Surname Wiehage - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wiehage: What does the surname Wiehage mean?
The last name Wiehage is believed to have originated from an area in western Germany known as Westphalia. Its roots can be traced back to a place called Wehage, indicating that the original Wiehage family were early settlers of this area. The root of this name is derived from the Middle High German word "wihag" meaning "a forest clearing or meadow".
The name Wiehage soon spread throughout Germany and eventually made its way to the Americas, where the family name took on various spellings due to the many dialects and pronunciations of the time.
The Wiehage family is a typical example of a German surname, combining many elements from the Middle High German language. The "W" sound at the beginning is based on the old Germanic word "wea" meaning "pear tree" or "forest", while the "hage" portion is derived from the German word "hag" meaning "enclosed meadow".
The meaning behind the Wiehage name is reflective of a deep connection to the land and culture of the forested hills and valleys of Westphalia. As a result, many within the Wiehage line claim to possess a spiritual connection to the area, having an appreciation and respect for their ancestral homeland and its unique culture.
Order DNA origin analysisWiehage: Where does the name Wiehage come from?
The surname Wiehage is a German surname. It is of locational origin, derived from a place that called itself with the same or a similar name. Today, the last name Wiehage is most common in northwestern Germany, with some of the highest concentrations in the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. The Westphalian city of Osnabrück, on the Dutch border, is home to many Wiehages, as well as the region of Eastern Westphalia and Niedersachsen.
Outside of Germany, there are a number of families with the surname Wiehage, primarily located in the United States. The majority of those with the last name Wiehage in the US can be traced back to German immigrants who made the journey to the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They settled mainly in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In recent years, with the rise of global populations and increased migration, the last name has become more widespread in the US.
In other parts of the world lower concentrations of Wiehage can be found in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Denmark, and Canada among other countries. As the diaspora has taken hold, Wiehages have spread across the globe, allowing the name to be associated with many different countries and cultures.
Variations of the surname Wiehage
The surname Wiehage is of German and Dutch origin and is derived from the German name Wiehe, which was used as a personal name to identify a person originating from Wiehe, a town located in Northern Germany. The oldest recorded spelling of the surname is Wihege, which dates back to 1525.
Variations of this surname include Wiehe, Wiehege, Wieheege, Wiehege, Wiegge, Wegge, Veehage, Vehege, Veheegge, Veehage, Veheggge, Wieggee, and Wehege. These variations are mostly found among German and Dutch-speaking populations.
There are versions of Wiehage found in other languages as well, such as the French surname Vihegge, the Spanish surname Viggee and the Italian surname Vigge.
Surnames of similar origin to Wiehage are Wiegraph, Wiemeyer, Wiemers, Wiedemann, Wiederhold, Wiederkehr, and Wiedermyer. These surnames are derived from similar place names and personal names, but are used mainly among German-speaking populations.
Overall, Wiehage is used primarily in the countries of the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. It is a relatively uncommon and ancient surname, although variations of it can be found throughout the German-speaking world.
Famous people with the name Wiehage
- Alexander Wiehage: German entrepreneur and venture capitalist
- Lauren Wiehage: American figure skater
- Mike Wiehage: American football coach and former MVP of the NCAA Division I FCS championship
- Anne Wiehage: Former Captain and current Commander of the Danish Navy
- Christine Wiehage: German academic and advocate for gender equality and human rights
- Stefan Wiehage: German sprinter and Olympic bronze medalist
- Markus Wiehage: German Olympic gold medalist in fencing
- Joey Wiehage: American mixed martial artist
- Axel Wiehage: German politician and a former Member of Parliament
- Eric Wiehage: American film and television actor.