Surname Weychardt - Meaning and Origin
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Weychardt: What does the surname Weychardt mean?
The last name Weychardt is of German origin and is derived from the old German name Weigard. Weychardt is derived from elements meaning “protection” and “hard”. The literal translation of the name is “the hard guard” or “protecting warrior”.
The Weychardts have a long and proud history. First found in Prussia, the Weychardt family can trace their roots back to the Middle Ages. During this time, the Weychardts were influential merchants who were well known for their prominent textile trade.
In the 18th century, the Weychardt family moved further into Europe and established themselves in Switzerland and there established a number of factories and a small village. Some members of the family eventually immigrated to America and their name was eventually changed to "Waychert".
Today, Weychardt is a rather uncommon surname. It is usually found in states with German populations such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Washington. But, it also appears in other states such as Florida, California, and New York.
Overall, the Weychardt surname is a proud one that has rooted itself in over centuries of German society. Not only do Weychardts have an impressive origin story, they also have a unique name, and a small but supportive extended family. Undoubtedly, their accomplishments have not gone unnoticed.
Order DNA origin analysisWeychardt: Where does the name Weychardt come from?
The last name Weychardt is a fairly rare family name today. It appears to have been most prominently used in the United States and Germany in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the United States, the Weychardt family originated in Ohio, tracing its roots back to German immigrants in the mid-1800s. Most of the remaining Weychardts in the US today are descendants of these immigrants. The largest concentration of Weychardts in the US today appears to be in the state of Ohio, though small numbers of Weychardts are found elsewhere in the US.
The origin of the Weychardt name in Germany is less clear. It appears to have been in use near the possession city of Wurttemberg as early as the 16th century. Today, the Weychardt name is most common in and around Stuttgart, into the southern Black Forest.
The overall prevalence of the Weychardt name today is relatively low, however, because of its German roots, the name is likely to continue to be used in both the US and Germany for some time to come.
Variations of the surname Weychardt
Weychardt is a German surname and there are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin: Weytracht, Weigart, Weyschart, Weigart, Wigarts, Weijchart, Wicarts, Weijhardt, Weichert, Weicht, Weijhrt, Weychards, Weichhard, Wiechart, Wecheart, Weicherd, Weichita, Waychart, Waychard, Waycheart, Waygard, Weigartt, Wacart, Weygart, Weygert, Weygand, Weykard, and Wickard.
Weychardt is derived from the Middle High German ''wihhart'', which was a patronymic referring to the son of a Wihhard. This is a masculine given name which is composed of two elements, the first element being the Germanic word "wih", meaning "battle". The second element is "hard", which is derived from the Germanic word "hardu", meaning "strong". Thus, the name Weychardt essentially translates to "strong in battle".
Variants and spellings of this name can also be found among the Netherlands, Germany, and even in western parts of Eastern Europe. Originally, this name was used in a variety of German and Dutch-speaking areas of Europe as early as the 12th century, likely referring to a skilled warrior.
Since the introduction of standardized spelling in certain parts of Europe, this surname is seen in its more modern forms as well, such as ‘Weichert’, ‘Weicht’, and ‘Weycheart’. There are also some minor differences in spellings visited upon bearers of this surname living in various different nations.
Famous people with the name Weychardt
- Angie Weychardt: Angie Weychardt is an award winning American country singer and songwriter.
- Christopher Weychardt: Christopher Weychardt is an American scientist well known for his research in the fields of mechanical engineering and renewable energy.
- David Weychardt: David Weychardt is an American actor most notably seen in television series, such as Law & Order.
- John Weychardt: John Weychardt was an American landscape photographer and artist best known for his black and white photography.
- Joseph Weychardt: Joseph Weychardt was an American businessman and one of the founders of the Weyco Group.
- Robert Weychardt: Robert Weychardt was an American diplomat and ambassador to the Netherlands from 2001 to 2004.
- Tammy Weychardt: Tammy Weychardt is an American sculptor, with her works being featured permanently in various galleries around the country.
- Terry Weychardt: Terry Weychardt is an American entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of the Weyco Group.