Surname Wigbrand - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wigbrand: What does the surname Wigbrand mean?
The last name Wigbrand is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German words 'wig' and 'brand' meaning 'battle' and 'sword.'
The surname is likely to have been adopted by a family who had a ancestor who was either a part of a military regiment, or a soldier who was involved in many battles. It suggests that the person who adopted the surname was brave, and had a strong connection to the military.
The first recorded use of the name was in 1297, when a certain Petrus Wigbrand was listed in documents in Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. The last name became prevalent in Germany during the 13th century, likely due to the growth of the country's military and the site of many battles taking place.
Today, Wigbrand is a notably common last name. In 2014, it was the 120th most common name in Germany, and is also popular in other countries including France, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Overall, the last name Wigbrand is an apt name with a strong connection to the military, derived from language native to Germany that is still prevalent today.
Order DNA origin analysisWigbrand: Where does the name Wigbrand come from?
The last name Wigbrand is most commonly found in Europe and the United States. In Europe, the Wigbrand family is most commonly found in Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Belarus. In Germany it is the 115th most common surname, and in Poland it is the 181st most popular last name.
In the United States, Wigbrand is primarily associated with descendants of German immigrants who arrived in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Today, the Wigbrand name is found primarily in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and to a lesser degree in other parts of the U.S. Beyond the U.S., the name has spread throughout the Western Hemisphere, with descendants in Canada, Argentina, and Brazil.
The Wigbrand family is one of many Germanic surnames that descend from patronyms, which are names derived from the name of one’s father or other ancestor. The Wigbrand surname originates from the Teutonic first name Wigbald. In German, “wig” means “battle” and “bald” means “brave.” Thus, the literal translation of Wigbrand would be “Brave in Battle.” The literal meaning of the name may be a clue to the family’s origin story.
Variations of the surname Wigbrand
The surname Wigbrand has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname are Wigbund, Wigbond, Wigand (German), Weekebrand (Dutch), Wachtnbrand (German), Vachtbrand (Dutch), and Vigfússon (Icelandic). In some cases, Wigbrand can even appear as a first name due to its roots as a patronymic surname.
Other variants derive from the Dutch pronounciations of Wigbrand such as Wiegbond, Wibbrand, Wygbond, Wygbrand, and Wygveld. Variants of the old German spelling include Wechtbrand, Wachtbrand, Wectbund, Wechtbund, Wechtbunnd, and Wechebund.
The spelling variants of the surname are even found across Europe and North America in various iterations. Variations from Eastern Europe include Vigfússon, Vigfusson (Icelandic), Vektbrandt (Polish), Wigforss (Swedish), and Wegfurd (Hungarian). Variants of the surname found in North America include Wycoff, Wijkbrandt, Wegybrandt, Wieckhaven, and Wikoff.
The Wigbrand surname has many different spellings, but it is generally accepted that the originals of all these variants is the same, with a lineage traceable back to Germanic roots.
Famous people with the name Wigbrand
- Sammy Wigbrand (1919–2001): Dutch singer and composer.
- Joseph Wigbrand (1879-1946) ~ Polish actor.
- Max Wigbrand (1881-1944) ~ Polish pianist and conductor
- Abraham Wigbrand (1880-1946) ~ Polish polka musician.
- Luba Wigbrand (1917–2004) ~ Soviet Jewish actress and novelist.
- Ernst Wigbrand (1913: 1998) ~ Austrian composer, organist, and musicologist.
- Harry Wigbrand (1912: 2001) ~ American-born British Zionist and political activist.
- Gerald Wigbrand (1917–1974) ~ British rabbi and educator.
- Michael Wigbrand (1906–1997) ~ Russian-born British architect.
- David Wigbrand ~ English financier and philanthropist.