Surname Weißgerber - Meaning and Origin
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Weißgerber: What does the surname Weißgerber mean?
The last name Weißgerber is an occupational name derived from the German word “weißgerben,” which translates to “tanner or leatherworker.” This surname reflects someone whose family was involved in the tanning of leather, a common trade in the Middle Ages.
The typical practice of a tanner working in leather included preparing the skin via degreasing, scraping, and softening the material, then dying and adding oils and preservatives. In some parts of Germany, this profession was regulated so that only certain people with specialized abilities could perform tanning, making it a well-respected craft.
The origin of the word weißgerben is old German, meaning white tanned. This refers to the neoclassical look that is achieved in leather tanning, which gives it a white, mottled appearance when it dries, much different than the more typical brown coloring. Despite its seemingly simple etymology, the name Weißgerber is indicative of someone with a long-standing family history of leatherworking.
Because of this, the name Weißgerber suggests an on-going legacy within a family, one that has been developing over generations of hardworking craftsmanship.
Order DNA origin analysisWeißgerber: Where does the name Weißgerber come from?
The last name Weißgerber, meaning a White Cooper in English, is a fairly common name in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. People with the name Weißgerber have also spread to other parts of the world through migration, and today can be found in places like the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
In Germany, the majority of people with the last name Weißgerber are located in the country's southwestern region, particularly in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. According to a detailed map of Europe's distribution of surnames, the Weißgerber name is especially popular in the cities of Munich and Stuttgart, as well as in smaller regional towns.
Weißgerbers who have migrated abroad still tend to remain closely connected to the German speaking world. Many German-Americans celebrate traditional religious festivals and keep up with news and happenings in Germany and Austria. Many German-Americans even keep the traditional spelling of their surname as Weißgerber and continue to pronounce the name with its original soft ‘ß’ sound, which is to be differentiated from the English ‘ss’.
As times have changed, the Weißgerber name has been Anglicized in various ways. Whether spelled Weissgerber, Weissgerbour, or any other variation, the name still reflects its German heritage and its associated meaning of White Cooper.
Variations of the surname Weißgerber
Weißgerber is a German surname that means "white tanner". It originated in the 13th century and is composed of two distinct parts: Weiss, meaning white, and Gerber, meaning tanner.
Variants of this surname include Weissgerber, Weisgerber and Weissgeber.
Weißgerber can also be spelled with an umlaut over the “u”, which means that the pronunciation of the “u” should be pronounced as a longer sound (Wīs̆-gĕr-bər). This alternate spelling is sometimes used in German-speaking countries.
Weißgerber can also be found in German records in its various spellings as Waisgerber, Waissgerber, Weisgerber and Waisgeber.
Surnames derived from Weißgerber include Whiteberger, Whitberger, Whitigraber, Whitenberger, Whitegaber, Whitegraber, Whitekraber, Whitigraeber, Whitekreeger, Whitengraber, Weisspfeiffer, Weissgrau, Weisshaar, Weissmacher, Weissbart, and Waisgruber.
All of these surnames are derived from the Middle High German term “wîsgerber”, meaning “white tanner”, and share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Weißgerber
- 1.Adam Weißgerber: an American animation director and producer.
- Michal Weißgerber: a German photographer and visual artist.
- Eva Weißgerber: a German model and influencer.
- Richard Weißgerber: a German artist and sculptor.
- Helmut Weißgerber: a former German footballer.
- Theo Weißgerber: a former professional cyclist from Germany.
- Markus Weißgerber: a former professional football player from Germany.
- Georg Weißgerber: a former professional tennis player from Germany.
- David Weißgerber: a German YouTube presenter and vlogger. 10.Klaus Weißgerber: a German classical music conductor and composer.