Surname Weymouth - Meaning and Origin
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Weymouth: What does the surname Weymouth mean?
Weymouth is a surname of English origins. It is thought to have derived from an area of land known as Weyland, in the county of Dorset, England. The name 'Weymouth' itself could be a combination of 'wey' - meaning 'river mouth' - and 'mouth.'
Weymouth has been used as a surname since around the 12th century. Within this time, it was a topographical name that was used to describe someone who lived at the mouth of the river Wey. Over time, the word has become anglicized, both in spelling and pronunciation.
As a surname, it is common in many English-speaking countries, particularly Britain and North America. It is also believed to be common in German-speaking countries, with records of spelling variations such as Weimuth and Weimut.
The use of the surname has been documented as far back as the Domesday Book in 1086, listing a Weimoth as acquiring land in the area of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in Dorset. Nearly 200 years later, another Weymouth was recorded as a farmer in southern Britain.
Today, more than 50 different spellings of Weymouth exist worldwide, with five times as many people living with this surname in the year 2000 compared to the previous century. It is an ancient surname that is still widely used, and continues to be linked to those who have deep roots in the area of its namesake.
Order DNA origin analysisWeymouth: Where does the name Weymouth come from?
The last name Weymouth is today most common in the United States, where native-born Americans can trace their ancestry back to Weymouths who have been settling there since the colonial era. It is also found in small numbers in English-speaking countries around the world.
In the United States, the Weymouth surname first appeared in the census in 1790 during the formation of the original 13 colonies, and the number of people carrying the name has steadily increased since. One of the earliest known Weymouths in the colonies was Katherine Weymouth, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts from London in 1635. The family opted to stay in the region and, over the centuries, members of the Weymouth family became involved in politics, business, and the military.
Today, Weymouths are primarily concentrated in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. This includes Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. The state of Massachusetts, the original home of the Weymouths, is still home to some of the earliest documented descendants. In 2013, the city of Weymouth, Massachusetts, a suburb just outside of Boston, was named after the Weymouth family in honor of the contributions they had made to the local community.
The surname Weymouth is also found in Canada and other countries with a significant number of English-speaking citizens. In the United Kingdom, the Weymouths are concentrated mainly in the east and central southwest, with Essex and Somerset being two of the most common places of origin.
Variations of the surname Weymouth
The surname Weymouth can have many alternate variants, spellings, or surnames of similar origin. Some examples of alternate variations commonly seen include: Weymouth, Weamouth, Wyemouthe, Wyemouth, Wymonuth, Weimouth, Weymouthe, Weymoneth, Weymot, Wymouthe, Wymot, Wymoth, Weamothe, Waimouth, Weimot, Waimote, Waimouthe, Waimothe, Waimot, Weymout, Wyemot, Weamoth, Wyemothe, and Weamot.
In addition to the numerous alternate forms of the surname, there are several close variations that appear in different countries. For example, in Ireland the name is most commonly spelled Weymouth. In England, it is common to find spellings that are similar and often interchangeable with Weymouth, such as Weamouth, Wyemouth, and Wymonuth. In Scotland, the Welsh-origin version of the name, Weimouth, is more common.
Furthermore, there is a Swedish version of the name, Weymot, as well as a German version, Wyemot. In Australia, the same Weymouth variant of the name is found copied and spelled as Weymot, Wymough, and Wymouthe. In France and Italy, the degendered spellings Weamot, Waimouthe, and Waimothe are recorded.
The close variations of the surname suggest that the Weymouth surname was carried by many early immigrants to different countries, evolving with each change of residence and nation. As such, there are many variations from country to country that are still linked to Weymouth’s origin.
Famous people with the name Weymouth
- Chris Weymouth: American free-jazz drummer and percussionist
- Fred Weymouth: American electrical engineer, noted for his work in the field of acoustics and underwater sound
- Jimmy Weymouth: English bassist and background vocalist for the rock band Talking Heads
- Noel Weymouth: American singer, founder of the rock band The Cars
- Nona Weymouth: American philanthropist and former fashion model
- Robert Weymouth: American folk singer and songwriter
- Samuel Weymouth: American congressman representing Massachusetts
- Thomas Weymouth: American landscape painter
- Tosca Weymouth: English actress, mostly known for her work in television series
- William Weymouth: American inventor of the first successful machine designed to add long columns of figures