Surname Wedekindt - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wedekindt: What does the surname Wedekindt mean?
The last name Wedekindt is likely of German origin, with the literal meaning of “Bear’s child” or “Wehrkind”. The root “wehr” originates from the Old High German “weri”, meaning either “defence” or “guard”, while “kind” derived from the Old Germanic “kindo”, meaning “child. Put together, the surname Wedekindt essentially signifies a “guard’s child” or in other words, a child bearing the same surname as a guard.
The surname Wedekindt may then point at a profession that was quite popular in Europe in the Middle Ages, that is- a guard. Although there is a vast array of interpretations, some experts interpret the surname to mean “the bear”. Due to the factual animal behavior of protecting its offspring, the surname may be used to symbolize a watchful guardian as well.
In spite of its ancient origin, the surname is still quite popular in Germany today. A genealogical map of Germany shows the darker areas standing for the places where the name is most frequent and about 1,500 bearers of the last name living in Germany today. In the United States, there are about 1,000 people bearing the name Wedekindt.
Order DNA origin analysisWedekindt: Where does the name Wedekindt come from?
The surname Wedekindt is a German surname, and is still relatively common in Germany. Within Germany, it is most frequently found in the northern part of the country, including the states of Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt. The frequency of the name becomes more scarce as one moves away from these northern German states.
Wedekindt is also commonly found in many of the countries that were historically under the control of the German Empire. These countries, including Poland, Hungary, Denmark, Romania, and Czechia, have populations with a wide variety of German surnames.
Beyond Europe, Wedekindt is a rarer surname but can still be found in small pockets of some countries. For example, compared to Germany, Wedekindt is much rarer in the United States. However, if one looks closely, there are individuals with the surname living in large American cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.
Wedekindt may not be the most common of surnames worldwide, but it is still heavily present in Germany and the surrounding countries that make up the Germanic culture. As such, the surname is alive, and individuals with the surname Wedekindt can be found in the many of the countries mentioned above, although in much lower frequency.
Variations of the surname Wedekindt
The Wedekindt surname is of German origin and is believed to have been derived from the given name Wedego. Over the centuries, the Wedekindt name has taken on several variations, including Wedeking, Weddeke, Wedecke, Vegeke, Wegeking, Wegedeke, Wodeken, and Wedeke.
The Wedekindt surname can be spelled differently depending on the country of origin. In American and Canadian records, the spelling often becomes Wedeking, Wadeking, Weddeking, and Wedekingg. In European records, the most common spellings are Wedekind, Wedekunt, Wedeking, and Wedekingk.
Variations of the Wedekindt surname has also been used interchangeably in various regions. For example, in Germany the Wedekindt name is sometimes seen as Vegeke, Wedingk, Wegkint, or Wedancks. In Polish records, the Wedekindt name is sometimes seen as Wedecke, Wiedeck or Wiedecke. In Russian records, the Wedekindt name is sometimes seen as Vedelkin or Vetelkin.
Surnames related to Wedekindt include Wedewer, Wedevard, Wedgen, Wegert, Wiedegand, Wiedemann, and Woschantal. All of these surnames have the same origin, the given name Wedego, and while surnames like Wedeking, Wedgen, and Wegert are particularly similar to Wedekindt, other variations may be more distant relatives.
Famous people with the name Wedekindt
- Frank Wedekind, a German playwright and poet known for his works in the Naturalism and Expressionist movements.
- Wilm Wedekindt, a German writer and film maker famous for his speculative fiction literary works.
- Lauren Wedekindt, an American-Canadian actress and singer known for her roles in television and film.
- Kade Wedekindt, an American musician and artist best known as the frontman of Kade Wedekindt and the Shudders.
- Alexander Wedekindt, a German writer and director known for his contributions to theatre and film.
- Elisabeth Wedekindt, an Austrian psychotherapist and author focusing on child and family therapy and education.
- Hans Wedekindt, a German scholar of Ancient Greek and Latin focussing on philology and metaphorical elements in literature.
- Anke Wedekindt, a German sprinter and hurdler as well as a three time Olympic medalist.
- Rob Wedekindt, an American musician and guitarist of the band The Zombies.
- Max Wedekindt, a German photographer known for his landscape and portrait photographs.