Surname Weyßer - Meaning and Origin
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Weyßer: What does the surname Weyßer mean?
Weyßer is a German surname that is derived from a dialectic term that means "white-haired." This term was originally used to describe a person with white or grey hair, which is why the name has come to be associated with those of older age. This name was especially popular for German immigrants who came to the United States in the 19th century.
One of the earliest documents of the name date back to 1461, with a reference to a man named Hans Wyßer. From then on, the name was regularly found in records throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The most prominent bearer of the name was Eduard Weyßer, who was born in 1905 in Austria. He was a physicist during World War II, and after the war ended he became a pioneer of applied nuclear physics. He was also a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Vienna.
Weyßer is still a common surname all over Germany today. Because of the name's original meaning of "white-haired," many people who bear this surname are often thought of as being wise and experienced. Often, it is a sign of respect to refer to someone with the last name Weyßer as "Herr/Frau Weyßer," meaning "Mister/Miss Weyßer" in German.
Order DNA origin analysisWeyßer: Where does the name Weyßer come from?
The last name Weyßer is most commonly found in Germany today. Weyßer is a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from a person's given name. It is most commonly derived from the Weyßer family of Bavaria, who were originally from the region of Swabia.
The Weyßer family were prominent landowners, merchants, and tradesmen of Bavaria in the 1500s. The family's influence spread across Europe and other parts of the world as members of the family went on to become prominent politicians, academics, and merchants.
The Weyßer family name is still seen throughout Bavaria today in towns like Forchheim, Heidenheim, and Rosenheim. In those localities, the surname is also used in combination with names such as Bauer (farmer) and Meyer (merchant).
Today, the Weyßer surname is also seen in Austria and other parts of Germany.
Outside of Germany, the Weyßer surname is also found in parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada. Those living with this name in other countries may have traveled there at some point in their family's history, or may have had ancestors who did so.
All together, the Weyßer surname is still a common one, and is found in many localities in Germany and beyond.
Variations of the surname Weyßer
The surname Weyßer, which is German in origin, is also known by a variety of variant spellings and surnames. The surname of Weyßer can be spelled Weisser, Weiser, Wyser, and Weeser. It can also be found as variants Weyss, Weysser, Weiserr, Weyßar, and Weisse.
The surname of Weyßer is an habitational name, taken on by those who lived in an area known as Wiesen, which is derived from the German word wiese, which means meadow. Consequently, the full form of the surname would be von der Wiese, or “from the meadow”.
As the surname became standardized, variations such as Weyßar and Weise took on while anglicized forms emerged as spellings were adapted to language use in different countries. Weisser, Weiser, Weeser, and Weiserr are common English spellings of the surname, while Weysser is a Dutch form and Wysser is a Swiss form of the name.
Additionally, the surname Weyßer may have been changed to related surnames such as Weis, Wis, Wiese, Wiser, Weisz, Weishaupt, Weischsel, and other names associated with the meadow, where the surname first originated.
In conclusion, the surname Weyßer is known by numerous variants, spellings, and related surnames. These variations reflect a range of adaptations to language use in different countries, as well as the origin of the name, which derived from an area known as Wiesen, a German word meaning meadow.
Famous people with the name Weyßer
- Franz Weyßer (1894-1979), German World War I fighter ace and winner of the Iron Cross.
- Thomas Weyßer (born 1978), German luger and Olympic medalist.
- Patricia Weyßer (born 1991), German slalom canoeist and European Junior Champion.
- Michael Weyßer (born 1984), former German footballer and goalkeeper.
- Johanna Weyßer (born 1983), German heptathlete and long jumper.
- Christoph Weyßer (born 1969), German basketball player, Olympic silver medalist and World Champion.
- Thorsten Weyßer (born 1967), German shot putter and Olympic medalist.
- Katja Weyßer (born 1985), German rhythmic gymnast and Olympic bronze medalist.
- Sylvia Weyßer (born 1967), German writer and journalist.
- Franziska Weyßer (born 1971), German television actress.