Surname Weselau - Meaning and Origin

Weselau: What does the surname Weselau mean?

The last name Weselau is of German origin and is a habitational name derived from the town of Weselau, located in the district of Rhein-Lahn in Rhineland-Palatinate. The town is named after the nearby Weselauer Bach river and is said to have belonged to the knights of Weiselau in the 13th century.

The surname Weselau is believed to have originated from the original German name “Wessellauf”, which was derived from the old German words “wesen” meaning “forest” and “loufa” meaning “track”. Its literal translation can be broken down into “forest track” or “track through the forest”. This could refer to either the physical location of the town itself or to the journey taken by the family who adopted the name Weselau.

The meaning of the last name has been linked to the exceptional outdoors skills and adventures that likely characterized its first bearers. These qualities were likely the result of their need to survive and thrive in the dense forests of their homeland.

Throughout its history, the name Weselau has consistently been associated with an affinity for perseverance, nature, and adventure. It is likely that these traits still remain a strong part of many of its current bearers.

Weselau: Where does the name Weselau come from?

The last name "Weselau" is an uncommon last name today. In historic records, it is found mainly in newly-minted German locality in the late 19th to early 20th century. The earliest records found so far were from the late 1800s in the province of Lower Silesia, and it is likely that the surname has its origin there. Most records suggest that the family had a Saxon origin, and may have been descendants of refugees who fled the Thirty Years War in the early 1600s. These records primarily originated from counties around Glogau and Liegnitz, with some potential records from other towns and cities in the province.

Today, the last name "Weselau" appears to be limited to only a few people scattered across Germany, and potentially a few European countries such as Russia. There is no clear indication of how the Weselau family may have lived or where they eventually migrated. However, the records of the family's past suggest that the family has been a prominent part of European history since the 1600s.

Variations of the surname Weselau

The surname Weselau is of German origin and is derived from the region near the city of Wesel on the Rhine in Germany. The most common variants of this surname include Vassalau, Wisselau, Weiselau, Viselau, Veseleau, Wisselow, Viselow, Wisselow, and Veseleow.

The spelling of this surname can also vary depending on the regional dialect and time period. Spelling variants include Wesselau, Weßelau, Wissilau, Wisailau, Vissilau, Visselau, Veßelau, Vößelau, Wesselow, Wesseloff and Voßeloff among others.

The name Weselau is also found in several variations of its spelling in Eastern European countries such as Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine (mainly in the area of western Ukraine) in the form of Veseleu, Viseleu, Veseley, Viseley, Vasileu, Vyseleu, Vyseley and Vesilev.

Due to immigration to the U.S., this surname has also taken on additional spelling variations such as Weaselow, Weizelow, Weiselow and Weigle. Similarly, in Canada it has also been found spelled Weizelou, Weiseloo, Veyselau, Wieselau, Wesseloo, and Wiselau.

In England, Weselau has been found as Wisselo, Wisseloe, Wisaloe, and Wis hailoe. In Austria, the surname has been found as Wisseloh and Wisselhoe.

The surnames of this origin have been in existence for centuries and many prospered and expanded during and after the American Revolution in the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of the descendants of this surname can be found still living in the United States today.

Famous people with the name Weselau

• Doug Weselau: Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1990s.
• Barbara Weselau: German avant-garde filmmaker and costume designer.
• Meghan Weselau: Up-and-coming Canadian singer-songwriter known for her soulful and sultry voice.
• Ute Weselau: German actor, screenwriter and director most well known for her television series Die Rosenkriege.
• Kristin Weselau: U.S. figure skater who won the bronze medal at the 1993 World Figure Skating Championships.
• Tim Weselau: Canadian film and television producer who has worked on shows such as Corner Gas and Flashpoint.
• Joshua Weselau: American professional tennis player who won the NCAA Division I singles championship in 2018.
• Eric Weselau: Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for the Montreal Expos and Seattle Mariners in the mid-to-late 1990s.
• Mark Weselau: Canadian bassist who is a member of the Juno Award-winning progressive metal band Protest The Hero.
• Chris Weselau: Canadian sailboat racer and team leader who was part of the winning crew in the 1992 Whitbread Round the World Race.

Other surnames

Weseloh