Surname Weikl - Meaning and Origin
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Weikl: What does the surname Weikl mean?
The last name Weikl is of German origin. It is a topographical surname derived from the Middle High German 'weich', meaning 'soft'. The designation was either given to someone who lived in a location with a soil composition made up of soft earth, or else it was a nickname that described the complexion or personality of the individual.
In German-speaking countries, the name would have initially been spelled 'Weichle'. Over time, the spelling has been adapted to sound similar to the many English-based last names found around the world. In other countries, such as the United States, immigration records show that people named Weikl also changed the spelling of the name at the point of entry.
The name is still commonly found in the German-speaking countries and across Eastern Europe. It is also found in scattered other locations including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Currently, the Weikl surname is considered to be quite rare across all countries. Outside of those locations where the name is traditionally found, it is currently unknown how many people in the world bear the name Weikl.
Order DNA origin analysisWeikl: Where does the name Weikl come from?
The last name Weikl is most commonly found in Southeast and Central Europe, specifically in countries such as Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. It is a common surname in these countries, with approximately 16,647 individuals having the surname Weikl living there. Depending on how you spell it, there are also individuals who live outside of Europe that have the same surname, such as the United States of America and Canada.
Due to a large number of people emigrating from Central Europe during the centuries, there are also many people who bear this surname living in other countries, such as the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries across the world. Although it is quite rare to find someone with the last name Weikl, it is not unheard of, as people who emigrated from Central Europe many years ago could have descendants living in different countries today, bearing their ancestor’s surname.
It should also be noted that some people with the last name Weikl may not be related to each other. Various Germanic surname variations, most notably variations such as Weickle, Wiekel, and Wiekle, are also widely found in Germany and Central European countries. As such, individuals with these variations of the same surname may not be related to each other, despite the almost identical spelling.
Variations of the surname Weikl
Weikl is a surname of German origin. It is a patronymic name derived from the given name Weiko, which is derived from the Old German elements “wig,” meaning “war” and “helm,” meaning “helmet” or “protection.” The surname Weikl can be spelt as Weik, Wiek, Weiks, Weikle, Weigel and Weigle as alternative spellings. It is a popular surname in German-speaking countries; however, variations of the name can also be found in other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Hungary.
In Austria, the surnames Weikhardt, Weickhart, Wieckhardt, Wieckhart, Wyckhart, Weyckhard and Wyckhard are considered to be variants of the Weikl surname. In the Netherlands, the variants of Weikl are Weikhuizen and Weigelaar. In Switzerland, the surname is mainly seen as Weigelin and Wegelin. In the Czech Republic, it is also spelled as Weigel and Weigl. In Hungary the name is spelled as Weigel.
Overall, Weikl is a very common surname in German-speaking countries, and this surname has many variations due to its origin. Depending on the country, the name is spelled differently to represent its roots.
Famous people with the name Weikl
- Stefan Weikl: is an Austrian/German farmer, entrepreneur, and politician. He is best known for his book ‘Sustainable Agriculture for a Greener Tomorrow’, a comprehensive guide to ecological farming and regional agricultural production.
- Marianne Weikl: is an Austrian lawyer and judge, serving as a justice of the Constitutional Court of Austria since 2011.
- Hans Weikl: is an Austrian figure skater and choreographer. He is a four-time Austrian national champion, competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, and is a member of the International Skating Union (ISU).
- Hans Weikl Jr.: is an Austrian former figure skater who competed as pairs and men's singles. He is a two-time Austrian national champion, and is the father of Austrian ice dancer Clemens Weikl.
- Clemens Weikl: is an Austrian ice dancer. He is a five-time Austrian national champion. As of 2018, he has appeared in the Grand Prix series six times, at both senior and junior levels, and is the current Austrian national champion in ice dancing.
- Rainer Weikl: is an Austrian super heavyweight powerlifter and the brother of figure skater Hans Weikl. He is the 2006 European champion and the 2007 Austrian champion.
- Lisa Weikl: is an Austrian swimmer. She won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay.
- Philipp Weikl: is an Austrian filmmaker, theatre director, and author who works both in fiction and documentary films. He is a former president of the Austrian Film Commission.
- Aba Weikl: is an Austrian journalist, writer, and social media influencer who has published several books about her life and career.