Surname Weckherlin - Meaning and Origin
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Weckherlin: What does the surname Weckherlin mean?
The last name Weckherlin is of Germanic origin and is found primarily throughout Germany and North America. It derives from the words "wenk" and "erle", meaning to "to sway" and "nobleman" respectively. This name likely originated as an occupational surname, likely referring to an individual who had duties to sway or control the business or actions of a nobleman.
Weckherlin is an uncommon surname, but those who carry it may be descended from a notable family of the same name. The family was an aristocratic one in the German court of Bavaria, tracing their lineage to a young knight of the 16th century. The knight was later granted a hereditary title and lands by the German Empire, making the family one of the earliest and most renowned "Uradel" baronies (families of German nobility).
Throughout the centuries, the Weckherlin family prospered and their lands and influence increased steadily. Today, there are many descendants of the Weckherlin family living throughout Germany, Canada, the United States, and beyond. They carry with them a sense of prestige and honor that comes with being a part of such a rich and unique history.
Order DNA origin analysisWeckherlin: Where does the name Weckherlin come from?
The Weckherlin surname is quite uncommon today and is more likely to be found in certain regions of the world where it has a long history. In Germany, the family name Weckherlin has been traced back to the 1600s in the city of Göppingen, located in the Baden-Württemberg region. A branch of the Weckherlins are believed to have moved to the United States and Australia in the mid-1800s. In the US, Weckherlins are mainly found in Ohio, California, Texas, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
In Australia, records of the Weckherlin name date back to the 1840s when the first Weckherlin settler, Johannes Weckherlin, arrived in the Port Phillip District (now the City of Greater Geelong). In subsequent years, a further four Weckherlin individuals settled in the district. Today, the surname Weckherlin is rarely found in Australia outside of the Port Phillip District, but may have spread further into the outback and across the East Coast of Australia.
In Canada, the Weckherlin surname is particularly well represented, with records of several families settling in the area in the mid-1800s. While the majority of these families eventually left Canada, there are still a few Weckherlins living in the country today, mainly located in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Overall, the Weckherlin name is quite rare today, with most of its holders living in Germany, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Its scarcity is a testament to the wanderlust of its original settlers.
Variations of the surname Weckherlin
The surname Weckherlin is believed to have originated in Germany, deriving from the given name Weccelin. This family appears to have held a significant role in German history, inspiring the creation of a series of minor noble titles, beginning with medieval origins.
The spelling of the surname often varies and can be found in numerous forms, including Weckherlin, Wecherlin, Wechrling, Wechterlyne and Wechterling. These are the most commonly found spellings of the surname, although there are more obscure versions of the name as well, such as Wecherly and Weckehrling.
In some cases, the surname can also take alternate forms due to the country in which it is used. In the United States, for example, it is often found as Wickerlin, Wickherlin, or Wickerline. In the United Kingdom, the name can be found most commonly as Wetherill. Variations of the name can also be found in Germany, such as Weckerl and Weckle.
The surname Weckherlin is often linked to other surnames due to marriage or other connections. Common linked surnames include Weckehrling, Weckle, Weckerl, and Wirtzberger.
The surname is still found primarily in Germany and the United States. Its alternative spellings, variations, and linked surnames provide a connection to a long and rich history that is still visible in the modern world today.
Famous people with the name Weckherlin
- George Weckherlin (1590–1652): He was an Anglo-German poet and soldier who served as a special envoy to the court of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1637.
- Wilhelm Adam Weckherlin (1593–1654): He was a courtier of the elector of the Palatinate.
- Friedrich Maximilian Weckherlin (1596–1662): He was an advocatus fisci and imperial counselor, one of the most important advisers to Emperor Ferdinand III.
- Johann Adam Weckherlin (1599–1653): He was a German poet and theologian and a follower of Frederick III of the Palatinate.
- Rudolph Ernest Weckherlin(1616–1669): He was a German author and court poet in Mannheim.
- Johann Philipp Weckherlin (1627–1701): He was a German physician and poet.
- Caroline Weckherlin (1755–1795): She was a German author and poet.
- Christian Weckherlin (1766–1829): He was a professor of Oriental studies in Würzburg.
- Frederick Weckherlin (1785–1856): He was a German theologian and historian.
- Simon Weckherlin (1794–1854): He was a German naturalist and pharmacist who did important research on the medicinal properties of chalk and rocks.
- Johann Heinrich Weckherlin (1827–1898): He was an important German pathologist and professor of medicine at the University of Berlin.
- Julius Weckherlin (1843–1913): He was a German civil law scholar at the University of Tübingen.
- William Weckherlin (1898–1978): He was an American football player who played for the Cleveland Indians in the early 1920s.
- William F. Weckherlin (1907-2001): He was an American politician, lawyer, and businessman from Rockland County, New York.
- Steve Weckherlin (1922-1987): He was an American actor who appeared in many films in the 1940s and 1950s.