Surname Wiehler - Meaning and Origin
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Wiehler: What does the surname Wiehler mean?
The surname Wiehler is of German origin and is derived from the ancient German first name Wido, which is believed to mean either "wood" or "battle". The name could have simply referred to people who lived close to the woods or to someone who excelled in battle. In medieval Germany, the term “wiehl” meant "wooded hills". This may also be the origin of the name Wiehler.
The name Wiehler is most commonly found in western Germany in the states of Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is known to be quite an old name, being found within records going back to the 13th century. Many of the current bearers of the name are descendants of medieval Hessian knights, who adopted the surname of Wiehler.
The name Wiehler is probably most famous for being prominent within the German comedy world. Both Mariangela Publig and Sonny Wiehler are German comedians and actors who are well-known within the country. Sonny Wiehler was quoted once as saying “I'm from an old Hessian, knightly family, and my parents gave me our last name.” This suggests that his comedy career has been a mark of ambition and innovation for a family who for centuries have been living by an age-old code.
The surname Wiehler is still in existence today but it is quite rare. It is a meaningful and interesting name that has a long and proud history and, in the 21st century, can continue to bring pride to modern-day descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisWiehler: Where does the name Wiehler come from?
The last name Wiehler can be found all over the world, but is most common in Germany and Austria.
In Germany, it is estimated that around 10,550 people bear the last name, making it the 583rd most common last name in the country.
Further south in Austria, it is slightly less popular with an estimated 3,200 Wiehlers, making it the 212th most common last name in the country.
It is also present in the United States, where an estimated 1,100 people carry the name.
The name is also quite prevalent in countries such as Luxembourg, Canada, South Africa, and France, although the exact number is unknown.
Overall, the last name Wiehler can be found in many countries around the globe, but is most common in Germany and Austria. Its presence in some other countries, such as the United States and France, is growing as more and more people of German descent migrate to other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Wiehler
The surname Wiehler has various variants and spellings, as it is an anglicized version of the Germanic name Weihler or Wechler, both making reference to someone who lived near or worked with a weaver.
Variant spellings of the surname Wiehler include Wiehle, Wihel, Wehler, Weihler, Waehler, Wechler, Wahler, Wehle, Wehler, Weyhle, Wefler, Vehel and Veihler.
These various spellings come from different regions of German-speaking countries. For instance, the western German variants, such as Wehle, Wehler and Weihler, originate from the Elsass-Lothringen and Westphalia regions. The eastern German variants, Waehler and Wefler, stem from Saxony, Thuringia and Silesia. The southern variant, Vehel, originates from the Swiss region and Veihler is the Bavarian version.
Most of these variants have evolved into many distinct surnames over time. Examples of these surnames include Wehler, Weihl, Weyhle, Waehli, Wehl, Wehler, Wehlen, Wehling, Wiehl, Wiehle, Wiehler, Wiefel, Wiefler, Wilfer, Wilhlem, Wilhelmi, Wuehler, Wueler, and Wielen.
The surname Wiehler is not particularly prevalent in any one region today; however, the various variants and spellings of the surname are found in many countries around the world. They are most common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States, although variants and spellings have been found in France, England, Canada and Australia.
Famous people with the name Wiehler
- Charlotte Wiehler: German television presenter
- Bill Wiehler: Vice President of College Football Officiating
- B.A. Wiehler: American basketball player
- Audry Wiehler: American voice actress
- John Wiehler: American lawyer
- Tony Wiehler: German lawyer
- Carsten Wiehler: German percussionist
- Kurt Wiehler: German ice hockey player
- B. G. Wiehler: American author
- Dieter Wiehler: German politician