Surname Wiedekamm - Meaning and Origin

Wiedekamm: What does the surname Wiedekamm mean?

The last name Wiedekamm is a German surname of nobility that dates back several centuries. It is derived from the German words Wiede or Wiedeke, which means ‘forest’ or ‘woods’, combined with Kamm, which translates as ‘comb’ or ‘ridge’. The two words were used together to form a name that implied the origin of the family - in a forested area or on a ridge in a hill.

The first known record of the surname Wiedekamm dates back to 1244, when a Conrad Wiedekamm is mentioned in a deed of the city of Detmold. This area was located to the north of the German region of Westphalia, and this was most likely where the family originally originated from.

Interestingly, the Wiedekamm family still lives in this area today, and has held its hereditary nobility for more than 600 years. It is currently one of the oldest continuously existing hereditary noble families in Germany, and the family’s coat of arms - featuring a black grapnel on a yellow background - has been known since at least 1537.

The name Wiedekamm continues to be current in modern Germany, with many members of the Wiedekamm family living throughout the country. It is also a frequent name in Germany’s emigration records, with many of the family’s descendants having emigrated to the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Wiedekamm: Where does the name Wiedekamm come from?

The last name Wiedekamm is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a popular German surname, with origins in the region of West Prussia, which is now part of Poland. It can also be found in other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

The surname is derived from the German words “wiede” meaning “meadow” and “kamm” meaning “comb”. This suggests that the name likely refers to a person who lived in or near an area that was known for its meadows.

The surname Wiedekamm today is mostly seen among families of German heritage. It can also be found among other European countries such as the Netherlands and the US, as a result of immigration.

In terms of frequency, the surname is not particularly common. In Germany alone, an estimated 2000 people carry the surname. It is the 122,810th most popular surname in the country, making it the 6559th most common last name 2017 census.

In the US, the name is significantly less common. According to the most recent US census, only 114 people in the US have the last name Wiedekamm. This makes it the 24,447th most common name in the US.

Overall, the surname Wiedekamm is most commonly found in Germany today, as well as other countries in Western Europe and the US, though its prevalence is quite low.

Variations of the surname Wiedekamm

The surname Wiedekamm is a German surname derived from the Middle High German phrase meaning “to bend” or “to meander”. It is most commonly found in areas of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Over the years, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Widacombe, Wudkin, Widitke, Wiederkehr, and Widikam.

Variant spellings of Wiedekamm include Widacombe, Wudkin, Widitke, Wiederkehr, and Widikam. Widacombe is an English variant of the name and is found in many locations in the United States, having been brought there by German settlers.

The closest form to the original surname would be Wiedekamm, but it is most commonly spelled Widacombe in the United States.

Other variants of the name include Wiedekam, Wiedikam, Wiedicom, Widke, Widik, Wiedem, Widij, Widikam, Wiederkehrer, and Wiederkehler. These variants are mostly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The Widikam variant is found mainly in states that were formerly part of the former Soviet Union.

The name can also be regional, having been adapted to the language of the area. Variants such as Willikam, Wilicke, and Wilke (as found in Germany and Austria), Vilikam (as found in Austria) as well as Willicombe, Villicomb, and Willacomb (as found in England) are all versions of the same surname.

Lastly, Wiedekamm can also be found as a patronymic surname, with most variations being Wiedekamen, Wiedekammen, and Wiedekman. All of these variations of the same surname trace back to the same origin.

Famous people with the name Wiedekamm

• Anni Wiedekamm: Actress who starred in TV shows in Germany.
• Gosia Wiedekamm: Artist, designer, and painter based in Munich, Germany.
• Vincent Wiedekamm: German actor and musician.
• Jens Wiedekamm: Former professional footballer, last professional club was Wuppertaler SV Borussia.
• Sebastian Wiedekamm: Producer and director on numerous German films and TV series.
• Gert Wiedekamm: Actor who has starred in a number of TV series and films in Germany.
• Norbert Wiedekamm: German artist, sculptor and poet.
• Christoph Wiedekamm: Professional football player for Fortuna Köln.
• Heinrich Wiedekamm: Bavarian philosopher, theologian, and church historian.
• Erwin Wiedekamm: Engineer of textiles, wood, and construction materials.

Other surnames

Wiedekamp