Surname Wichterich - Meaning and Origin

Wichterich: What does the surname Wichterich mean?

The last name Wichterich is of German origin and is thought to come from the Old German given name "Wichto" or "Wicco" which is derived from the Old Saxon word "wic". This is likely a shortened form of "Wichard" which in turn is derived from the Germanic words “wic” meaning “battle” and “hart” meaning “strong” or “hardy.”

It is thought that the name Wichterich is likely a locational name, denoting someone from Wichterech or Wichtrica, place names located in both Old Bavaria and Rheinhessen and first appearing in the Middle Ages. In those early days, most people did not use last names for identification, instead identifying each other by a given name or the area in which they lived. When last names became more common, many people adopted the name of the place they lived or were from. This is likely how the Wichterich surname was created.

People with the last name Wichterich are most commonly found in the areas of the Middle Rhine and Lower Rhine regions, Southern Germany and the Upper Palatinate in Bavaria. The Wichterich name is most associated with traditional German values of loyalty, honor, respect, commitment, and industriousness.

Wichterich: Where does the name Wichterich come from?

The last name Wichterich is most commonly found in Germany, with records of the name dating back to the 14th century. German surnames are usually derived from a person's occupation, place of origin, or physical characteristics. According to genealogical sources, the name Wichterich has two possible explanations. In some cases, the name is likely derived from the German word Wicht (“small”) and the suffix -erich, meaning “lord or ruler of”. Though it is difficult to trace the exact origin of all surnames, the first mention of this name is in 1466, when Arnold Wichterich was knighted. This could suggest that prior to the knighting of Arnold, the surname Wichterich may have been held only by noble families.

Today, more than 4,500 people living in Germany have the surname Wichterich, and there are also some people living in other European countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and Canada. Those in the United States have likely either immigrated from Europe or are descended from those immigrants. Interestingly, there have been a few people in Mexico with the surname Wichterich, so it is likely that some German immigrants may have traveled to Mexico during the 19th century.

In Germany, the surname Wichterich is most common in the western part of the country, particularly in towns and cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe, and Bonn. Those with the surname may indicate a common origin in these cities or regions, or a shared ancestor. Though the family name Wichterich is not as plentiful as it once was, there are still many people today who are proud to share this unique surname.

Variations of the surname Wichterich

The surname Wichterich is derived from the German words for "wickter" (surveyor) or "wickterman" (surveyor). The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for this name include Wichert, Wyckert, Wychert, Wichtert, Wichterman, Wyckerman, Wyckermann, Wickerich, Wicherich, Wicherrich, Wichterich, Wykerich, Wickerich, Wyckerich, and Wykerich.

The surname Wichterich is most common in Germany, though it has spread to other parts of the world including North America, Australia, France, and the Netherlands. In it’s adapted forms, Wichterich can take on many different spellings, including Wichert, Wyckert, and Wychert.

The spelling of Wichterich might also be affected by regional variations in countries where the name is more recently established, such as the Czech Republic, where Wykerich is more common. In parts of Canada, the name Wickerich has been seen.

Another spelling of Wichterich, Wicherrich, is most commonly found in Austria. Because of constant immigration and emigration of families, spellings of surnames often depart slightly from their original forms in order to better fit regions where the family resettles.

The surname Wichterich is an interesting one in that it began as a description of profession, referring to surveyors and surveyors’ assistants. Over the years, the surname has evolved and changed, taking on different forms as it has spread across the world and been adapted to suit different regions.

Famous people with the name Wichterich

• Dagmar Wichterich, German professor of philosophy
• Karl Wichterich, German opera composer
• Eddie Wichterich, German soccer player
• Alfred Wichterich, German artist and graphic designer
• Florian Wichterich, German ice hockey player
• Armin Wichterich, German voice actor
• Michael Wichterich, German actor
• Ute Wichterich, German politician
• Helmut Wichterich, German actor
• Oskar Wichterich, German composer and entrepreneur
• Katja Wichterich, German journalist and author
• Paul Wichterich, Swiss-born Swedish fencer
• Henri Wichterich, German painter
• Ede Wichterich, German anarcho-syndicalist
• Werner Wichterich, German educator and politician
• Robert Wichterich, German gymnast
• Albert Wichterich, German carpenter and cabinetmaker
• Karl Wichterich, Jr., German ski jumper
• Ernst Wichterich, German sculptor
• Kristina Wichterich, German singer-songwriter

Other surnames

Wichtermann