Surname Weyerhaeuser - Meaning and Origin
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Weyerhaeuser: What does the surname Weyerhaeuser mean?
The last name Weyerhaeuser is a German surname and roughly translates to "weaver of the houses". This name comes from the Old German phrase weerheusar and was most likely used to refer to someone who built houses, as a 'weaver' would construct something with the use of fibers.
The name likely also refers to a person or family who specialized in forest management, as the name can also be traced back to medieval German foresters responsible for caring for and maintaining forests. This is because Weyerhaeuser literally translates to ‘forest house’.
The Weyerhaeuser company began in 1900 when Friedrich Weyerhaeuser immigrated to the United States with his family and began purchasing extensive acreage of timberlands. The business was successful and eventually grew into the large timber, wood products, and real estate company it is today.
The Weyerhaeuser name is also known for being associated with philanthropy and environmental conservation. Many members of the Weyerhaeuser family are well-known figures not only for their business success, but also for their generous donations to many charities and public projects.
Overall, the Weyerhaeuser name symbolizes a rich family history, both in terms of contributions to the lumber industry and to philanthropy. It is a powerful and meaningful name that represents the success and history of a family that has had a significant impact on many industries, as well as on their community.
Order DNA origin analysisWeyerhaeuser: Where does the name Weyerhaeuser come from?
The surname Weyerhaeuser is most commonly found in the United States. According to the Web site of surname resource Ancestry.com, people with the surname Weyerhaeuser are predominantly located in Wisconsin and Minnesota, where they likely originated. Records show that the first person with the surname Weyerhaeuser in the U.S. was Ludwig Weyerhaeuser, who was born in Germany in 1790 and immigrated to Wisconsin in 1868. The name Weyerhaeuser is actually derived from an old Germanic word meaning “wood dropper.” This is likely due to the work of the family’s ancestral forebears, who were involved in the timber trade in Germany.
Today, the Weyerhaeuser name is most closely associated with the company of the same name. This global forestry company was founded in 1900 by Frederick Weyerhaeuser, one of Ludwig’s descendants. In 1924, the family established the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. Still family-owned, Weyerhaeuser is the largest private owner of timberland in the world. As of 2021, the Weyerhaeuser Company has a presence in each of the US states, as well as Canada and 14 other countries.
The surname Weyerhaeuser remains relatively uncommon and very localized to Wisconsin and Minnesota, primarily due to the fact that the family was so prominent in establishing the company. As such, the Weyerhaeuser name remains a proud testament to one of the United States’ most powerful forestry businesses.
Variations of the surname Weyerhaeuser
The surname Weyerhaeuser is derived from a German last name and is also known to be spelled with variations such as Weyerhauser, Weyerhauser, Wyerhaeuser, Wyerhauser, Weyrerhaeuser, Weyrerhauser, Weyerhaeusrer, Weyerhaeusrer, Wyerhaeusrer, Wyerhaeusrer, Wiererhaeuser, Wiererhauser, and Weiherhaeuser.
Spelling variations of this surname can be traced back to the old German language, as well as other languages commonly spoken in Northern Europe such as Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Flemish, and Frisian.
The earliest known written record of the Weyerhaeuser surname was in 1567 when a man named Matthias Weyrerin was documented in the parish records of Schwaben, Germany.
The Weyerhaeuser name has been used by several notable people throughout history, including the German-American industrialist and lumber broker Frederick Weyerhaeuser, the politician and industrialist Augustus Weyerhaeuser, the co-founder of the Weyerhaeuser Investment Company James Weyerhaeuser, and the former CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company Daniel S. Fulton.
As the population of immigrants grew in the late 19th century, several branches of the Weyerhaeuser surname migrated to the United States and Canada, where they settled in various places throughout the country, often changing the spelling of the name to a more anglicized variant such as Wyerhauser or Westhouser.
Today, the Weyerhaeuser surname is most commonly found throughout the United States. However, it can be found in many other countries in Europe, including Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium, as well as in Australasia.
Famous people with the name Weyerhaeuser
- Charles Weyerhaeuser- Businessman and leader of the Weyerhaeuser Company, which is one of the world's largest timber companies.
- Frederic Weyerhaeuser- Father of Charles, he is credited with taking the company from a regional to national company.
- Wilfred Weyerhaeuser- The grandson of Frederic, he has served as the chair of the company since 1969.
- Frederick Weyerhaeuser Jr.- The son of Charles, he ran the company from 1960 until 1981.
- Dorothy Weyerhaeuser- A philanthropist and wife of Wilfred, she has made significant contributions to the Seattle area and to the Weyerhaeuser Company.
- Marie Weyerhaeuser- Sister of Charles, she was an influential philanthropist who was credited with helping establish several schools in the Northwest.
- Charles Weyerhaeuser III- Son of Wilfred, he has been the CEO of the Weyerhaeuser Company since 1995.
- Jean Weyerhaeuser- Daughter of Charles, she has served on the company's board of directors since 2006.
- Daniel Weyerhaeuser-The great grandson of Frederic, he has been a director of the company since 2014.
- Mark Weyerhaeuser-Son of Wilfred and a long-time board member of the company since 1981.