Surname Weierhäuser - Meaning and Origin
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Weierhäuser: What does the surname Weierhäuser mean?
The last name Weierhäuser is an old German surname, which originates from the combination of two distinct words. “Weier” is an old German word meaning “protector” or “guardian”, while “häuser” is a reference to a home or property. Together, these terms imply that the name Weierhäuser is a reference to someone who is a protector of their house or home.
In feudal times, the name Weierhäuser was commonly adopted by families who were employed for military service, such as soldiers or knights. The combination of “weier” and “häuser” signified their duty to protect and defend their property and their Lord’s land. This role was an important one, as the family name became closely associated with a person’s duty and honor.
The Weierhäuser surname was also adopted by families who worked as innkeepers, brewers, and other professions associated with the hospitality industry. In this instance, the term “weier” likely referred to a keeper of the gate or a caretaker for customers.
Today, the name Weierhäuser is still widely used as a surname in Germany and other parts of Europe. The name is popular among families who still uphold traditional values and who see the Weierhäuser surname as an extension of their own personal values: to protect and to guard one’s home and family.
Order DNA origin analysisWeierhäuser: Where does the name Weierhäuser come from?
The last name Weierhäuser is a German surname derived from the name of the root word, “weier,” which means “willow” in German. Today, the name is most frequently found in Germany, particularly around the Rhine region, where it has had a presence for centuries. It is also relatively common in some areas of the United States, particularly in Wisconsin, where German immigrants brought the name with them during the 19th century. Those bearing the name in the U.S. can trace their roots to a prominent lumber family in Wisconsin, the Weyerhaeuser Company, which was founded in 1900, making it one of the oldest companies in the United States.
Overall, Weierhäuser is still a fairly common German surname, although it is not as widely found in Germany today as it once was. It is still common enough, however, that it can be found in phone books and people-finder sites across Germany and Switzerland. In the United States, the name has also retained much of its original German spelling, although it may be seen spelled differently in different regions. The name can be seen spelled as Weierhauser, Weyerehouse, and even Weisshauser, although it is usually recognized as a variation of the original German Weierhäuser.
Variations of the surname Weierhäuser
The surname Weierhäuser is generally believed to be of German origins, derived from the Old German word weir meaning ‘Island’ and the Old German word hauser meaning ‘house’, indicating that the family has a long ancestral lineage in Germany.
Weierhäuser is generally spelled as Weierhaus, Weyerrhouser and Weyerrhause, Wierhouse, Weierhouser and Weierhausen, although these are uncommon spellings. Other surnames derived from Weierhäuser include Weyergans, Wehring and Weyringer.
Weyergans is the most commonly used surname derived from Weierhäuser and is derived from the Middle High German word weyer referring to an artificial pool or lake, or more specifically a lake that was stocked with fish for fishing.
Wehring and Weyringer are alternate spellings of the name Weierhäuser; these variations were popular among families of a Bavarian origin, where Weyringer was the more popular variant.
Weierhausen is a variant of Weierhäuser which is thought to have ancestral roots in the area now known as Belgium. This surname was typical among the families of Flemish descent and generally spelt “Weyerhausen”.
Finally, Wierhouse is a compound surname of Weyer and House. This variant is most commonly seen among the families of Scandinavian descent and is also found less commonly among German families.
Famous people with the name Weierhäuser
- Gustav von Weierhäuser (German industrialist, 16th generation of Weierhäuser family)
- Wilhelm Weierhäuser (German entrepreneur, heavily involved in forestry)
- Christian Weierhäuser (German lawyer, Professor Emeritus of the University of Kiel)
- Martin Weierhäuser (German entrepreneur, co-founder of the WMB Group)
- Markus Weierhäuser (German entrepreneur, former CEO of Deutsche Post AG)
- Alfred Weierhäuser (German entrepreneur, chairman of the supervisory board of Linde AG)
- Wilhelm Weierhäuser (German lawyer, legal advisor to several German companies)
- Claus Weierhäuser (German banker, president of the Deutsche Bundesbank)
- Ferdinand Weierhäuser (German industrialist, founder of Weierhäuser AG)
- Anna Weierhäuser (German singer, contestant on “The Voice of Germany”)