Surname Weygardt - Meaning and Origin
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Weygardt: What does the surname Weygardt mean?
The last name Weygardt (also spelled Weygandt) is a German surname thought to be derived from the Middle High German word ‘wigen’ which has two meanings. The first meaning relates to defending a location as in a ‘ward’ or lookout, whilst the second means to protect or guard. In medieval Germany, surnames were often created to denote a profession or trade, and many other German surnames end with the suffix ‘gand’ or ‘gart’, which were both derived from the word wigen.
Weygardt is a name believed to have originated from the Rhineland-Palatinate region in Germany. It would have been used as a regional identifier, to distinguish a person coming from this part of Germany. Many people with this surname have settled in nearby countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, as well as the United States and other countries.
The surname Weygardt is still commonly used today in Germany and other countries. It remains a recognizable name, and is associated with having German heritage. It is a popular last name in many countries. Weygardt is sometimes seen as a more sophisticated or elegant version of the name Weygandt.
Order DNA origin analysisWeygardt: Where does the name Weygardt come from?
The surname Weygardt is most commonly found in Germany and its former East German territories. It is derived from the Upper German given name Weigard, which is itself from the Old High German word for guard, ‘weigard’. In the Middle Ages, the Weygardt name began to become more widespread as it became associated with guards, soldiers, and other similar roles.
The name is also found in the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and Romania. It is believed that the name Weygardt spread to these countries from Germany as German immigrants immigrated and eventually settled in various Eastern European areas.
The Weygardt lineage can be traced back to the 18th century, when it was first found in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Looking at the records of that time, the most numerous Weygardt households were mainly in the north of Germany in areas near Kiel and Wittdun.
Today, records show that the Weygardt name is most common in the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. It is estimated that there are around 3,000 Weygardts currently living in Germany today.
In the United States, the Weygardt surname is not as common with only around 200 living in the country. The majority of Weygardts in the U.S. are from German ancestry and have likely immigrated from Germany in the mid to late 19th century.
Variations of the surname Weygardt
The surname Weygardt is an uncommon surname that originated in Germany and can be seen in Scandinavia, Finland, and other European countries. Its variants, spellings, and similar surnames include Wiegaard, Weygand, Weygandt, Weygant, Weigand, Weigant, Weigert, Weigandt, Weichtand, Veygardt, Wygand, Wygert, Veygert, and Wiigard.
In Germany, the spelling is often written as Weygardt, and the most common variant is Weygand. Weygand is the most common of the variants as the ‘y’ has taken the place of the ‘i’ in the original spelling of Weigand. Other variants are Weigandt, Weigert, Weigand, Weichand and Wygand. The latter spelling is very close to the original spelling of Weigand.
In Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark, Norway, and Finland, the variants take the form of Wiegaard, Weigand, Weigant and even Veygert. The latter spelling is very close to its original spelling of Weigand. In Finland, the surname is spelt Weygardt and its variants include Veygardt, Weygandt and Wiigard.
In conclusion, the surname Weygardt has several, spelling variations and variants including Wiegaard, Weygand, Weygandt, Weygant, Weigand, Weigant, Weigert, Weigandt, Weichtand, Veygardt, Wygand, Wygert, Veygert and Wiigard which can be found throughout Europe and Scandinavia.
Famous people with the name Weygardt
- Paul Weygardt: German theater actor, TV actor, and screenwriter born in 1948.
- Jenny Weygardt: German cellist active from 1991 to 2005.
- Uwe Weygardt: German football player and coach born in 1959.
- Aenne Weygardt: German musician and poet born in 1906.
- Paul Weygardt: Danish engineer and industrial designer born in 1899.
- Robert Weygardt: German physicist born in 1921.
- Reinhard Weygardt: German silversmith born in 1848.
- Peter Weygardt: Austrian physicist and astronomer born in 1918.
- Gabriele Weygardt: German operatic contralto active in the 1930s.
- Karl Weygardt: German sculptor and painter born in 1844.