Surname Wederich - Meaning and Origin
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Wederich: What does the surname Wederich mean?
The last name Wederich is of German origin and is derived from the root German word “wieder”, which means "again" or "back". It is an occupational surname, derived from the Old High German word “witaere” and is associated with the occupation of an armorer or maker of weapons. This could indicate that this profession was practiced by an individual in past generations of the Wederich family.
The surname probably originated in northern Germany and the Netherlands, where many of the communities have surnames that have roots from this same region. Wederich is grouped into the category of patronymic surnames, which are names derived from the father's given name. It can also be a variant spelling of the more common surname Wederschult.
Today, the surname Wederich is most prevalent in Germany, where it is ranked as the 4,092nd most common family name. It may also be found in other countries such as the United States, Austria, Argentina, Canada, and Australia.
As a patronymic surname, it is a reminder of the pedigree and ancestry of the Wederich family. No matter where the family may live today, the name serves as tie to the past, connecting generations.
Order DNA origin analysisWederich: Where does the name Wederich come from?
The last name Wederich is a German surname originating from northern Germany. It is a relatively common name in the northern states of Germany such as Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. It can also be found in other countries with large German populations, such as Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg.
In the United States, Wederich is more sparsely found given the smaller number of German immigrants in comparison to other countries. It can be found mainly in areas of the Midwest and states with higher German populations such as Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the Pacific Northwest, Wederich is particularly prevalent in areas such as Portland, Oregon and the Seattle-Tacoma region due to the historical connection between these areas and Germany.
Though the last name is not as prominent as it once was, Wederich is still a popular name. By analyzing current census data, it can be seen that Wederich is actually the 824th most common surname in the United States, with over 6,000 individuals sharing the name. It is also seen that the vast majority of people with the Wederich surname, about 85%, are of German descent, with the other 15% being of Danish, Dutch, Swiss or other European descent.
In conclusion, the last name Wederich is still commonly found mainly in northern Germany as well as in parts of the United States where there is a large German population.
Variations of the surname Wederich
The surname Wederich is a highly varied one, with alternative spellings and variations depending on origin and historic influences. A commonly found spelling of the surname is Wederich. Other forms include Weadereich, Wederichs, Wederous, Wederig, and Wederike.
In Germanic or German speaking countries the surname often appears as Wederich or Wederichs, but can also be seen as Weydereich, Weidreich, or Weidreicher in more modern variations. In some cases the surname appears with a double “d”, as Wedderich and Wedderrich.
In Scandinavian countries and regions the name often appears as Wederik, Wederike, Wederig, Wederigsen, Wederigson,Wedergson, and Widerig.
In Dutch, the surname is commonly seen as Wederichs or Wederijs, and in Scotland the surname Weederich often appears on records.
In France, the surname Wedericus is found in various documents.
The origins of the surname, though clearly derived from the same root words, are viewed differently in various countries. In Germany, the name is derived from the words “wer'” and “rich'”, which together mean “defender of the rich” or “protector of the rich”. In Dutch and Danish the name has similar origins, while inScotland it is derived from words such as “wade” and “rich”, meaning “wealthy river”. In France, the name is derived from the Latin personal name “Vedricus”.
Famous people with the name Wederich
- Sven Wederich: German politician who served in the Landtag of Hesse from 2013 to 2018 representing the Christian Democratic Union.
- Ralf Wederich: German architect from Berlin, who works in the fields of architecture and interior design.
- Hans Wederich: Austrian philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of Graz.
- April Wederich: American singer, songwriter, and pianist, known for her work in the contemporary Christian music genre.
- Paul Wederich: German zoologist and author of several books on animals and zoology.
- Daisy Wederich: German actress and singer who is best known for her roles in musicals and plays.
- Ingeborg Wederich: Austrian-British actress and musician, noted for her roles in the films The Scarlet Lady and The Silver Thread.
- Georg Wederich: German composer and pianist, who wrote many works for the piano and concert pieces for orchestra and chamber music.
- Friedrich Wederich: German psychiatrist who worked at several mental health clinics, most notably the Berlin Clinic for Mental and Nervous Diseases.
- Nelly Wederich: German artist, primarily a painter and sculptor, known for her expressionistic works.