Surname Weib - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Weib: What does the surname Weib mean?
The last name Weib is a German surname derived from the Old High German word 'weib,' which translates to 'woman.' It was initially used as a nickname for a woman or girl, but it eventually became a surname. It is also sometimes spelled 'Weiber.'
The name is believed to have first appeared during the Middle Ages, and it may have been used to denote an unmarried woman or one who was not yet of legal age. It can also indicate someone who was under the watchful care of a guardian or the protection of the church.
Weibs are found across parts of Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking regions of Europe. It is also found in other Germany-influenced regions like the United States, Canada, South America, and parts of Asia.
The name Weib can also be found in literature and other works of art, including the fairy tale The Frog Prince by the Brothers Grimm. The name is often linked to strong female figures or symbols of fortitude and courage.
As a surname, Weib may be related to other similar-sounding German names like Weibel and Weidner. It is a unique name and has been found throughout Europe and the world, over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWeib: Where does the name Weib come from?
The last name Weib is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. According to the US Social Security Administration, the surname Weib ranks as the 3, 982nd most popular surname in the United States. Additionally, it ranks as the 556th most common surname in Switzerland, 516th in Germany and 853rd in Austria.
The history of the Weib surname is unclear; however, researchers suggest it is a topographic or locational surname, meaning the surname was likely derived from the location in which the original bearer of the name lived or held land. This type of surname originates from pre-existing place-names and refers to the geographical location of the original bearer.
The geographic area with the highest density of the Weib surname is the German speaking region of Europe, indicating the surname likely has Germanic origins. Additionally, research suggests the name could have originated from a Germanic tribal name involving the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "determination" and "berht" meaning"bright" or "famous."
Today, the Weib surname is most common in Germany and Austria, but can also be found in other European countries, the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America.
Variations of the surname Weib
Weib is a surname of German origin, and it can also be spelled Weibel, Weibell, Weibeler, Weibler, Wiebel, Wiebeler, Wiebler, and Weybel. It is derived from the Middle High German term “wiebel”, meaning “weaver”, and is likely related to the occupation of weaving during the Middle Ages.
The same surname can also be spelled as Waybel, Waibel, Waibell, Waibeler, Waibler, Waelbel, Waelbeler, Waelbler, and Wadebel. This variant likely originated when the surname was recorded in official documents which may have been incorrectly spelled when transferred to different languages.
In addition, the same surname can also be seen as Weybel, Weybell, Weybeler, Weybler, Waybel, Waybell, Waybeler, and Waybler. This is partially due to immigration records which may have misspelled the name when the original surname holder moved to a new location.
For many of these variants, the “W” at the beginning is often replaced with a “V,” producing a surname such as Veibel, Veibell, Veibeler, Veibler, Veybel, Veybell, Veybeler, and Veybler. Likewise, the “l” at the end of the surname may also be switched to an “n”, producing labels such as Weiben, Weibell, Weibener, Weibner, Veiben, Veibell, Veibener, and Veibner.
Finally, double letter combinations such as “ei” may also switch to “ai”, leading to surnames such as Waib, Waibell, Waibler, Waiber, Waiber, Waiberle, Waiberler, and Waiberlin.
Overall, Weib is a very versatile surname, and its variants and spellings reflect the numerous migration patterns and spelling habits of its many bearers.
Famous people with the name Weib
- Joshua WeiB: Mandarin pop singer songwriter
- Lloyd Weib: American athlete and former basketball player at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay
- Olga Weib: American Olympic swimmer
- Anne Weib: Grammy award winning jazz bassist
- Lou Weib: German professional footballer
- Meinrad Weib: Austrian Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church
- Kurt Weib: Austrian Alpine skier and national champion
- Karl Weib: German weightlifter and Olympic medalist
- Valerie Weib: American actress
- Ann Marie Weib: American country singer/songwriter and guitarist
- Alfred Weib: Swiss novelist and Democratic Socialists
- Donna Weib: American professional golfer
- M. Weib: German theoretical physicist and mathematician
- Gabriel Weib: German visual artist
- Ingrid Weib: German television presenter
- Manfred Weib: German actor and stuntman
- Mathilde Weib: German poet and expressionist
- Stefan Weib: German football player
- Bernd Weib: German opera singer
- Herbert Weib: German contemporary artist