Surname Weitkus - Meaning and Origin
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Weitkus: What does the surname Weitkus mean?
The last name Weitkus is a German and Dutch surname which is derived from the Old German name Witan. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Middle Low German wit or wite, which means "to know" or "aware". The name was originally used to refer to a learned and wise person, which could have referred to a judge or a scholar.
In early records, the name often appeared as Witekus, Witkus or Wieteco, which are variations of the original Weitkus spelling. The surname Weitkus can be tracked in records from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Poland.
Weitkus is also the common variation of the name Weidelkus, a Westphalian variation of the name. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, this form of the name was common in the cities of Oberhausen, Dortmund and Essen in the Rhine region of Germany.
The surname Weitkus may also be related to certain Jewish surnames, such as Vaitkus and Vaitekus. It could have been adopted by Jews living in German and Polish areas, as a means of blending in better with the non-Jewish population.
Overall, the surname Weitkus is derived from the Old German name Witan and could have originally been an occupational name, referring to a wise and learned individual. It has also been linked to certain Jewish surnames and is quite common amongst German, Dutch, Danish and Polish populations.
Order DNA origin analysisWeitkus: Where does the name Weitkus come from?
The surname Weitkus is most common today in Germany, where it originated centuries ago. It is among the 5,000 most common German family names and can be found in many regions of the country. It is particularly concentrated in the states of North-Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt.
Outside of Germany, the Weitkus surname is present in other parts of Europe including Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and The Netherlands. It is believed that the surname is a form of the German word 'weit', meaning 'wide' or 'broad', suggesting that it may have been a nickname originally borne by a person of significant adult height or generous build.
The surname Weitkus is also present in the United States and Canada, where it was adopted by German settlers who came to the colonies in the early 1800s. Dealer records indicate that a Johannes Weitkus was among those who took advantage of the Appelbaum immigrant passage to Philadelphia in 1808. The Weitkus surname has since been spread across the entire United States, with the most concentrated populations being in Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Variations of the surname Weitkus
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Weitkus are Vitkus, Vytkus, Vitkiene, Vytkiene, Vitkyte, Vytkyte, Vitkevicius, Vytkevicius, Vitkauskas, Vytkauskas, Vitkeviciute, Vytkeviciute, Vitkauskiene, and Vytkauskiene.
The surname Weitkus is a toponymic name with its origins in Lithuania, a country located in Northern Europe. It is derived from the Lithuanian word “Vytka” which means “open field” or “meadow”. The surname is thought to have been given to people who lived on a meadow, or someone who worked on a meadow.
The spelling of the surname has changed over time, with Vitkus, Vytkus, Vitkevicius, Vytkevicius and Vitkauskas being some of the variants now found. These variants are derived from the Lithuanian language, and many of the variations refer back to the same origin.
The other variations of the surname, such as Vitkiene, Vytkiene, Vitkyte, Vytkyte, Vitkeviciute, Vytkeviciute, Vitkauskiene and Vytkauskiene are formed using feminine endings. These endings refer to a female with the surname.
The surname Weitkus is still common today with Lithuanian as well as foreign speakers. It is a popular surname among Lithuanian immigrants, being found in countries such as the United States of America, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Weitkus
- Jena Weitkus: an American woman who is a swimmer, kayaker, runner, and YouTube fitness enthusiast.
- CJ Weitkus: a twenty-six year old present day American painter and illustrator.
- Mart Weitkus: a writer for the Farmers Almanac in the United States.
- Victoria Weitkus: a German Alpine skier who competed for the national team of Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Stephanie Weitkus: an Australian athlete who competed in the heptathlon, shot put and javelin throw.
- Robert Weitkus: a former Dutch footballer who played professionally in the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Belgium.
- Anna Weitkus: a former world record holding American swimmer who competed in the 1948 London Olympics.
- Florian Weitkus: a German weightlifter who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics.
- Maria Weitkus: a Latvian triple jumper who has competed in several international championships.
- Kurt Weitkus: a former German wrestler who competed in the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.