Surname Weißschuh - Meaning and Origin
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Weißschuh: What does the surname Weißschuh mean?
Weißschuh is a German surname which literally translates to "white shoe." The name takes its origin from a profession which involved the manufacture or sale of white leather shoes. The name is most commonly found in Bavaria, though there are a few instances of the name scattered in various parts of Germany.
The surname first began to appear in records during the 16th century in Bavaria and has since spread to a few Rhineland-Palatinate cities and districts during the 1800s. By 1900, Weißschuh was found in the Silesian region of Prussia and is now associated with the Silesian-German dialect.
Centerd around the trade of white leather shoes, those with the last name Weißschuh likely engaged in occupations of shoemaking, or perhaps leatherwork. Later on, the surname developed further to include entrepreneurs who opened up shops that sold these white leather shoes. It is thought that these shoe makers and shoe sellers were amongst some of the first citizens of the area, and this could be why their surname is so common today.
Weißschuh is an interesting surname which has withstood the ages. Its connection to the leatherworking trade reflects the resilience and hardworking habits of those with the last name. It also speaks of the history of the Bavarian region and how its people were able to carve out a prosperous industry which provided a livelihood for generations of the Weißschuh family.
Order DNA origin analysisWeißschuh: Where does the name Weißschuh come from?
The surname Weißschuh is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. The name is derived from the German words “weiß” and “schuh” meaning “white” and “shoe” respectively.
In Germany, the name is especially common in Bavaria and Saxony. In Munich, the capital of Bavaria, the name is among the 7,074 most commonly found surnames. Furthermore, one can find it in Bavarian cities like Regensburg, where it is among the 4,000 most common and in Nuremberg, one of the most populous cities in Bavaria, where it is among the top 278 most frequent surnames.
In Austria, the name is found particularly in Vienna. Vienna is the capital of Austria, home to more than 1.9 million people and the birthplace of the Austrian nation. According to the Austrian Federal Office, the name is among the 3,100 most common surnames recorded in Vienna. Additionally, one can find the name in several other Austrian cities like St. Pölten, where it is among the 11,000 most frequent names, and Graz, where it is among the 12,500 most frequent names.
Overall, the surname Weißschuh is especially common in Germany and Austria. It is most heavily found in Bavaria and Vienna, the two areas that the name has been linked to for centuries.
Variations of the surname Weißschuh
The surname Weißschuh (or Weissschuh in English) is of German origin and can be found across the European continent, as well as in other countries which have experienced migration from Germany. The various variants of the surname include Weischuh, Weisschuh, Weischuh, Weishuhl, Weisscu, Weisshuhl, and Weisshohl. In England and the United States, those bearing the surname might be referred to as WhiteShoe or White Shoe.
The variants may occur with certain regional variations or preferences in spelling, and some regional variations occur in spelling even within Germany; for instance, the variant Weissschuh is more commonly found in the south of Germany, while Weischuh is more frequently found in the north.
The surname may also be found as a patronymic, as it is a common practice in many countries with Germanic culture to add the -s or -sen suffix to surnames to indicate paternity. For instance, the son of a person with the surname Weißschuh may bear the name Weissschuhsen. It may additionally be shortened to Weishuhl or Weisshuhl, the latter of which may also be subject to the regional variations in spelling.
In addition to the variants of the surname discussed, the original German spelling may also be Anglicized due to spelling differences between German and English. For instance, the letter "ß" is not considered an individual letter in English, and is instead replaced with "ss." As a result, the surname Weissschuh may also be found in English-speaking countries as Weisshuhl or WhiteShoe.
Famous people with the name Weißschuh
- Nina Weißschuh: German film actress
- Annette Weißschuh: German actress
- Karl-Günter Weißschuh: German football player
- Alison Weißschuh: German Paralympian skier
- Edmund Weißschuh: German cyclist
- Andreas Weißschuh: German Olympic skier
- Stefan Weißschuh: German Olympic beach volleyball player
- Bernd Weißschuh: German football coach
- Walter Weißschuh: German-Austrian engineer
- Peter Weißschuh: German composer