Surname Veitt - Meaning and Origin
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Veitt: What does the surname Veitt mean?
The last name Veitt is of German origin, and derived from the Middle High German word 'veit', meaning 'guardian'. This surname was originally used by someone who worked in a protective or military role - often a soldier employed to protect a certain region, or a watchman.
In western Germany, this last name is often found written as 'Witte' or 'Witt'. Prior to the 19th century, Veitt was also spelled as 'Vette' and 'Vett'. It is a rare surname, and occurs mainly in North America.
The earliest known recorded instance of the Veitt surname dates back to 1781, when one John Veitt was recorded as being married to Catherine Lauer in Pennsylvania, USA. During the 1850s, records show that a large number of people with the last name Veitt had migrated from Europe to Pennsylvania. Today, the Veitt surname can be found in countries across Europe, and across North America.
The name Veitt is a reminder of the Germanic history and values of protection and guardianship, that helps to shape its identity today.
Order DNA origin analysisVeitt: Where does the name Veitt come from?
The last name Veitt is most commonly found in Germany. It is particularly popular in the state of Bavaria in the south-east and also in the regions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Thuringia in the east. According to the 2015 database of the German Federal Statistical Office, the last name Veitt can be found in over 1,500 cities and towns across Germany.
In addition, the surname Veitt is found in Austria, Switzerland, and France. Family documents suggest that the Veitt surname may have been adopted in the Middle Ages by ethnic Germans from the region that is now the Czech Republic.
The surnames Veit, Veith, Veitsman, and Veitsche are also related to Veitt. According to records, many people with the surname Veitt in Germany today are members of the same family. This suggests that the surname originated in a shared ancestral community.
The meaning of the surname Veitt is not clear. It may derived from a German word meaning "square-shaped," but the exact root of the name is not known.
In the United States, the surname Veitt is not as common as it is in central Europe. According to the US Census, only 58 people listed the surname Veitt in 2020. This is significantly lower than European countries such as Germany and France, which both show over 4,000 Veitts per country.
Variations of the surname Veitt
The surname Veitt is an ancient German name originating from the personal name Theodoric or Dietrich. It is usually spelled as Veit, Vite, Veyt, or Veitt, as well as Fitz-Veit or Fits-Veyt. This surname is most commonly found among German Americans, especially those from Bavaria and Austria.
Veitt is thought to be a patronymic name, derived from the father's given name. It is also assumed to be a nickname for a brave or wise warrior. In the olden days, nicknames often became surnames, and Veitt is thought to have been one of these.
The spellings Vite, Veyt, and Veitt usually designate names of people from northern Germany, while the spellings Veit, Fits-Veyt, and Fitz-Veit designate names of people from southern Germany. The spelling Veit is particularly associated with people from Bavaria.
Variants of the name Veitt can be found elsewhere in Europe, such as in France, where it is spelled Veyrd or Veyat. In Belgium and Holland, the spelling of Veitt may have evolved into Veid, Veut, Vait, and Vyt. In England, it could have evolved to Fitts or Fette.
The surnames Veitte, Veydt, Vlegte, and Vlegteau have also emerged from Veitt, due to regional dialect and phonetic changes over time.
Famous people with the name Veitt
- D.C. Vieitt: NFL quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Bob Vieitt: Former MLB pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
- Al Vieitt: Former MLB outfielder for the Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles.
- John Vieitt: Former Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles pitcher.
- Dan Vieitt: Former Kansas City Royals pitcher.
- Ednie Vieitt: Professional dancer and choreographer.
- Kurt Vieitt: Film director and comedic actor.
- Lisa Vieitt: Animator and film director.
- Mike Vieitt: Professional Baseball player for the Colorado Rockies.
- Sarah Vieitt: Professional WNBA star for the Washington Mystics.