Surname Weichardt - Meaning and Origin
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Weichardt: What does the surname Weichardt mean?
The last name Weichardt is believed to have originated from German Rothwards (red guard) who served in the employ of the Germanic Imperial House of Wettin during the Medieval period. This name likely comes from a combination of two components, the German word “Wei” which means guard, and the Old German word “hart” which means strong or hard core. It is believed to have referred to warriors loyal to the House of Wettin who were committed to defending and protecting their allies.
The earliest known bearer of the name Weichardt was listed in a will from the city of Lübeck in 1433. This document, and others of the same kind, seems to indicate that the Weichardt family had become quite wealthy and influential during the Medieval period.
The Weichardt surname is still present throughout Germany, with the highest concentration being found in the country’s most populous state – Bavaria. It is also found in other parts of Europe including France, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Symbolically it is associated with strength, protection, loyalty, and commitment. Those who carry this name today seek to honor and live up to the values that their ancestors represented in the Medieval period; for them, the name is both a source of pride and an inspiration to live life to the fullest.
Order DNA origin analysisWeichardt: Where does the name Weichardt come from?
The last name Weichardt is most commonly found in Germany, as well as other countries in northern and central Europe. Weichardt is a German surname, derived from the Old High German words for 'protection', 'guard', and 'custodian'. The surname's first recorded use dates back to the 11th century in the state of Bavaria.
Weichardt is now a fairly uncommon surname in Germany, with most recent records placing it somewhere in the range of 8,000th most common. There are also several other variants of the Weichardt surname, including Weichard, Weichardt, Weihard, Weigert, Wecht, Weichert, and Weicker.
Outside of Germany, there are notable Weichardt families in Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. In Australia, the surname is mainly found in the state of South Australia, while in Canada, the surname is concentrated in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
In the United States, the Weichardt surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New York. Interestingly, some original Weichardt families emigrated to the US from the late 19th century onwards, most notably seeing an influx during the years of World War I & II.
Overall, the Weichardt name is still found around the world today, but most prominently located in the countries of Northern and Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Weichardt
Weichardt is a German surname, and also has a variety of alternate spellings and forms. The original spelling is Weichardt, but some of the variants include Weichert, Weikerd, Weickerd, Weichert, Weychardt, Weykerd, and Weychert. All of these variations can be traced back to the original Weichardt spelling, and ultimately have the same origin and meaning.
The meaning of Weichardt is not certain, but it is believed to have an old German origin, and it is thought that the name may mean “strong guardian” or “guard of the dwelling”. Alternatively, it could be derived from the word “ wicher” which means “protection” or “one who gives protection”, and “ hart” meaning “hard”. This could signify that the original bearer was strong and reliable.
The name has been found mainly in Bavaria and Württemburg, in the southern part of Germany, but can also be found in North America, having been brought to the continent by German immigrants during the 17th and 18th century.
Overall, Weichardt is an old German surname, having many variants and spellings. It is believed to have a protective meaning, and has been found mainly in southern Germany. It has also been brought over to North America by German immigrants, and can be found there today as well.
Famous people with the name Weichardt
- David Weichardt: Danish film and television actor.
- Henrik Weichardt: Danish football player.
- Otto Weichardt: German parish priest and poet.
- William Weichardt: Australian fashion designer and founder of the WXYZ brand.
- Katinka Weichardt: Austrian artist and researcher.
- Jean-Claude Weichardt: French historian and politician.
- Albert Weichardt: German composer.
- Richard Weichardt: French-Swiss novelist and playwright.
- Else Weichardt: German sculptor.
- Fred Weichardt: Australian businessman and former head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.