Surname Weihs - Meaning and Origin
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Weihs: What does the surname Weihs mean?
The last name Weihs (also sometimes spelled Weix, Weichs, or Wex) is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German word “weih”, which means hallowed or sacred. It is believed to have been originally given to individuals who held or were employed in a sacred position.
The name Weihs is found most commonly in Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages, when it was first recorded in the 12th century.
The use of the name Weihs was largely limited to Bavarian-speaking regions until the 19th century. Although initially associated with royalty, it eventually became more widespread among the middle and lower classes in the area.
In the modern day, individuals with the surname Weihs are most often found in western central Europe, although it is becoming increasingly found in western and northern regions around Europe and North America.
Weihs is an uncommon surname, but its long and storied history is still evident in the people who bear it. Weihs is a fitting name for an individual of strong religious faith and proud ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisWeihs: Where does the name Weihs come from?
Weihs is a surname of German and Austrian origin. The name is still in use in German-speaking countries in Europe today, most notably in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is difficult to determine how many people currently bear the name, as records of last names are not typically kept over long periods of time. However, there have been records documenting the Weihs name since the 13th century, indicating that it is an old and fairly common last name in these countries.
In terms of absolute numbers, Weihs is not necessarily one of the most popular last names in these countries today. Nevertheless, it remains relatively common among German-speaking individuals, and is often encountered among people of Germanic descent in other parts of the world, particularly the United States. In America, Weihs is most common in states that have large populations of people with Germanic heritage, such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York.
In addition to its persistence as a family name, Weihs has attained a place in popular culture. Julius Weihs von Weiningen, an Austrian nobleman, was immortalised in The Sound of Music (1959) as Baron von Trapp.
All in all, the Weihs surname continues to be common in its native German-speaking countries, as well as in Germanic communities in other parts of the world. It is a source of pride for its descendants, due to its prominent place in history and its storybook connections.
Variations of the surname Weihs
The surname Weihs is believed to have its roots in Germany, and can be traced to the Saxon period (5th and 6th centuries). Variants of the surname Weihs may include Weis, Weiss, Weiß, Weise, Weisz, Weish, Weisch, Veiss and Veit. There are numerous spellings and surnames of the same origin as Weihs all over the world, in countries like Austria, Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Weihs is derived from the Middle High German "weise", meaning wise, to describe an individual who was wise in their judgement. This indicates that someone with this surname had some kind of higher legal authority.
The Weis, Weiss, Weiß, Weise, Weisz and Veiss variant spellings of the surname may have been derived from Germanic tribal populations in Austria, Germany, and other areas of Europe.
The Weish and Weisch variantspellings are believed to have their origins in the northern regions of Germany, while the Veit variant is believed to have originated in east-central Germany.
The connection between the various spellings and surnames is believed to be due to inter-marriage between neighbouring families. This combined with the fact that the spelling of surnames was not consistent before the invention of the printing press, and it was highly likely that different spellings were used by neighbouring families.
To summarize, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of Weihs range from Weis, Weiss, Weiß, Weise, Weisz, Weish, Weisch, Veiss and Veit, that have their origins in Germany, Austria and other parts of Europe and spread across various countries in the world.
Famous people with the name Weihs
- Mario Weihs: Austrian racing driver
- Günther Weihs: German writer
- Harry Weihs: Austrian comics artist
- Karl Weihs: German rower who won the gold medal in the coxless four at the 1931 European Rowing Championships
- Michael Weihs: Austrian conceptual artist
- Otto Weihs: German film producer and former president of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts
- Paul Weihs: Austrian freestyle skier
- Robert Weihs: German air force officer during World War II
- Rüdiger Weihs: Austrian actor
- Werner Weihs: Austrian artist and sculptor
- Manuela Weihs: Austrian promoter, film producer, and co-founders of the Moebius Agency