Surname Weith - Meaning and Origin
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Weith: What does the surname Weith mean?
The last name Weith is a surname of German origin. It is thought to have derived from the Old High German word ‘weit’, which means wide. This could refer to the physical geography of where the Weith family lived, as well as their wide knowledge and experience in various trades and endeavors.
The Weith name is mainly found in Germany, and it is believed that members of the family were involved in several occupations including merchants, tradespeople and professional craftsmen. They were also found in various administrative roles in state and church service.
The Weith surname is now primarily located in Germany and Switzerland, but it can also be found in other European countries including Austria and Hungary. It is most likely linked to an area of Central Europe known as the Palatinate — a small region located in the Rhine Valley that was part of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times.
The Weith family can trace its roots back to the 11th century, when it first appeared in documents throughout Germany. It is a name that stands for hard work, dedication and perseverance, and it has been an important part of the German culture for many centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWeith: Where does the name Weith come from?
The last name Weith is commonly seen in the German-speaking world, particularly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Weith is a variant of the more common German surname Weit, which is an occupational surname usually meaning "wide", referring to a person from a wide area or a person who owned a wide area of land. The Weith spelling can also appear as Weidh, Wieth or Weidt.
Weith and its variants can be found in Germany’s receptions of new immigrants from places such as Romania and Ukraine. There are also substantial numbers of people with the Weith name living in the US, Canada, Brazil, South Africa and New Zealand, and in other countries in Europe, Australia and South America.
It’s difficult to trace the Weith family’s roots due to the various spellings of the name. A search of public records usually reveals information on multiple generations, but the exact origin of the surname remains a mystery.
In Germany, many with the Weith surname can trace their ancestors to small villages in the Bavarian or Swabian regions. German-Americans of Pennsylvania often share the Weith surname, with its earliest Secisian settlements dating back to the late 17th century. The spelling Weith can also be found in early records from the Palatinate in southwest Germany.
Despite its relative anonymity, the Weith surname is still relatively commonly found throughout the world. It’s a testament to the ever-evolving history of immigration, migration and settlement that such an old German surname continues to live on.
Variations of the surname Weith
The surname Weith is of German origin and variants include Weidh, Weitz, Weide, Weitzh, Weiß, Weitsch, Weydt, Weitsh, Weidt and Weidht. Common spellings and alternative spellings include Wieth, Weith, Wieth, Weith, Wietz, Weitze, Wietz, Weitz, Wiez, and Wietze. Variants of Weith can also be found in other countries, including the UK, Poland, and Russia.
The surname Weith is relatively uncommon; therefore, many of these variants have been absorbed by other names. For instance, the surname Weitz is a variant form of Weith and has been primarily absorbed by the German names Weinz, Weinzel, Weintz and Weintzinger.
In the UK, variants of Weith such as Wietz and Weid may have been altered to Wight and Weight. Additionally, in other countries such as Scotland and Ireland the surname Weith may have been altered to White.
In Poland, the surname Weith is rarely seen, as it is generally spelled Weitz or Weitzh. In Russia, the surnames Weitz and Weitzh have also been absorbed by other names such as Weigand, Viigand, Weigandt and Viigandt.
Overall, variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Weith often vary between countries and cultures, having been absorbed by other names over time.
Famous people with the name Weith
- Lotte Weith: Danish actor, writer and photographer
- Hedwig Weith: German actress in stage and film
- Joseph Weith: Danish architect of Friederichstadtpalast, a theater in Berlin
- Tony Weith: 20th century aviation entrepreneur and businessman
- Eli Weith: American writer best known for his works on identity
- Angelica Weith: American actress, best known for roles in Dead or Alive and Forget About It
- Janell Weith: American actress, known for her roles in the TV series Medium and Providence
- Hanni Weith: German author, most known for her novel The Train Driver's Daughter
- Mandy Weith: British actress, best known for her role in the TV comedy series Blackadder
- Tabea Weith: German photographer and editor, who has won awards for her documentary work