Surname Wigold - Meaning and Origin
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Wigold: What does the surname Wigold mean?
The last name Wigold is a Germanic surname originating from the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German personal name Wigold, which is composed of the elements ‘wig’ meaning ‘war’ and ‘wald’ meaning ‘rule’. The name could be applied as an occupational name to a war leader or to someone who held authority over an area that was known to be a conflict zone.
Wigold was a fairly common name throughout Germanic-speaking regions of Europe in the Middle Ages, as it was a powerful and well-respected name that signified strength and courage. In its early history, the name was associated with the nobility as it was a common name among the ruling families during the medieval period.
The surname Wigold is an example of a hereditary surname, as it was passed down generation after generation. The hereditary surnames were among the most common surnames in the Middle Ages throughout Germany and surrounding regions, and were kept to distinguish families.
In modern times, the surname Wigold is still quite popular and is found throughout Europe and North America. The surname has evolved over the centuries and can now be found with several variants including Wiggeld, Wigwalt, and Wiegert.
Order DNA origin analysisWigold: Where does the name Wigold come from?
The last name Wigold is most commonly found in Germany today. It is thought to be a variant of the surname Wigand, which is of German origin and derived from a personal name, Wigand. Surnames beginning with ‘Wig’, such as Wigold, are believed to have either originated from this personal name, which was popular during the Middle Ages, or a combination of other personal names such as Wigo, Wigram, Wiggo and Wigget.
The surname Wigold is concentrated around the states Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony, in particular towns such as Uelzen and Norden. It is rarely found outside of Germany and has a low frequency overall.
Instances of the last name Wigold can be found in Germany from as early as 1335, when Wigold, a vassal of the Archbishop of Magdeburg, was mentioned in a contract between the archbishop and the town of Osterwieck. The earliest known bearer of the surname was a certain Birdelinus Wigold who lived in Schöppingen, Westphalia in 1020. It is likely that he was related to the rulers of Winterstein, as records from this time indicate Birdelinus Wigold was made one of their vassals, and the Wigold shield appears on a grave in the Winterstein church.
The Wigold name has since been spread throughout Germany, and in later eras also far beyond its borders. On his deathbed the Prussian minister for finance, Baron Gustav Wigold, bequeathed over half of his fortune to various charities and initiatives, some of which remain active today.
Variations of the surname Wigold
The surname Wigold is an anglicised form of the German name Wiegold. It is derived from the Old German term ‘wig’, meaning ‘fight’, combined with ‘wald’, meaning ‘rule’. The variants of Wigold include Wiegold, Weigold, Weygolt, Wejgolt, Wiegolt, Wigoled, Weiguld, and Wygold.
The spelling variations of the surname Wigold are mainly found in Germany, England, The Netherlands, and Scandinavia. Other spellings include Wigolt, Wigolde, Wykhoed, Wygould, Weigolth, and Wiegold.
The surnames associated with Wigold are Weeke, Weigel, Weigle, Weick, Weikhardt, Weykert, Weyker, Wieck, Weickert, Wyckoff, Wykhuijs, and Wykerd.
The surname Wigold is found primarily in the Prussian region, where it is usually spelled as Wiegold. It is also found in The Netherlands and Denmark. In England, the variant Wigold is primarily found in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
The Wigold surname is rarely found all over the world but is more common in Germany. The spelling variations of the surname can be found in records dating all the way back to the 15th century.
In modern times, the surname Wigold can be found all over the world but is most prevalent in Germany, England, The Netherlands, Scandinavia and the United States.
Famous people with the name Wigold
- Kay Wigold: English film critic and television presenter
- Aden Wigold: Canadian professional soccer goalkeeper
- Jim Wigold: American professional baseball player
- Thomas Wigold: German chess master and seven-time world champion
- Dave Wigold: American sculptor and glassmaker
- John Wigold: British pastel painter
- Louis Wigold: Swiss photographer and co-founder of the famous Wigold Studios
- Edward Wigold: American botanist and professor emeritus at Harvard University
- Jann Wigold: Swedish film actress
- Enzo Wigold: Italian professional basketball player