Surname Wachauf - Meaning and Origin
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Wachauf: What does the surname Wachauf mean?
The last name Wachauf is of German origin, and is derived from the Middle German words “wache” or “wach”, meaning “guard” or “watch”, and “auf” which means in this context “on” or “upon”. It is believed that the family behind this name was originally from an area called Wachauf, a region in what is now Germany along the Danube River.
The Wachauf name is associated with various occupations, but most notably it is associated with a military-related occupation involving duties such as guarding. In addition, this last name was also used to describe people who had “watch” duties - such as night watchmen - or those who were responsible for timing events such as sunrise and sunset, or for timing the duration of important events.
The Wachauf family has a rich history and tradition, with its origins dating back hundreds of years. This surname represents the courage, strength and honour of those who earned it, and its legacy, in many ways, still lives on today.
Order DNA origin analysisWachauf: Where does the name Wachauf come from?
The last name Wachauf is predominantly found in Germany today and is likely of German and Eastern European origins. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word bochāve meaning "quarry worker". It has also been documented in the United States, primarily in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Texas. The most popular areas in Germany today where the surname is most commonly found are located in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
Wachauf is a common name in Austria as well, with records of people with the name found in the region of Upper Austia in the late 1800s. Records also indicate that it was common in the provinces of Galicia and Silesia in Romanian-controlled territory within the Austrian Empire in the 1700s and 1800s.
Additional records indicate that some individuals with the Wachauf surname may have immigrated to the United States from Bohemia (Czech Republic) in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The largest population of individual with the Wachauf surname in the United States originated in the mid-1800s in New York state, although some of them later moved to Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Given the Germanic roots of the name, it is likely that the people with this surname were concentrated around East Germany and Austria before World War II, and over time have spread throughout Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Wachauf
The surname Wachauf is one of many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These alternate names can be divided into two main categories based on their country of origin. The first group, which originated in Germany, has given rise to the names Wachauf, Wachauff, Wachav and Wascauf. The second group, which originated in Austria and Switzerland, has given rise to the names Wachoff, Wachov, Wachtaf, Wachtav and Wachtov.
In Germany, the Wachauf surname has been spelled a variety of ways over time. The first record of the name, from 1261, was spelled “Wachav”, meaning “guardian”. The earliest records of the name in Austria, from the 13th century, used the spelling “Wachov”. By the late 15th century, both spellings had been replaced by the modern “Wachauf”.
The surname has been carried on through other surnames derived from its original spelling. For example, “Wascauf” originated from “Wachauf” in Germany, and “Wachtaf” and “Wachtov” were derivations from “Wachov” in Austria.
The first thing to remember when researching the Wachauf surname is that there are many variants, spellings and alternate surnames that it could be derived from. Whether the origin is of German or Austrian descent, the many possible spellings, variations, and origins of the surname should all be researched in order to get the most complete picture of the family history.
Famous people with the name Wachauf
- 1.Christina Wachauf: American performance artist, storyteller, and educator.
- Matt Wachauf: Guitarist and producer for The Lemonheads.
- Birgit Wachauf: Austrian/German handball player.
- Ryan Wachauf: US-American fitness instructor. 5.Tony Wachauf: American sound designer and audio engineer.
- Pete Wachauf: American sports broadcaster.
- Krista Wachauf: American filmmaker.
- Meagan Wachauf: American voice actress, actress, and model.
- Subhankar Wachauf: Indian academic and author.
- David Wachauf: German Engineer and actor.
- Brian Wachauf: American soccer player.
- Martina Wachauf: German writer and poet.
- Erich Wachauf: German writer.
- Dieter Wachauf: German historian.
- Kari Wachauf: American personal trainer.
- Georg Wachauf: Austrian doctor and politician.
- Thomas Wachauf: Austrian basketball player.
- Lisa Wachauf: American investigative reporter. 19.Wolfgang Wachauf: Austrian film director and screenwriter. 20.Curt Wachauf: American professional surfer and coach.