Surname Weihershäuser - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Weihershäuser: What does the surname Weihershäuser mean?
The last name Weihershäuser is a German surname derived from the Old High German words "weiher" meaning “lake” and “hūs” meaning "house”. Therefore, according to German name etymology, the surname translates to “house near the lake”. It is an occupational name, traditionally associated with someone living close to a lake whu was likely a fisherman, sailor, or labourer who made a living by the water.
The surname is quite rare and originates from the Weihershausen region in Germany’s understanding of Thuringia, now part of Northwestern Bavaria. In the Middle Ages, the area was known as the most prosperous and advanced area of Thuringia.
The surname first appears in the records in 1250, where a nobleman and scholar named Lionhard von Weyrershausen was recorded. Another early record of the same name appears a few years later in 1258, when Schwartz Weyhers-Hausen is described as a knight residing in the former state of Thuringia.
Most records of those bearing the surname Weihershäuser can be found in the areas of Thuringia, Bavaria, and Baden-Wuerttemberg. There are people with this surname living throughout Germany, but a majority still inhabit these regions.
It is likely that the Weihershäuser surname will continue to be popular in the regions from which it originates, as it is an honour to carry on the memory of a long-standing family tradition. Furthermore, the surname Weihershäuser carries with it a sense of pride and tradition as it traces its roots back more than seven centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWeihershäuser: Where does the name Weihershäuser come from?
The surname Weihershäuser is a very rare and unusual surname originating in Germany. It is derived from the German word "Weiher", meaning "pond", and "Schäuser", meaning "inhabitant". The surname is not traditionally associated with any particular region, but is most commonly found in Germany and other parts of central Europe.
In modern times, there are few Weihershäuser families living in Germany, with most of the name holders either living in North America, Australia, or other continental areas. In the United States, a majority of the current Weihershäuser surname holders can be found in California, Illinois, Texas, and New York.
The name holders in Europe are few and far between, with most of the surname holders residing in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. According to statistics provided by the German Central Office for Population and E-Name Research, there are currently no more than 5000 Weihershäuser individuals in Germany.
In Austria, there were roughly 410 individuals with the surname in 2018. This total is 32% lower than the population in 2003, when the surname had a similar distribution to that of the of the United States. Despite a slight decline in population, the surname Weihershäuser is still quite present throughout Europe, albeit in small number.
Overall, the surname Weihershäuser is primarily found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the USA. Though the surname has become increasingly rare, there still seem to be a few families left on the continent holding to the name and their German roots.
Variations of the surname Weihershäuser
The surnames derived from Weihershäuser are varied and can be spelled differently depending on the country of origin. Variants include Wehrershäuser, Weiherzhausen, Wehrschaus, and Wahrschaus. In Germany, the surname is mostly spelled Weihershäuser, while Wehrershäuser is predominant in Austria.
In other countries and cultures, the surname is likely to be adapted in various ways. In the United States, the surname is often spelled as Weathersauer or Weatherhouser. In England, it may be changed to Weathershouse. In France, the spelling may be adapted to Wéhisseur, while in Italy, it can become Veistershausen or Weihmarshaus.
The surnames derived from Weihershäuser also bear resemblance to those derived from the root word 'Wehr' which mean fortress or stronghold in German. Therefore, variations such as Wehrshausen, Wehrse, Wehrhuse, and Wirshausen may be used in Germany and other German speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxemburg.
In other European countries, the surname may be adapted to Vestershouse or Vesesthouse in Spain and Portugal, Viestr Shausen in Finland, and Vistrosko in Poland and the Czech Republic.
As these surnames are derived from a common root word, they may bear resemblance or be shortened to Wyhr in Germany, Weather in America, or Waes in Belgium. Therefore, there is a wide variety of surnames derived from Weihershäuser.
Famous people with the name Weihershäuser
- Aquilino Weihersäuser, former professional football player (1980s).
- Jürgen Weihersäuser, former German resistance fighter and head of the SD in Hamburg.
- Reiner Weihersäuser, former President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- Mathias Weihersäuser, former German Chancellor and Minister for Finance and Economics.
- Hendrik Weihersäuser, Forschungszentrum Julich professor of economics.
- Elisabeth Weihersäuser, former German Minister of Family Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
- Anna Weihersäuser, former Mayor of Leipzig.
- Renate Weihersäuser, former Germany ambassador.
- Paul Weihersäuser, former German Chancellor and President of the European Union.
- Wolfgang Harald Weihersäuser, German Colonel General and General of the Hilly Army.
- Markus Weihersäuser, President of the Harz National Park in Germany.
- Martin Weihersäuser, German orchestrator, composer, and lecturer.
- Sarah Weihersäuser, accomplished German fashion designer.
- Dirk Weihersäuser, sculptor from Mainz, Germany.
- Dr. Lucian Weihersäuser, academic, former professor at the Institute of Electrical Engineering at the University of Freiburg in Germany.
- Sabine Weihersäuser, author, publisher, and speaker on Jewish history and Holocaust topics.
- Gesche Weihersäuser, German film actress.
- Christoph Weihersäuser, former German Federal Court justice.
- Vera Weihersäuser, contemporary German journalist.
- Gottfried Weihersäuser, German astronomer and astrophysicist.