Surname Wied - Meaning and Origin
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Wied: What does the surname Wied mean?
The last name Wied is a German surname, derived from the Germanic word for "meadow". The Wied family likely originally occupied a rural area, and the name indicates that their home was likely in a meadow with a rolling landscape surrounded by fields and farms. This may account for the popularity of the name in the German-speaking areas of Europe, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Today, there are several variations of the Wied surname, such as Weid, Weide, Wiede and Wyedt. These names bear similar meanings, signifying a location near a meadow, are commonly found in regions such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The Wied name is sometimes found in combination with other names, forming double surnames like Klaussner-Wied, Steiner-Wied or Bayer-Wied, suggesting that the family members may have originated from those areas.
The Wied name is also found among members of an old Austrian aristocratic family named Wied-Runkel, which descended from the eleventh century dynasty of Wied-Neuwied.
Overall, the last name Wied carries a meaning of residing in a meadow or pastoral area, and is linked to rural German-speaking areas and old Austrian aristocratic families.
Order DNA origin analysisWied: Where does the name Wied come from?
The last name Wied is a German surname which is most commonly found in Germany today. It is also seen in Austria and Switzerland, as well as countries with strong migrations from these areas such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil.
It is believed that the name originated in the German state of Bavaria, and can trace its roots back to the 1300s. The oldest recorded bearer of the name was Henricus de Wiede, who was listed in a magazine in 1321.
The meaning of the name is derived from the middle High German word “wiede”, which is related to the English word “wide”. This indicates that the name is likely associated with expansive land holdings, or was a descriptive term for the area where the first bearer of the name lived.
More recently, members of the Wied family have been active in politics, business, and the military. Karlheinz Wied, for example, was an Admiral in the German Navy during World War II, while Helmut Wied was the mayor of Mainz in the mid-twentieth century.
Today, the last name Wied is not especially common in most countries outside of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is found primarily in major German cities, and is more likely to be seen in rural areas such as Bavaria and the Black Forest.
Variations of the surname Wied
The surname Wied is of German origin, and its variants, spellings, and associated surnames can vary from region to region and country to country. Among the variants directly derived from the original spelling, there is Wiede, Wid, Widt, Wyte and Wiete. However, variants with slight changes in the first letter such as Reed, Veid, Bieb, and Viet are also common.
In areas of German-speaking Europe, the surname Wied is broadly associated with the Wied River and its tributaries, which are located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. As a result, additional surnames closely associated with this area include Weied, Weid, Weyde, Weide, Waid, Vait, and Waidt, all of which are derived from the Wied River. Of these, Weid and Weyde were especially prominent in the region during the early to late 18th centuries.
In terms of North American immigrants, the surname Wied is actually very rare and is primarily found in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. The more common spelling of Weid has also been reported across other states within the US and Canada.
Overall, the surname Wied is surprisingly rare and its variants, spellings, and associated surnames can differ drastically from one region to another. However, the version that is most predominantly reported across Germany is Wied, while its derivatives, Weid and Weyde, were especially prominent in the early to late 18th centuries.
Famous people with the name Wied
- Riccardo Wiedemann: German football coach, former professional footballer and head of sports at FC Crvena Zvezda.
- Willem Wied: Dutch orthopedist and physical therapist.
- Olivier Wied: Swiss rower who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Matthia Wied: Austrian cross-country skier who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Marius Wied: German bobsledder who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Katherina Wied: German swimmer who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Fabian Wied: German freestyle skier who competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Jan-Hendrik Wied: German former ski jumper who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Ricarda Wied: German alpine skier who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
- Maja Wied: German skater who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.