Surname Wiegel - Meaning and Origin

Wiegel: What does the surname Wiegel mean?

The last name Wiegel is of German origin and generally referred to as a topographic name for someone who lived near a fortification wall or a location near a road or highway. The literal meaning of the term Wiegel is "a wall or rampart".

In medieval times, ramparts and walls were often built around important structures such as churches and city centers as a form of defense. The name can also be traced back to the Middle Ages in Central Europe, where the Wiegel family resided in a settlement near a fortification wall.

The name Wiegel is also thought to have roots in northern Germany, where it was derived from the Old German word "wigele" meaning willow. This suggests the family was well established in the region and associated with the area. The family is further linked to the German city of Wiegel, which was originally home to the Wiegel family.

In the United States, the Wiegel surname has become an increasingly popular one, as many German immigrants embraced a new life in America. As such, the Wiegel family has spread across several states and countries, ensuring the name lives on in many generations to come.

Wiegel: Where does the name Wiegel come from?

The last name Wiegel is most commonly seen in Germany, where it is derived from the German words “Wie” (forest) and “Gel” (game). It is found throughout the German-speaking world, with the highest concentration of the name being in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Outside of Germany, Wiegel is also commonly found among descendants of German immigrants in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. In the United States, the name is distributed most heavily in the Midwest, particularly in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In Canada, Wiegel is relatively rare but can be found in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. In Australia, it is relatively uncommon and is primarily found in the states of Queensland and New South Wales. In Brazil, the name is primarily found in the state of Santa Catarina.

Wiegel is one of the many surnames stemming from German ancestry, especially of the Middle Ages. It’s a name that holds a great deal of history, with many descendants scattered throughout the world, from the small towns of Germany to the bustling cities of the Americas.

Variations of the surname Wiegel

Wiegel is an ancient German surname derived from the Middle High German name “Wigel”, meaning “forest” or “cleared land”. As the name Wiegel is particularly common in Germany, Germany-based variants of this surname include Weigel, Weigle, Weigel, Weigle, Wiegal, Wiegelmann, Weigelt, Weigelth, and Weigelt. In the Netherlands, Wiegel is also sometimes written as Weijgel, Weigel, and Weigle. In the Czech Republic, a variant of the name is Viegel. In Switzerland, some variants of Wiegel are Vogel, Veigel, Wiegl, Wigal, and Wügel. In some rare cases, immigrants to America may have changed the spelling of the name upon reaching the United States, for example Anglicizing the name to Weigle or Wiggles.

The surname Wiegel can also take on different forms depending on the language of the country in which it is found. In Poland, for example, the name is often spelled as Wygiel or Wigiel. Likewise, in Hungary, Wiegel is spelled Wegel or Wiegel, and in Russia it is often spelled with a Cyrillic spelling of Wегель or Вегель.

As is the case with many German surnames, Wiegel also has many patronymic variants, such as Wiegelmann and Weigelt. It can also form part of a combo surname, which is when the surname of one of the spouses is added to the primary surname to create a unique double surname. Examples of combo surnames related to Wiegel include Becker-Wiegel and Klaas-Wiegel.

Overall, the surname Wiegel has numerous regional variants and spellings, and these variants are often determined by the region and language of the country in which it is found.

Famous people with the name Wiegel

• Dick Wiegel: Former American politician who served in the Wisconsin Senate.
• Annika Wiegel: German model and television personality.
• Paul Wiegel: Dutch composer and organist.
• Gerald Wiegel: American artist and professor of Fine Arts.
• Connie Wiegel: Retired American professional golfer.
• Bob Wiegel: American semi-professional soccer player.
• Werner Wiegel: German sprint canoeist who competed in the early 1960s.
• Hermann Wiegel: German classical archaeologist and explorer.
• Peter Wiegel: German footballer who played in the German Amateur National League.
• Desiderius Wiegel: Dutch Golden Age engraver.
• Cheryl Wiegel: American politician and former minority leader of the Delaware House of Representatives.
• Chris Wiegel: American educator and politician.
• Thorsten Wiegel: German football midfielder who plays for SV Meppen.
• Mariska Wiegel: Dutch journalist and documentary filmmaker.
• Sharla Wiegel: American actress and comedienne.
• Rezzo Wiegel: German skating photographer and journalist acknowledged for his reportage in the mid-1990s.
• Rudie Wiegel: Dutch entrepreneur and restauranteur.
• Jürgen Wiegel: German ski jumper and Olympic bronze medalist.
• Friedhelm Wiegel: German security expert and journalist.
• Klaas Wiegel: Dutch politician who represented the Freedom Party in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament.

Other surnames

WiegelmannWiegelsWiegendWiegentWiegerWiegerichWiegeringWiegersWiegertWiegerth