Surname Westerberger - Meaning and Origin

Westerberger: What does the surname Westerberger mean?

The surname Westerberger or Westerburger (in German) is of German origin and is derived from the words ‘wester’ meaning West and ‘berger’ meaning dweller or inhabitant. The literal translation is ‘an inhabitant of the west’. The name was originally most commonly found in the northwestern regions of Germany and dates back to the early 1700s.

The name likely refers to the people who lived in the remote areas of what is now the county of Westerwald in northeast Rhineland-Palatinate. The area was known for its forts and castles, which was a way of protection and defense from incursions by outsiders. It is believed that the residents of the Westerwald region were so proud of their status as citizens of the west (being the edge of the country) that they adopted a name that reflected their identity.

The name could also have been adopted from an owner of a farm, peasant, woodcutter, huntsman, or a forester and later adopted as a family name by his or her progeny. The name has also been adopted by those migrating from other parts of Germany and by families relocating from the United States, England, and other countries.

To conclude, Westerberger was most likely derived from the German word ‘wester’, indicating the sense of pride and identity of the people original living in the western parts of Germany.

Westerberger: Where does the name Westerberger come from?

The last name Westerberger is most commonly found in German-speaking countries today, such as Germany and Austria. It is also present in some areas of the United States, specifically in states such as Texas, North Carolina, and Illinois.

The earliest references of the name Westerberger come from Germany, where it dates to at least the 16th Century. Records show that the name first appeared in Saxony, a former state located in the lower region of Germany. In modern times, the name is popular particularly in the state of Hesse, where it is the 110th most common name.

In the United States, the first Westerberger immigrants came in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Naturalization records show that a family by the name of Westerberger arrived in May 1905, likely sailing out of Bremerhaven, Germany. Currently, the highest concentration of people with the surname can be found in rural areas of Texas and North Carolina.

In Austria, official records first document the presence of Westerberger in the mid-1700s. Records show that an individual by the name of Johannes Westerberger lived in Waldsee, Lower Austria in 1753. Other records also indicate that a man by the name of Andreas Westerberger immigrated to the same town sometime in the late 1700s.

Today, the surname Westerberger is still quite common in German and Austrian speaking countries, as well as in several locations in the United States.

Variations of the surname Westerberger

The surname Westerberger is of German origin and has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Westerberger is an occupational surname, most likely derived from the words Wester or West, which were used to refer to people living in the western parts of a town or region. The suffix -er was typically added to mean 'someone who lives or works there'.

Variants of the surname Westerberger include Westberger, Wesserberger, Wieserberger, Westerberg, Westburg and Victerbach.

Variations in spellings of the surname include Westerburgh, Westberg, Wessburg and Westbeghe.

Surnames of the same origin include Westabrook, Westbrook, Westbrock, Westbroeck, Westerbrink, Westoud and Westerbork.

All of these surnames of the same origin are derived from the same word in German, Westr being a person who lives in the western parts of a region, and -er referring to someone who lives or works in a particular place.

Famous people with the name Westerberger

• Adele Westerberger, German biologist and educator
• Carl Westerberger, Swedish Olympic gymnast
• Colton Westerberger, American-born basketball player who plays for BK Prostějov in the Czech NBL
• Cécile Westerberger, French climber and mountaineer
• Dietmar Westerberger, German footballer
• Frederick Westerberger, retired American football halfback
• Helmut Westerberger, Austrian luger
• Jacob Westerberger, American politician and former mayor of Schenectady, New York
• Janet Westerberger, American pediatrician
• John Westerberger, Australian former international football (soccer) referee
• Josef Westerberger, Austrian former footballer
• Lars Westerberger, American explorer, geographer and writer
• Leonid Westerberger, Russian mathematician and former president of the St. Petersburg Mathematical Society
• Mark Westerberger, American comedy performer and writer
• Martin Westerberger, Austrian ski mountaineer and multi-sport athlete
• April Westerberger, Canadian synchronized swimmer
• Shirley Westerberger, American actress
• Steve Westerberger, American retired professional basketball player
• Susanne Westerberger, Swiss author
• Walt Westerberger, American film and video editor.

Other surnames

Westerberg