Surname Wiegels - Meaning and Origin
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Wiegels: What does the surname Wiegels mean?
The last name Wiegels is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word “wîgele”, which means “small meadow”. The name likely originated from someone who lived in or near such a meadow. It may have also been an occupational name for a farmer or someone who worked on a meadow.
In the Netherlands, Wiegels is typically spelled with a “y” to make it Wyegels, and throughout Europe, the spelling is quite varied, from Weigel, Wiegel, Wiegle, and Weigle, to Weghels, Wiegles, and Weinhuse. It also appears as a form of the old German name Wigel, which means “from the willow”.
Today, the Wiegels name is used by families all over the world. People proudly carry the name and its many different spellings as a sign of respect for their parents, ancestors, and cultures. It holds deep significance to families and a strong sense of family ties, and is seen as a token of their heritage and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisWiegels: Where does the name Wiegels come from?
The last name Wiegels is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Western Europe, with the highest concentrations in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. According to a 2013 survey, the most common place of origin for this surname is Hamburg, in northwestern Germany. In addition to having a strong presence in the Low Countries, Wiegels is found in other countries throughout Europe, including France, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States.
The surname Wiegels is derived from the German word "Wiegen", which refers to a balance or scales used by merchants to weigh goods. This name became popular in Europe as a result of the rise of trade during the Middle Ages, and is thought to have been adopted by merchants who used such scales to weigh goods or by people whose primary job was to work with balances and scales.
In Germany, many variations on the name exist, including Wiegel, Wiegelmann, Wiggin, and Wiggens. In the Netherlands, variants include Wieg, Wiegers, Weiders, and Weigand. In France, the surname is spelled Wieger, and in Austria it is often Wiegent.
The Wiegels are a part of the larger Wiegande family, which is found throughout Europe. This larger family includes many other surnames such as Wiedemaier, Wiedemann, and Weigand. Despite having spread to various countries in Europe and to the United States, the Wiegels today remain primarily concentrated in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, where they first originated.
Variations of the surname Wiegels
The surname Wiegels is derived from the Germanic given name Wiggel, which itself is a short form of a Germanic personal name composed of the elements wig, meaning "battle" and hel meaning "bright, famous". This personal name is often spelled in a variety of ways, including Wiegal, Wieger, Weiger, Wiegel, and Wiegl.
The variations of the Wiegels surname may also vary according to the regional spelling of languages spoken in the area of origin. Variants of the surname include Wiebke, Wieczorek, Wiegand, Wiegmann, Wiegandt, Wieczorkowski, Wieden, and Wiegleb.
Surname spellings may also be added to the surname such as Wiedels, Wigels, Wiegelmann, Wiegenbaum, Wiegelsbacher, Wiegele, and Wiegert.
In addition to the surname variations, Wiegels may also have alternative surnames which originated from the same Germanic name, either from an individual’s full name, nicknames, occupational names, or names that sounded similar phonetically. These other surnames include Wiggin, Wickman, Weigold, Wiggenhauser, Weinberg, and Weigel.
The Wiegels surname is quite rare, with fewer than 500 individuals currently bearing the surname. Therefore, it is possible to trace a family’s lineage through this particular surname, particularly given the variety of surname spellings and spelling variations which originated from the same Germanic name.
Famous people with the name Wiegels
- Joe Wiegels: former professional BMX racer and TV/film stuntman
- Tyler Wiegels: professional volleyball player for North Carolina State University and the USA Beach Volleyball National Team
- Anna Wiegels: German actress
- Christian Wiegels: German actor and TV presenter
- Sonja Wiegels: German journalist, author and women's rights advocate
- John Wiegels: former NFL linebacker for the Houston Oilers
- Cristina Wiegels: Austrian beauty queen and model
- Jeanette Wiegels: Dutch politician
- Alex Wiegels: American baseball pitcher
- Carl Wiegels: German architect and urban planner