Surname Wewelsiep - Meaning and Origin
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Wewelsiep: What does the surname Wewelsiep mean?
The last name Wewelsiep is an old German surname of uncertain origin. It was traditionally found most commonly in the regions around Osnabruck, Minden and Bielefeld in the northwestern part of Germany, although it has spread further throughout the country, and some members of the Wewelsiep family have settled in other countries.
The meaning of the surname is likely derived from a personal name, most likely one associated with the Germanic tribes. Wewel is a shortened form of the German word Wewelmann, which translates roughly to “man of battle” or “warrior” in English. The suffix -siep may have been added to the personal name to indicate it was used as a family name.
From a genealogical perspective, the Wewelsiep family is known to have occupied land in North Rhine-Westphalia since the thirteenth century. They were likely among the first to settle in the area. In the centuries that followed, the name has been found in records throughout the region.
Today, the surname Wewelsiep is still most common in the region around the former Ruhr valley, but it is also found worldwide. The name probably still conjures up images of ancient Germanic warriors for many people who use it, and it is likely to continue to represent a link with the region’s past for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisWewelsiep: Where does the name Wewelsiep come from?
The surname Wewelsiep is originally German in origin, meaning 'jet black', and is believed to have come from the Holy Roman Empire city of Wewelsburg in North Rhine-Westphalia. Today, the surname Wewelsiep can still be found in Germany, particularly in Nordrhein-Westfalen and in Lower Saxony. It is also quite common in the Netherlands as well as in several other countries such as the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Poland, and Hungary.
In the United States, the surname Wewelsiep is particularly prevalent in the states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, where it is most likely to have been adopted by immigrants in the 19th century. The combined populations of these three states account for over 60% of people bearing the surname Wewelsiep in the US. Moreover, the surname is frequently found in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
In Canada, the highest number of people with the surname Wewelsiep tend to live in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. In Ireland, the surname is relatively popular in the county of Leinster.
Overall, although the surname Wewelsiep is not one of the most common in the world, it is quite common in several countries including Germany, the US, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, with relatively high populations residing in a few key locations.
Variations of the surname Wewelsiep
The surname Wewelsiep has a variety of different spellings and variants as well as surnames of the same origin. In terms of spelling, the surname can be spelt differently as Wevelsiep, Wevlesiep, or Wewelsiep. Due to the Germanic origin of the name, the spelling of names from this region is somewhat variable, so this is not uncommon for such surnames.
The first records of the name can be found as early as the 13th century in Germany spelling the name as Welespit. It later appears as Wewelspit, Wevlespitt, Wewlespitte, and Wewelsiep, with the latter spelling becoming more standardized in Germany from the 16th century onwards.
In terms of variants and surnames of the same origin, names such as Wevles, Wuelles, Wewelspaeth, Wewlese, Wevlesep, Wuellespeth, Wewelspeth, Wewelssep, and Wevlesen can be found in various historical records. All of these surname variants still exist in Germany up to today.
In conclusion, as the surname Wewelsiep has such a strong Germanic origin, many variants and surnames of the same origin still exist in various spellings to this day.
Famous people with the name Wewelsiep
- Geert Wewelsiep: Psychological Research Strategist and Responsible Innovation Advocate
- Olaf Wewelsiep: German Soccer Player & Manager
- Veerle Wewelsiep: Dutch Musical Actress
- Ronald Wewelsiep: Dutch Actor
- Gorki Wewelsiep: German Actor
- David Wewelsiep: Dutch Television Actor
- Arne Wewelsiep: Dutch Politician
- Johannes Wewelsiep: German Politician
- Franz Wewelsiep: German Politician
- Albert Wewelsiep: German Football Player
- Maike Wewelsiep: German Television Actress
- Ernst Wewelsiep: Austrian Singer & Conductor
- Claus Wewelsiep: German Soccer Player
- Peter Wewelsiep: German Soccer Player
- Mark Wewelsiep: German Actor
- Martin Wewelsiep: German Actor
- Henning Wewelsiep: German Actor
- Johan Wewelsiep: Dutch Agricultural Engineer
- Jochen Wewelsiep: German Soccer Player
- Jan Wewelsiep: Dutch Actor