Surname Weissgerber - Meaning and Origin
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Weissgerber: What does the surname Weissgerber mean?
The last name Weissgerber is a German occupational surname derived from weißen 'whitesmith' and gerber 'tanner.' It was originally used to refer to someone who worked as a leather tanner or a whitesmith, a metalworker specialized in white metal smithcraft such as tin, pewter, or zinc alloying. The surname is derived from the Middle High German language and first appeared as Weissgeber in southern Germany during the 16th century.
The Weissgerber surname has evolved throughout its history, with alternate spelling variations becoming increasingly common. This surname is now frequently spelled as Weissgerber, Weissgerb, Weisgerber, Weissgerbert, Weissgerbe, Weissgerbee, and Weißgärber.
The Weissgerber surname is quite common in Mainland Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is also found in Nigeria, Brazil, the UK, and the United States. In the US, the Weissgerber surname is most common in the Midwest, particularly in Wisconsin and Minnesota. It is also common in the Northeastern part of the US, such as Pennsylvania and New York, as well as in California.
Today, many people who bear the Weissgerber surname are descended from farmers and metalworkers from the 16th century who moved to the cities where they took up various trades. Although the majority of those with the surname today are not directly involved in metalworking or leatherworking, it is still a surname that carries a proud heritage of those who worked in those trades centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisWeissgerber: Where does the name Weissgerber come from?
The last name Weissgerber is most commonly found in Germany today. Historically, the name originated in Bavaria, and it is particularly common in the south and southeast of Germany. This is likely due to the name's roots in the beer brewing trade. There are multiple variants of the name—including Weisgerber, Weiszgerber, Weisiger, and even Weissbier—but all of them refer back to a single source family. Today, the name is still found predominately in Bavaria, with significant populations in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia, and Saxony. Additionally, the name can be found in other countries of continental Europe, especially in Switzerland and Austria, as well as overseas in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and other regions. The global distribution of the surname today is likely due to migration patterns, both within Europe and overseas, and it is only expected to grow in the coming years.
Variations of the surname Weissgerber
Weissgerber is a variant spelling of Weisgerber, a German surname. It is derived from the Ancient German word weizen, meaning ‘wheat’ and gerber, meaning ‘tanner’. The surname originally denoted someone who was involved in the leather-tanning business.
Some other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Weisskirchner, Weiskirch, Weissjeager, Weisgirg, Wessegerber, Weisgerber, Weiszgerber, Weysgerber, Weißgerber, and Weixgerber.
Weisgerber is still a common German surname today. It is especially popular in the areas of Bavaria and South Germany such as Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The most widespread variation of the surname outside of Germany is Weisgerber. Variants of the name are found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria, and countries in northern Europe and of Slavic origin.
In the United States, the variants Weisgerber and Weissgerber are the most common. The surname is also widespread in the United States due to the large numbers of German immigrants who settled in the country in the 19th century. Similarly, the surname is also found in countries around the world with large German communities such as Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Weissgerber
- Benjamin Weissgerber: American Actor
- Rob Weissgerber: CEO of Toys 'R' Us
- Oswald Weissgerber: German Businessman
- Gordon Weissgerber: US Figure Skating Olympic Medal Winner
- David Weissgerber: Swiss Photojournalist
- Raymond Weissgerber: German Painter
- Yolanda Weissgerber: Romanian Writer
- Richard Weissgerber: Austrian Composer
- George Weissgerber: American Prizefighter
- Mia Weissgerber: Austrian Figure Skater