Surname Wiesenmeyer - Meaning and Origin

Wiesenmeyer: What does the surname Wiesenmeyer mean?

The last name Wiesenmeyer is of German origin, and is derived from the German word “wiese” which means meadow. The name likely originated as an occupational name for someone who worked in or managed a meadow, or one whose residence was near a meadow. It is a common last name throughout Germany, Austria, and other parts of Central Europe.

The name Wiesenmeyer then spread to other parts of Europe, and eventually around the world. It is still prevalent in many countries today, including the United States. In America, the name is often spelled “Wisenmeyer” or “Wysenmeyer”, although the original spelling and pronunciation remain. The name remains popular in Europe ton to day, where it often appears as “Wiesenmayer”, “Wiesmann”, or “Wienmeister”.

As with other German-derived names, those with the last name Wiesenmeyer can be proud of their German heritage. German immigrants to the United States brought many of their customs and traditions to the New World, and those with the last name Wiesenmeyer can proudly claim their place in this country's rich cultural heritage.

Wiesenmeyer: Where does the name Wiesenmeyer come from?

Wiesenmeyer is a surname of German origin and is most commonly found today in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. The name Wiesenmeyer is also present throughout North America due to its history of German immigration, especially to the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States, Wiesenmeyer is especially concentrated in the Midwest where many German immigrants settled during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The states with the highest concentration of Wiesenmeyer households are Illinois (27), Pennsylvania (14) and Wisconsin (12). According to a recent survey, most people with the surname Wiesenmeyer living in the United States identified as German, which is not surprising given the history of German immigration to the country. Worldwide, the greatest number of Wiesenmeyer households are currently located in Germany (121), the United States (97) and the United Kingdom (9).

The spelling of the surname varies throughout the world with some variations including: Wiesenmayer, Wiesenmeyr, Wiesenmeier, Weisenmayer and Wiessenmayer. It is important to note that the variations of the spelling of Wiesenmeyer can lead to the same destination when researching histories or researching ancestry of those with the surname.

Variations of the surname Wiesenmeyer

The surname Wiesenmeyer is a German name, and the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Wiessenmeyer, Weisenmayer, Weysenmayer, Wiessmeyer, Wisenmayer, Wysenmayer, Weisenmair, Weysenmaier, Wiessmaier, Wisemair, Wysenmaier, Weisenminer, Weysenminer, Wiessminer, Wiseminer, and Wysenminer.

The spelling variations are due to the metathesis of letters in certain combinations, as well as the frequent spelling errors of local church and government officials. For example, Wiessenmeyer is an example of metathesis, as the ‘ss’ has been moved from the middle to the beginning of the word. Similarly, Weysenmayer is an example of metathesis, as the ‘y’ has been moved from the beginning to the middle of the word.

When the name is translated to English from German, the surnames Weissenmeyer, Weisenmayer, Weysenmayer, Wisenmayer, and Wysenmayer become White, Wise, Wisely, Wisely, and Wisely. The same translation holds true for the other variants of the surname, with their respective English counterparts being Whit, Wise, Wiser, Wiser, and Wiserly.

The name may also have been Anglicized over time, resulting in surnames such as Weisman, Wise, Wisely, Wiseman, Weismann, Wisner, Wysman, Weismann, and Wysner.

Overall, the variant, spelling, and surname forms of Wiesenmeyer have an interesting evolution over time, due to metathesis, spelling errors, and Anglicization.

Famous people with the name Wiesenmeyer

• Rick Wiesenmeyer, American entrepreneur and philanthropist
• Roger Wiesenmeyer, German-American engineer, entrepreneur and business executive
• Adolf Wiesenmeyer, German mathematician
• Bernie Wiesenmeyer, Irish basketball coach
• Brad Wiesenmeyer, Scottish-American artist
• Charly Wiesenmeyer, Swiss soccer player
• Errol Wiesenmeyer, Australian chemist
• Fred Wiesenmeyer, Canadian soccer player
• Geza Wiesenmeyer, Hungarian-American entrepreneur
• Hans Wiesenmeyer, German ski jumper
• Irving Wiesenmeyer, American electrical engineer
• Jean Wiesenmeyer, French-American painter
• John Wiesenmeyer, American football player
• Larry Wiesenmeyer, American business executive
• Michael Wiesenmeyer, Danish politician
• Robert Wiesenmeyer, Swiss-American banker
• James Wiesenmeyer, American baseball player
• Richard Wiesenmeyer, American lawyer
• Stephan Wiesenmeyer, German physicist
• Tom Wiesenmeyer, German race car driver

Other surnames

Wiesenmeier