Surname Weihers - Meaning and Origin
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Weihers: What does the surname Weihers mean?
The origin of the last name Weihers is most likely German, derived from the Yiddish term for a ‘meadow’ or ‘pasture’. It is likely that the name was originally given to a person who lived near or had possession of a meadow or pasture. The name is not particularly common in either Germany or the United States, however it is found in both countries as well as in other parts of the world.
The name can be found in records tracing its history from as far back as the late 16th century, when a man called Konrad Wier was born in Bavaria. It is possible that Konrad was the first to bear the Weihers name. The name has been found mainly in records in the vicinity of Bavaria, as well as in Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
The name Weihers is sometimes also seen spelled as "Weiers”, "Weyers”, or even "Weirhers”. The true etymological roots of Weihers remain a mystery; some speculate that it may have originally been derived from a Middle Low German word meaning ‘grassy area’ or ‘green field'.
At present, people bearing the name Weihers are mainly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. The Weihers family has long kept an independent spirit, considering themselves a distinct people and having a rich culture and history all their own.
Order DNA origin analysisWeihers: Where does the name Weihers come from?
The last name Weihers is common mainly in Northwestern Europe, specifically the countries of Germany, Netherlands, Lithuania, and Luxembourg. This last name also appears in countries around the world including the US, Canada, UK, France, and South Africa.
In Germany, the most frequent concentration of Weihers occurs in the northern, central and eastern parts of the country. In the Netherlands, Weihers is found mainly in the northern provinces. In Lithuania, the last name is prevalent in the capital of Vilnius, as well as other smaller cities and towns.
In the United States, the last name Weihers is most common in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Records indicate that the earliest appearance of this name in the US was in 1860 in Wisconsin.
In Canada, Weihers is most common in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. In the UK, Weihers is most common in Northern Ireland and Scotland, with some smaller concentrations in England.
Overall, the last name Weihers is likely of Germanic descent and was likely established by a family who migrated from Germany to Northwestern Europe in earlier centuries. While there is not much in the way of documents or records to take this conclusion further, records indicate that the name was established in Europe long before the days of immigration to the Americas and other countries.
Variations of the surname Weihers
Weihers is an occupational German surname, which is derived from the Middle High German words for 'game guard'. Variants of the surname include Wehrs, Wehers, Wearers, Wehrle, and Wehre. The variants of the surname with a spelling variation include Wayers, Weiers, Weyers, Weyars, Wahers, Whiers, Wheirs, and Whyrs.
The surname has also been adopted in other regions and has variations specific to each region. In the Netherlands, for example, the name is spelled Wehrs and Veiers, in Scandinavia Vees and Wees, and in Poland Veis.
The surname has been anglicized in America to Waters, Weirs, Weyers, and Wheeers. Other variants include Wihers, Whirs, Wiers, and Wiers. The surname has also been adapted to American spellings such as Wears and Werrs.
In some instances, Weihers has undergone an intermediate form of adaptation to become Weircher, which is an English surname derived from the original German variant.
The Weihers surname is known to be relatively uncommon, so all the different variants and spellings of the surname may still have a common point of origin.
Famous people with the name Weihers
- Luka Weihers: German professional basketball player who has played for several different clubs in the last few years.
- Joe Weihers: American model who is also a car enthusiast, often seen posing for pictures with luxury cars.
- Emily Weihers: American chef and television personality, serving as a judge on cooking shows and attending several different food-related events around the US.
- George Weihers: British actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in TV shows such as Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You.
- Deborah Weihers: Swiss-American businesswoman, known for founding and running her own company in tech and finance.
- Mark Weihers: American country music singer and songwriter who released four albums of original music before retiring in 2021.
- Kristen Weihers: German architect and interior designer, with works featured in galleries throughout Europe.
- Brooke Weihers: Canadian soccer star and Olympic gold medalist, remembered for her performances in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
- Aren Weihers: Australian film director, having directed several popular horror films throughout the past decade.
- Seth Weihers: American professor of History at the University of California, Davis, as well as an astrophysicist and collector of rare antiques.