Surname Wowereit - Meaning and Origin
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Wowereit: What does the surname Wowereit mean?
The surname Wowereit is of German origin, and is believed to derive from the German word “woe” meaning “grief” or “sadness”. This could suggest that Wowereit was originally a nickname for a mournful or sad person. This type of surname is quite common across many different countries.
As surnames were often based on the occupation of the person, it could also be that Wowereit was a name to identify someone who was involved in the occupation or trade of weaving. Weaving was one of the major traditional industries in Germany throughout history and weaving was very important for the social and economic development of the area.
The Wowereit family name can be found in many parts of the world today, including Germany and North America. They have strong historical roots in Germany, where the surname can be traced back to the 13th century.
It is thought that the modern form of the surname was created sometime during the 16th century, when the language we now recognize as German became more common. During this time, the spelling of many surnames changed slightly as they were passed down the generations, and also as family members emigrated to different countries.
The Wowereit surname is associated with individuals who possess a deep reverence for their cultural history and a strong sense of identity with their German roots. Even today, the surname can be used to identify members of the same family line, and to recognize the legacy of the past.
Order DNA origin analysisWowereit: Where does the name Wowereit come from?
The last name Wowereit is found mainly in Germany, particularly in the northeast part of the country. The current city mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, is a good example of a public figure with this last name. While this last name is not especially common outside of Germany, there may be some other people with the name Wowereit scattered around the world.
In Germany, the surname Wowereit has been in existence since at least the early 19th century. The earliest known recording of the name was found in 1835 in the city of Prenzlau in Brandenburg, Germany. In the Prenzlau archives, there were records of Christoph Wowereit (born in 1789 in Prenzlau).
The surname is most likely of Polish origin, entering Germany during the influx of Polish people in the mid-1800s. In Poland, the surname was found most often in the region of Gorzów to the west of Berlin, as well as Warsaw in the east.
While the surname likely originated in Poland, records indicate that the majority of present-day Wowereit’s are located in the northeast part of Germany. According to the German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom, the Wowereit surname is most often found in the states of Brandenburg, Berlin, Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. According to the same report, fewer than 1,000 people in Germany are registered with the Wowereit surname.
Since the surname is not especially common, those with the last name Wowereit may be the last of a long line of people who originally traveled to Germany from Poland.
Variations of the surname Wowereit
Wowereit is a German surname, derived from the Low German language "Wowereit" meaning blessedness, wellbeing. The variants of this surname include Woiwode, Woiwod, Woywode, Woiwode, Woywolde, Woywood, Woywoode, Woewoede, Woewoode, Woweoet, Woweoede, Woywoode, Woywode, Woywolde, Woyet, Woyed, Waklweit and Waklweit. All of these variants have the same origin and meaning, however, have adopt dialectal differences in spelling.
The surname Wowereit is also found in slightly altered spellings, including Woiwerit, Woiwerith, Woiwerid, Woiwerde, Woiwoid, Woiwoidt, Woiwoyt and Woiwoide. All of these spellings have the same Low German origin and meaning of blessedness and wellbeing.
Additionally, some of the few surnames found to have the same origin as the surname Wowereit are Woiwode, Woiwoild, Woiwolde, Woywoide, Woewoede, Woewoode, Waklweit, Woiwerid, Woiwerde, Woiwoid, Woiwoidt, Woiwoyt and Woiwoide.
Although spelled differently, these surnames are all derived from the same Low German origin, however, vary geographically due to their dialectal differences. In general, the surname Wowereit has remained very consistent in spelling from the early 1800s to the present day.
Famous people with the name Wowereit
- Klaus Wowereit: German politician and former Governing Mayor of Berlin from 2001-2014.
- Daniela Renno Wowereit: Brazilian lawyer and film producer, former deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro.
- Axel Wowereit: German soccer player for FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin.
- Olaf Wowereit: German sculptor.
- Erich Kästner: German writer known for his works such as "Emil and the Detectives", "The Little Town Where Time Stood Still" and "The Flying Classroom"
- Andreas Wowereit: German actor known for his roles in the television series "Verbotene Liebe" and "The Greenhouse".
- Hubert Wowereit: German lawyer and professor from the Berlin School of Economics and Law.
- Wilhelm Wowereit: German geographer and mapmaker of the nineteenth century.
- Graham Wowereit: British actor, known for his roles in "Doctor Who" and "The Bill".
- Elisabeth Wowereit: German actress, best known for her role in "Soft Tissues".
Other surnames
Comments or additions to the name "Wowereit"
22.06.2024
This article is all false. It's not of German origin.
East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) name meaning "squirrel", from Old Prussian wowere and Lithuanian voveraite (which, apart from "squirrel", also means "chanterelle").
As a surname, it was a nickname given to young men working in beekeeping: in the old days, bees were kept in "apiaries" in pine trees about five meters above the ground and the young beekeeper had to climb up the tree to collect the honey - like a squirrel that climbs up trees.