Surname Veit - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'V'
Tracing the Veit Lineage: A Personal Exploration through iGENEA DNA Test
My quest to discover more about my family history led me to undertake an iGENEA DNA test, with the focus particularly on the surname Veit. The genetic narrative unlocked the rich history intertwined within my ancestry. The DNA revealed a fascinating array of connections that spanned continents, cultures, and centuries.
G. Veit
read moreVeit: What does the surname Veit mean?
The surname Veit is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Veit, which is the German form of Vitus. This name was popular in the Middle Ages due to the veneration of a 4th-century saint named Vitus who achieved great fame as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the Roman Catholic Church. The name Vitus itself is derived from the Latin word "vita", meaning "life". Therefore, the surname Veit can be interpreted as "descendant or follower of Vitus" or "one who values life". As a surname, it could have also been used as a nickname for a lively or cheerful person. Today, the surname Veit is found most frequently in Germany, Austria, and the United States. Like many surnames, the exact interpretation can vary based on family history and regional usage.
Order DNA origin analysisVeit: Where does the name Veit come from?
The last name Veit is commonly found throughout the German-speaking parts of Europe. It is also prevalent in the US, particularly in areas with large German-American populations.
Veit is the German variant of the Latin name Vitalis. It is derived from the Roman god of health, Vesta, which also gave rise to the French name Victor. The Veit spelling appeared in central Europe during the Middle Ages and initially became popular among families of nobles who held the title of "Vogt", meaning district sheriff.
Today, Veit is a popular surname amongst German-speaking nations. According to the 2007 census, it is the 16th most common surname in Germany and the 22nd most common in Austria. It is also quite popular in Switzerland, where it was the 61st most common name in the 2010 census.
In the US, Veit is less common than in Germany, but it is still one of the most widely-used German surnames in the country. It placed 28th in a 2014 study of surnames that have been passed on for at least four generations of one family in the US. It is particularly common in Pennsylvania, where it is the 42nd most common surname. It is also prevalent among German-American communities in other states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas.
Variations of the surname Veit
The surname Veit is believed to have originated in Germany and is derived from the Germanic first name “Vito”, meaning “wood”. It is a common family name in Austria, Germany, and countries of German-speaking origin, though it is also found, albeit much less commonly, in other parts of the world.
Some of the variants of Veit include Vait, Vita, Veidt, Fareit, Veith, Veydt, Veitht, Veid, Veyt, Veyd, Veigt, Veit, and Vejd.
In England, the surname Vita can be found in East Anglia, while the surname Veyt is found in the North East of the country.
In the United States, the Veit name is primarily found in Pennsylvania, where many of the original Veit immigrants to the country settled. The surname is also common in states such as New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and California.
In addition to variations on the spelling of the Veit name, there are other surnames or spellings which may be of the same origin, such as Viets, Veet, Vite, Vyte, Vitt, Voit, Viot, Vyt, Vet, Voite, Vitek and Wiet.
Famous people with the name Veit
- Konrad Veit: German actor, director, and vaudeville performer.
- Edwin Veit: American soccer player in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Uli Veit: German soccer player from the 1970s and 1980s.
- Karl Veit: German classical bassoonist and bassoon professor.
- Udo Veit: German ice hockey player from the 1990s and 2000s.
- Johann Veit: Austrian veterinarian from the 1800s.
- Robert Veit: German author and theater historian from the 1900s.
- Mirko Veit: German composer and conductor from the late 1900s.
- Tobias Veit: German cyclist from the 2000s.
- Helmut Veit: German composer and conductor from the early 2000s.