Surname Wezels - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wezels: What does the surname Wezels mean?
The last name Wezels is an occupational name of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word “wezel”, meaning “weasel”. Throughout Dutch history, this surname has been largely associated with people who raised and bred weasels for their fur, which was used in clothing and other goods.
It was also the surname of a clan of pirates operating during the 17th century Dutch Golden Age. This group was renowned for its maritime and naval dominance, attacking Dutch ships and seizing wealthy merchant vessels from Europe.
In more recent times, the name Wezels is sometimes used to refer to someone who is cunning and shrewd. It can also be used to describe someone who is strong-willed and independent.
Overall, the last name Wezels found its way into modern-day Dutch culture through its associations with the raising and breeding of weasels, as well as the clan of pirate during the Dutch Golden Age. Although there is no single interpretation of what this name means, it is often used in a positive light to refer to someone with cunning, shrewdness, and strength of will.
Order DNA origin analysisWezels: Where does the name Wezels come from?
The last name Wezels is primarily found in the Netherlands today. It is quite an uncommon name, and is thought to have originated in the province of North Brabant.
Wezels is a patronymic name, derived from the personal name Wezel or Weze. This name may have been derived from the old Dutch word 'wezel', meaning 'forest-dweller'. It is likely that the people with this name originally hailed from this rural region of the Netherlands.
Currently, the largest concentration of the Wezels surname in the Netherlands is in the city of Eindhoven in North Brabant. This is likely due to its close proximity to the area of origin.
Other cities in the Netherlands with significant Wezels populations include Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Arnhem. The name Wezels is also found in other countries throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Sri Lanka.
The last name Wezels may have been carried across continents through migration and immigration over the centuries, but it continues to remain a rare name in all countries today.
Variations of the surname Wezels
The surname Wezels is thought to have its origin from a Dutch town called Wezeltje, which literally translates to “little weasel” from Dutch language. The surname Wezels can be written in different variants and spellings such as Wezels, Wezel, Wezello, Wezell, Wessels, etc. It is also pronounced differently in different parts of Europe. In Netherlands, it is pronounced as “Vezels” whereas, in France, it is pronounced as “Vezel”.
Apart from Wezels, there are several surnames that are derived from this Dutch town, including Wezeling, Wezemaar, Wezenaar, Wezelmans, Wezeman, Wezep, Wezepad, Wezenberg, Wisels and Wissel. All of these variants and spellings of the surname Wezels share the same origin.
Moreover, there are also several hyphenated names related to Wezels, such as Wezel-de-boer, Wezel-de-Vries, Wezel-van-der-Veen, and Wezel-van-den-Berg. There are also surnames similar to Wezels, which are derived from other towns that are geographically located near Wezeltje. Some of these names include Wesseling, Westelaken, Vessem, Wezepoel, Wezeren and Wesert.
It is important to note that all of these variants and spellings of the surname Wezels, along with the related hyphenated names and similar names, share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Wezels
- Tommy Wezels: Dutch TV personality.
- Sjoerd Wezels: Dutch footballer who currently plays for FC Oss.
- Wouter Wezels: Dutch short track speed skater who competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Justine Wezels: Dutch table tennis player who represented her country at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Christof Wezels: Austrian former ski jumper who competed from 1988 to 1997.
- Arno Wezels: Dutch sprint canoer who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Theo Wezels: Dutch football manager who managed the club Roda JC during the 2015–16 season.
- Kim Wezels: Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Sparta Rotterdam.
- Gijs Wezels: Dutch road racing cyclist who rides for the Koga Cycling Team.
- Piet Wezels: Dutch rally driver who competed at the 1993 World Rally Championship.