Origin of your surname and forename !
NomOrigine

Last Name Weigert

Discover my family history now

What is the origin of the last name Weigert?

The surname Weigert is of German origin. It is derived from a German occupational name for a weaver, which comes from Middle High German "wei(e)ger" meaning 'weaver'. The term was used as both an occupational name and a nickname, given to someone who was a skilled weaver or whose family had worked as weavers. This surname has several variations including Weiger, Weigher, and Weygert.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Weigert

The meaning and origin of the last name Weigert

The surname Weigert is of German origin, derived from various locations named Weihert or Weitersweiler in present-day Germany. It is an occupational name for a gardener, derived from the Middle High German word "weiher," meaning 'pond' or 'swamp,' and "dwerg" meaning 'dweller.' Alternatively, it may also be a nickname for someone with weasel-like features, as the Middle High German term "weihart" means 'weasel.' Over time, various spelling variations such as Weichert, Veigert, and Wiegert have emerged due to common orthographic changes in different regions.

Geographical distribution of the last name Weigert

The surname Weigert has a predominant distribution in Central Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. According to data from FamilySearch, one of the largest genealogy organizations, it is most frequent in these regions due to its historical origins. The name is derived from the Old High German 'Weichard' or 'Wicher', meaning 'powerful spear'. Variations such as Veiger, Weygert, Weyhart, and Wiegert can also be found within these areas. Aside from Central Europe, there are also significant populations of people with the surname Weigert in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa, largely due to migration from Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Weigert

The surname Weigert can have various spellings due to different transliteration methods and regional dialects. Some common variations include: Weygart, Veigert, Wiegart, Weygert, Veygert, and Weigardt. These variations may arise from slight differences in pronunciation or spelling over time. Additionally, the name may also be found with diacritical marks in some languages, such as Weigärt or Veigért. Despite these variations, all of these spellings ultimately originate from the same root surname.

Famous people with the last name Weigert

The Weigert family has produced several notable figures across various fields. One of the most renowned is Wilhelm Weigert, a German bacteriologist who made significant contributions to the field of medical science. He was instrumental in developing a staining method for tissues, known as the Weigert's iron hematoxylin method, which has been widely used in histology for visualizing tissue structures.

In the world of arts and literature, Max Weber-Weber, born Hermann Max Weigert, was a German author and journalist who wrote under the pseudonym Max Weber. He is best known for his works that exposed social injustices during the Nazi regime, including "The Three Organs of Government" and "The Decline of the Bourgeoisie."

Another notable figure is Elisabeth Weigert, a German economist who made significant contributions to the field of labor economics. She was a pioneer in studying gender differences in labor markets and authored numerous influential works on labor supply, earnings inequality, and family economics.

Genealogical research on the last name Weigert

The Weigert surname originates from Germany and is derived from the Middle High German "Weichard" meaning strong or powerful. Early records show that the name was first documented in the region of Swabia, present-day southern Germany, during the High Middle Ages. Notable figures with this surname include Johann Georg Weigert (1794-1852), a German painter and lithographer who worked primarily on religious themes, and Friedrich Albert von Weigert (1834-1903), a German pathologist known for his contributions to histology. The name also spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Eastern Europe due to various historical events such as the Thirty Years' War and later migrations. In North America, records indicate that descendants of the Weigert family arrived in Pennsylvania in the 18th century.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

NomOrigine Team
About the author :

NomOrigine Team

Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.

Last updated :

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Messenger Telegram

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

#1 Weiand

Last name • surnames > weiand

The surname Weiand is of Germanic origin. It is derived from various Germanic personal names with the suffix "-ant" added to denote occupation, in this case, a smith or metalworker...

#2 Weibel

Last name • surnames > weibel

The surname Weibel originates from Germany and Switzerland. It is an occupational name for a weaver, derived from the Middle High German "weben" meaning 'to weave'. In some cases, ...

#3 Weibel-richard

Last name • surnames > weibel-richard

The last name "Weibel" is primarily of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "wībel," which means "friendly" or "agreeable." As a surname, it likely origin...

#4 Weible

Last name • surnames > weible

The surname Weible is of German origin and is a variant of the name Weibel, which means "little woman" or "wife" in German. It is derived from a diminutive form of the given name W...

#5 Weichert

Last name • surnames > weichert

The last name "Weichert" is of German origin. It is derived from a geographical name for someone who lived near a weak (soft) place or a weak tree. The name is composed of two elem...

#6 Weider

Last name • surnames > weider

The surname "Weider" is of Germanic origin. It is derived from a German occupational name for a wain-driver, that is, someone who drove a wain (a type of two-wheeled cart) or a wag...

#7 Weidig

Last name • surnames > weidig

The surname Weidig is of German origin. It derives from the Middle High German word "weide" which means 'pasture' or 'meadow'. This occupational name was given to a herdsman who gr...

#8 Weidler

Last name • surnames > weidler

The surname Weidler is of German origin. It is derived from various toponymic sources, meaning "from the wide clearing" or "wide meadow." The name could have been originally associ...

#9 Weidmann

Last name • surnames > weidmann

The last name Weidmann has German origins. It is derived from the combination of two German words: "Weide," meaning "willow tree" or "pasture," and "Mann," meaning "man." Therefore...

#10 Weidner

Last name • surnames > weidner

The surname Weidner is of German origin. It is derived from a topographic name for someone who lived near a clearing or open area in a wood, or a metonymic occupational name for a ...

#11 Weigandt

Last name • surnames > weigandt

The surname Weigandt is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German "weih" meaning "holy" and "gant" meaning "home". Over time, it evolved into the modern spelling ...

#12 Weigel

Last name • surnames > weigel

The last name Weigel has its origin in Germany. It is derived from the Germanic personal name "Wigand" or "Wiglaf," which consists of the elements "wig," meaning "battle," and "lan...

#13 Weightman

Last name • surnames > weightman

The last name Weightman is of English origin. It is derived from the Old English personal name Wædman, which means "boatman" or "ferryman". Over time, the name evolved to become W...

#14 Weikamp

Last name • surnames > weikamp

The surname Weikamp is of German origin and is derived from the Germanic personal name Wigand, which means "warrior". The suffix "-kamp" likely refers to a place, possibly a farm o...

#15 Weil

Last name • surnames > weil

The surname Weil originates from Germanic and Jewish roots. In Germanic languages, "Weich" or "Weiche" means "soft" or "weak". Over time, it evolved into the modern spelling of Wei...