Surname Weigele - Meaning and Origin
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Weigele: What does the surname Weigele mean?
The last name Weigele is a German surname believed to have first originated in what is now Baden-Wurttemberg, a state in Southwest Germany. It is thought that the name either derives from the German word Wiegel, which means "wicker", or it could be a variant of the name Wegle, which is derived from the Middle High German term “weckelen” meaning "to move swiftly".
The Weigele family name is most commonly found in the southwestern region of Germany. It is also associated with Austria. Records indicate that in 1567, a Weigele family appeared in Fussen, a city located in Bavaria, Germany.
Historical evidence suggests that the Weigele family was well established by the late 16th century, although there is no indication as to when the first Weigele appeared in Germany. Weigeles are usually considered to be of German-Austrian descent.
The Weigele name has become rather common around the world, with a large number of immigrants from Germany bringing the last name with them wherever they go. In the United States, for instance, the Weigele family name is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and New York.
The last name Weigele is a testament to German-Austrian culture. It symbolizes the spirit of the German people, as it marks centuries of travel and migration. Weigeles are an integral part of Germany’s unique history and its associated culture, and the name will invariably remain tied to the country’s often turbulent past.
Order DNA origin analysisWeigele: Where does the name Weigele come from?
The surname Weigele is most common in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. According to data from world-names.de, there were over 2,700 people with this surname living in Germany in 2019.
Weigele is a German surname that likely has origins in Bavaria, specifically the area that is now the modern-day Swabian Alps in southern Germany. As with other enduringly popular family names, it is likely that this name derived from a place-name, possibly one the family had resided in for generations. This could mean that at one time, the Weigele family was local to the area, or may have come there from elsewhere.
Today, Weigele is the most common in Germany, where it ranks 2,403rd out of nearly 80 million surnames. The Weigele surname is also found in other German-speaking countries, such as Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg in lesser numbers. There are also a handful of people with this surname living in the United States, likely the descendants of immigrants who came from Germany during the 19th century.
Overall, the surname Weigele is quite common in southern Germany, although it can be found in other countries as well. Despite its popularity, very little is known regarding the history of the name beyond its likely German origins.
Variations of the surname Weigele
Weigele is a surname of German and Swiss origin. Other variants and spellings of this surname include Weigle, Weigel, Wiegle, Wigle, Wigel, and Vagel. All of these spellings originate from the root German word ‘Weig’, a word which means ‘willow’ in English. This root word might refer to a person’s profession, particularly if their family was involved in growing or using willows.
Weigele is a common surname across different parts of Europe. Some records of this surname in various countries include: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Bohemia. In the United States and Canada, the Weigele surname is sometimes spelt Weigle or Wigle. Surnames derived from Weigele include Weigert, Weigold, Weigzil, Weighill, Weigmann, Weigand, and Weigholdt.
Since Weigele is a common German and Swiss surname, many people with this surname tend to have the same ancestry. The variations in spelling are more of a recent phenomenon as in the past, people tended to stick to the same spelling as that used by their ancestors. As with many German surnames, Weigele is also patronymic - referring to a person’s father - and can be found written as, Weigel von Weigel, or Weigel Kunz von Weigel, meaning ‘Weigel son of Weigel’.
Famous people with the name Weigele
- Michelle Weigele: Michelle is an award-winning television writer who specialized in family comedies. She has written for many shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step.
- Stephen Weigele: Stephen is an actor and musician who has worked with numerous bands in the alternative rock genre. His acting credits include roles in films such as Zombieland and The Expendables 3.
- Julie Weigele: Julie is a stage and concert pianist. She has performed classical music from composers like Beethoven and Chopin in numerous venues across the United States.
- Jason Weigele: Jason is a professional snowboarder who placed second at the 2009 X Games Big Air competition.
- Darrin Weigele: Darrin is an award-winning chef and restaurateur. He runs multiple restaurants in Washington State and has won a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northwest Region.
- Pat Weigele: Pat is a musician and singer-songwriter. She has released three studio albums and has written songs for other country music artists.
- Bill Weigele: Bill is a former professional hockey player who played for the Hartford Whalers and the Philadelphia Flyers.
- Courtney Weigele: Courtney is a fashion and lifestyle blogger who shares her passion for style, beauty, and travel on her blog, CourtneyWeigele.com.