Surname Wiebking - Meaning and Origin
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Wiebking: What does the surname Wiebking mean?
The last name Wiebking is a German surname which means ‘little master’ or ‘head of the house’. Derivatives of the name include Weibking, Weybking, Wiebken, Wiebkening, Weibking, and Weybken. The name can be traced back to the 13th century in the duchy of Brunswick in the region of Lüneburg in Northern Germany. It is believed to be of occupation origin referring to someone who was a magistrate or administrator. Wiebking is an uncommon surname in the United States, although there are roughly 300 individuals sharing the name.
In the Middle Ages the noble classes held a monopoly on their own legal systems where the Wiebking acted as a presiding judge between disputing parties. It is likely that the name is derived from the German term ‘weib’ meaning house and ‘king’, which literally translates to ‘head of the house’. The occupation of the Wiebking was hereditary and often passed down through the generations.
Today, the original German pronunciation of the name is ‘VIEB-king’, however, some families in the United States may pronounce it differently, such as ‘WEEB-king’ or ‘WEEB-chin’. Despite its German origin, over the centuries the name can be found in various countries with varying shapes and spellings.
The Wiebking possess a long and proud heritage and the name is likely to continue to live on for many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisWiebking: Where does the name Wiebking come from?
The last name Wiebking is most common in Germany today, although there are a few scattered in other countries as well. In Germany, Wiebking is most common in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hesse, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia with a concentration of highest density in the area between Hamburg and Münster.
Globally, there are around 5,000 people who bear the last name Wiebking according to the Global Names Index. However, this statistic does not reflect the entire population, as the unusually high presence of the name in Germany makes it difficult to track data outside of the country. But the data makes it likely that the name is scattered throughout other parts of Europe, America, and some parts of Asia.
The meaning behind the name Wiebking is believed to be an occupational surname and it is most likely derived from the old Germanic word "Wibbing" meaning a "servant to the royal court".
The name Wiebking first began to make an appearance in documents in the Middle Ages in what is now known as Germany. The surname was initially used by a number of families, some of whom were amongst the first to bear the name. These families were located mainly in East Friesland in the old Germanic Saxony region.
Today, more than 500 years later, the surname still holds a prominent presence in Germany as a result of centuries of concentration in certain areas. It is likely that the name will continue to be spread more and more across Europe and other parts of the world as time goes on.
Variations of the surname Wiebking
The surname Wiebking is a German name, derived from the Germanic word wīpan, which means to weave. Variants and spellings of the surname include Weibking, Weibeking, Weybking, Weybke, Weibke, Weibking, Weybke, Weibkinger, Weybker and Wybking. Surnames of the same origin include Weibchen, Weibert, Weiffen, Weigelt, Wichling, Wiebels, Wieben, Wiebes, Wiebke, Weibes, and Weiber.
Variant spellings of the surname are influenced by the dialects spoken in the countries from where the surname originates. Different geographical locations can cause spelling variations in surnames, such as Wiebking becoming Weibke in Germany and Weybking in other parts of Europe. Additionally, in some cases, surnames can change due to political pressure.
The original use of the surname Wiebking is believed to have been in Nuremberg, Germany, where it is mentioned in the German battle records of 1246. Later, Wiebking was an uncommon name in Northern Germany in the 16th century, with the introduction to Amsterdam in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the name was found in the United States and Canada. In modern times, it is a common surname in the United States, Canada, and Germany.
The spelling Wiebking is shared by many individuals of different professions, such as playing sports, farming, politics, medicine, and art. There is also a Wiebking museum in Germany to celebrate the surname's history.
Famous people with the name Wiebking
- Alex Wiebking: a former National Basketball Association point guard and current assistant coach for the University of Central Arkansas men’s basketball program.
- Michael Wiebking: a former MLB pitcher, who debuted in 1967 with the San Francisco Giants.
- Justin Wiebking: a multi-instrumentalist composer, sound designer, programmer and record producer.
- Günter Wiebking: a German painter, graphic artist, illustrator and pedagogue who emigrated to the USA.
- John Wiebking: an American screenwriter and film producer whose credits include writing and producing the 2010 film Takers.
- Brad Wiebking: an American photographer whose career has spanned more than 20 years, showcasing his images and award-winning work in more than 25 countries.
- Kyle Wiebking: a professional American soccer player who currently plays for FC Tulsa in the USL Championship.
- Bobby Wiebking: a left-handed former professional baseball pitcher who played briefly for the Angeles in 1967.
- Duffy Wiebking: a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1960-1961.
- Christian Wiebking: a German film producer and founder of MMC Studios, the largest independent film and TV studio in Germany.