Surname Wedell - Meaning and Origin

Wedell: What does the surname Wedell mean?

The surname Wedell is a habitational name derived from the German town of Wedel. The town's name is believed to derive from the Danish word vejle, which means ferry. The town was known for its ferry service in the 15th century, and this is likely the origin of the surname.

Wedell is also a Danish, Danish-American, and historically German surname. In some cases, Wedell can be an Americanized version of the German surname Wedelman, in which case the name would mean “man from Wedel”. Wedell is also another surname derived from the German town of Wedel. It is likely derived from the German word wendeln, which means to curve or spiral. This is likely due to the shape of the river in Wedel, which has many curves in it.

In terms of distribution, Wedell is mainly a Danish-American surname. It is most common in the Midwest, including Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. Wedell is also found in smaller numbers throughout the United States, particularly in California, Texas, and New York. It is a relatively uncommon surname, even in Denmark, and is usually found in small numbers in Germany and other Scandinavian countries.

No matter its origin, the name Wedell is a unique part of some family’s history. To the family’s who bear the name, it is a symbol of their proud heritage and place in history.

Wedell: Where does the name Wedell come from?

The last name Wedell is most commonly found in parts of northern Europe. It is most prevalent in Denmark, where it first emerged in the early 19th century. Wedell is also quite common in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, likely due to emigration from Denmark in recent centuries.

In the United States, Wedell is a somewhat rare last name, but it is most often found in the Midwest and Northeast in states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maryland. It may also show up in the Northwest and elsewhere, but less so.

Wedell is also found in parts of Canada, primarily in Ontario and British Columbia. It is likely that Wedell has been brought to the region by Danish immigrants in the 20th century.

In addition, Wedell is also found in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, though it is not nearly as common as the other nations mentioned. Throughout all of its locations, Wedell is relatively rare, and it does not appear as much on family trees or local surnames.

Variations of the surname Wedell

Surnames derived from the German word "Wedel" are generally surnames most popularly known as Wedell, although the spelling may also vary slightly. Common forms of the surname include Witel, Wedel, Wiedel, Wiedel, Weidel, Wittel, Wettel, Vettel, Videl, Viathel, Vieth, Veith, Vadam, Wedle, Wiedle, Wiedmann, Widmann, Wiedmayer, and Wittmann, among others.

Wedell is a habitational surname derived from places named Wedel in Germany, such as the city of Wedel in Schleswig-Holstein. The place name is derived from the Old High German word “wetel”, meaning “wet meadow”.

Wedell families are known to have lived within Schleswig-Holstein since at least the 12th century, as legacy documents and records, such as land books, have been found during this time period. Many families who used the Wedell surname have since spread out to different regions and countries, including Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and the United States.

Besides the Wedell surname, the other variant forms of the surname are thought to be derived from a variety of different sources, such as personal characteristics, occupations, place names, and nicknames. For example, Wedel could have been derived from the German word “wedeln”, meaning to fan or wave one’s hand or from the name of a geographically related place, and Wiedmann could have been derived from a character from Schleswig-Holstein literature.

Regardless of the spelling, all of the variations of Wedell remain indicative of a common origin.

Famous people with the name Wedell

• Jesper Wedell, Danish entrepreneur and founder of the Wedell-group
• Paul Wedell, American stock car racing competitor
• Emma Wedell, former Danish rugby sevens player
• Sonny Wedell, Danish metal vocalist
• Lilian Wedell, Swedish artist
• Cecil Ramon Wedell, Player of the Montreal Royals baseball team
• Valdemar Andre Wedell, Norwegian artist
• Torsten Wedell, Swedish painter
• William Isaac Wedell, Canadian soldier
• Tom Wedell, American bass guitarist

Other surnames

Wedel