or 'once more'. Common variants of Weidauer include Weidower, Widauer, Widower, and Widow. Additionally, several spelling variations of the surname exist within this family, including Widauer, Widower, Widow, Wiedauer, Wifeur, Wideower, Weydauer, Wiadower, and Wiedower.
The surname Weidauer is seen in the United States in various forms, helping to solidify the name's Pennsylvania Dutch legacy. These names include Weidor, Weidaw, Weida, Weydalt, Weidler, Weidig, Wiederer, Wieder, Wiedling, and Widner. Other similar surnames found in the United States are Wiedeman, Weiderer, Weeder and Weideman.
In the UK, the surname would likely be spelled Weidauer or Widower, although Widower could also be found. The spelling variations Widlar, Widellaw, Weidall and Weidelar are seen occasionally.
In Europe, the majority of people bearing the surname have it spelled Weidauer, although Weidauerer, Widour, Wiedauer, Wiedawer and Wiedouw are also present.
In South America, the only spelling of Weidauer commonly found is Weissouer.
In addition, the surname Weidauer has several variant spellings in other countries, such as Seidauer in Norway, Suganthi in India, and Weydeau in France.
Famous people with the name Weidauer
- Alina Weidauer: German Paralympic swimmer
- Erhard Weidauer: German German mathematician and logician
- Leopold Weidauer: Austrian painter
- Regina Weidauer: American former college basketball player
- Tom Weidauer: American ethnomusicologist, photographer and filmmaker
- Ward Weidauer: American philanthropist, entrepreneur and investor
- John Weidauer: American businessman, infopreneur and investor
- Helga Weidauer: German writer
- Martin Weidauer: American former professional wrestler
- William Weidauer: American composer, conductor and clarinetist