Surname Wiederspan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wiederspan: What does the surname Wiederspan mean?
The last name Wiederspan is German in origin and is an occupational surname. It derives from the German word 'Wieder', meaning again, and 'Span', meaning beam or timber. In the Middle Ages, the timber that helped construct buildings was cut and shaped by craftsmen known as Wiederspanners. This is likely from where the surname originated, as a way to identify these craftsmen by their trade.
The surname is quite rare, both in Germany and elsewhere. It can be attributed to the original family, whose members were among the few at the time to gain recognition for this specialized trade. This compares to surnames such as Schmidt or Schmitt, which were derived from professions that were much more common and widespread.
Today, the Wiederspan family is found mainly in the Rhineland provinces of Germany, as well as some other European countries such as Switzerland and Austria. Those living outside of German-speaking regions may still find the surname spelled at its original form, Weißerspan, or in a variation such as Wiederspahn, Wiederspanner or Wiederpan.
Order DNA origin analysisWiederspan: Where does the name Wiederspan come from?
The last name Wiederspan is a German surname that is most commonly found amongst German-speaking countries. Recordings of the surname Wiederspan date back to the late 16th century, with the earliest recorded spelling being the christening of a Hans Wiederspan in 1593 in Darmstadt, Germany.
Today, the Wiederspan name is primarily concentrated in the Northern part of Germany, with the greatest number of individuals having the surname residing in counties such as Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Berlin. This is in line with the original city of origin, as the two grandest cities of Lower Saxony and Brandenburg are Darmstadt and Frankfurt, the two cities that this surname is documented to have originated from.
The surname Wiederspan also has a growing presence in Germany’s bordering nations, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Records of significant numbers of individuals surnamed Wiederspan in these countries appear from the mid-19th century onwards. As such, the historical and cultural ties between Germany and its neighbouring countries suggests that the surname could be said to have a much wider presence than just the German-speaking countries.
Overall, though the surname Wiederspan is not particularly common in the present day, its prevalence is certainly noticeable in the German-speaking countries of Europe, and according to records, its presence in the neighbouring Germanic countries appears to have an increasing trend.
Variations of the surname Wiederspan
The surname Wiederspan is probably of German origin, first appearing in documents during the Medieval period. It appears that a major branch of the Wiederspan family was first found in the Northern area of the German state, in a region known as Westphalia.
Variants of the name include Wiederspan, Wederspanne, Wieder, Weider and Wiederkehr. Spelling variations of the name include Wiederspahn, Weiderspehn, Wiederspehn, Widerspanne, Wiederspanne, Wiederkehr and many more.
Surnames of the same origin include Wederkehr, Wiederhold and Weißer.
Although uncommon today, the Wiederspan family name was once a prominent name in European society. Early records can be found of a Wilhelm Wiederspan in the 13th century in the city of Dresden in Saxony, Germany. Another early record was that of a Johann Wiederspan, who was born in Westphalia in 1377. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Wiederspan surname spread and gained a reputation for their contributions to society. Notable members of the family name include Martin Wiederspan, who was a mayor of Lippstadt in Westphalia during the 1600s and Wilhelm Wiederspan, who was a successful banker in 1732.
In modern day, the Wiederspan name is mainly located in northern German regions, such as Westphalia and Saxony. Although not as prominent as it once was in Medieval Europe, the Wiederspan family name is still significant today.
Famous people with the name Wiederspan
- Cory Wiederspan: Cory Wiederspan is an American television director and producer. His credits include Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the MTV Video Music Awards, the Video Games Awards, the Country Music Awards, and more.
- Jonathan Wiederspan: Jonathan Wiederspan is an artist and designer based in New York City. He graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2006. His work has been exhibited in galleries across the US, Europe, and Australia, and he has had solo shows in Madrid and Berlin.
- Michael Wiederspan: Michael Wiederspan is an American film director and producer. He has written and directed several movies for the Lifetime Network, including Death Clique and Perfect Match.
- Alexa Wiederspan: Alexa Wiederspan is an American actress and writer. She is best known for her role in the web series Miss Fortune, the Netflix movie The Perfection, and the Amazon Prime show Upload.
- Tom Wiederspan: Tom Wiederspan is an American communications and media professional. He is the CEO of the company TMW Communications and a co-founder of the online destination 5 Minutes for Mom.