Surname Wigges - Meaning and Origin
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Wigges: What does the surname Wigges mean?
The last name Wigges is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has several potential meanings. It is most often associated with the words "wick" or "wyke," and could refer to a person who lived near a stream, a tidal inlet, or a wet lowland area where these words were once used. Alternatively, it could refer to a location, such as a small town or village.
It is also possible that Wigges is a variation of Wiggins, which is a derivative of the name "Wigginton." This was another old Anglo-Saxon moniker, meaning "the village by the pasture," or "the homestead near the meadow."
Regardless of its exact origin, the surname Wigges likely provides insight into the family’s place of origin. Most people with this surname are thought to have originated in the Eastern Midlands, an area that once contained several wetlands and small streams as well as plenty of grazing land.
The surname Wigges may also have been taken on by families that moved from a place named Wigges. Similarly, families who moved away from a place named Wigginton may have taken on the surname Wiggins or Wigges, so it is important to do further research on a family's history if they bear this last name.
Order DNA origin analysisWigges: Where does the name Wigges come from?
The last name Wigges is a surname commonly found in northern Germany, specifically the states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Bremen. It is also occasionally seen in Denmark and Sweden. Wigges is thought to be derived from the Middle Low German word "wieke," meaning a creel, basket, or harness.
The name was most likely adopted by someone whose family made such items. It is a patronymic, meaning "son of Wigge," and likely originated as a byname, meaning those who made creels, baskets, or harnesses were called Wigges.
Today, Wigges is still a relatively common surname in northern Germany, though its distribution varies widely. According to 2007 estimates, it was the 1,592nd most common last name, with a total population of 2,644 people bearing the Wigges surname.
It is seldom found outside of Europe. In the United States, the place name most associated with the name Wigges is North Dakota, where a total of 4 people with the surname were reported in the 1990 census. It is insignificant in other parts of the United States and very rare in Canada.
Variations of the surname Wigges
Wigges is a surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old High German word "wig" or "wic" meaning "forest". The variant spellings and surnames of Wigges include: Wiggs, Wiggins, Wicks, Wickes, Wicken, Wiggin, Wigant, Wiganto, Wigand, and Wigemann.
The Wigges surname is believed to have originated from ancient Germanic tribes and clans living in areas adjacent to forests. Consequently, many of the related surnames were likely derived from references to forest inhabitants or populations located near wooded areas. Additionally, the prefix "wig" is also used in many Germanic-language words, such as "wigwam," which could have played a role in the development of the Wigges surname.
In addition to the above variants, there are several other Germanic-language surnames that share elements of the same root word, including the following: Wickenburg, Wieck, Wichelhaus, Wiggers, and Wyckoff. Each of these surnames is believed to have originated from reference to or a connection to a particular forest area or wooded region.
Finally, some of the earliest known bearers of the Wigges surname were found in the historical records of Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium. It is likely that the name was further spread to countries such as the United States, Canada, and other regions of the world by emigration.
Famous people with the name Wigges
- Nathaniel Wigges: American painter & member of the Royal Academy of Art (1758-1825).
- Peder Wigges: Danish landscape painter (1715-1794).
- Joshua Wigges: 18th century German composer (1720-1778).
- Johann Peter Wigges: German poet and archaeologist (1755-1830).
- Anton Wigges: German banking entrepreneur (1821-1909).
- John Wigges: American Puritan settler and military figure (1605-1686).
- Elizabeth Wigges-Werdau: German composer (1737-1816).
- Christoffer Wigges: Danish sculptor (1700-1757).
- Jens Wigges: Danish organist and composer (1683-1747).
- Robert Wigges: English printer and publisher (1559-1622).