Surname Weyerhäuser - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Weyerhäuser: What does the surname Weyerhäuser mean?
The last name Weyerhäuser is of German origin and means “Little Weyer House”. It may have been derived from two separate German words – “Weyer”, meaning outbuilding, and “Haus”, meaning house. This suggests that the family’s ancestors may have lived in a small outbuilding near a larger house.
The Weyerhäuser surname is associated with several famous people today, and the Weyerhäuser company, one of the world’s foremost timber companies. This company was founded by Frederick Weyerhäuser in 1900, who used funds he received as a gift from his father-in-law to acquire 900,000 acres of timberland in the Wisconsin region. Since then, the company has grown to become a global leader in the timber industry.
Weyerhäuser was also the name of the family’s ancestral village in Bavaria, Germany. Its roots can be traced back to at least the 1400s, when a man named Johannes Weyerhäuser was documented as being a smith in the village of Weyerhäuser. The Weyerhäuser line can be further traced through records, wills, and church records spanning hundreds of years.
Today, the Weyerhäuser name is seen as a mark of quality, innovation, and financial success. Its name is still connected to the timber industry, as it is a common surname in many parts of the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world. It also symbolizes the hard work and dedication of the original Weyerhäuser family, who set out to make their name a lasting legacy of commitment and success.
Order DNA origin analysisWeyerhäuser: Where does the name Weyerhäuser come from?
The Weyerhaeuser surname is most commonly found in North America today. Many of these North American Weyerhaeuser families can trace their roots back to immigrants from Germany and Austria in the late 1800s.
The Weyerhaeuser name has its origins in the German-speaking region of Central Europe. The family name comes from the Old High German words "weyer," meaning "building," and "hauser," meaning "house." Its literal translation is "house builder" or "builder of houses." The name was more likely an occupational surname, given to people who built houses for a living.
Today, the Weyerhaeuser name is most commonly associated with the large Weyerhaeuser Corporation, based out of Washington, USA. The company, formerly known as Weyerhaeuser Timber Company, was founded in 1900 by then-owners of the Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company, Frederick Weyerhaeuser and his brother-in-law Charles Tate. It was built on the success of the lumber company and has since grown to become one of the world's largest private owners of timberland and natural resources.
The Weyerhaeuser surname is still prominent across North America today, and there are plenty of descendants of the original immigrant families who still proudly carry the name. The Weyerhaeuser name is an inseparable part of the history of the United States and it is sure to be a part of the American landscape for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Weyerhäuser
Weyerhäuser is a German surname with a variety of regional spellings and variants. In Prussia, the name was spelled Weyerhaeuser, Weyhraeuser, Weyerhauser, and Weyhrauser. In Northwest Germany, the name has been spelled Weyerhaeuer, Weyerhauer, Wierhaus, and Wierhäuser. Variants of this name include Werner, Werhahn, Werhane, and Wernerhäuser.
The origins of the surname Weyerhäuser trace back to its geographic location of origin, the Lower Rhine region of Germany. This area was largely inhabitated by the Celts and Romans. The Germans began settling the region in the 5th century.
The name can be broken down into two distinct syllables - weyer and hauser - which translate to “fortress” or “castle” in English. Thus, the literal meaning of the surname Weyerhäuser is “a fortress house.”
Over the centuries, the name has been shortened, abbreviated, and changed in spelling by German immigrants migrating to other countries, including the United States. In America, the name is often shortened to just Weyer or Mayer. The Americanized spelling of Weyerhaeuser has become a well-known business name for the prolific timber and wood products company that is based out of Washington state.
The surname Weyerhäuser is associated with an array of variations, including various regional spellings, shortened versions, and derivative surnames. The literal translation of the name points to a strong historical lineage associated with the German region of origin.
Famous people with the name Weyerhäuser
- Charles Weyerhaeuser: Was the founder of the timberland giant, Weyerhaeuser Co.
- Bruce Weyerhaeuser: Son of Charles and Senior Vice President of the Weyerhaeuser Co.
- Charles R. Weyerhaeuser: Chairman of the Board for the Weyerhaeuser Co.
- Bob Weyerhaeuser: Member of the Board of the Weyerhaeuser Co.
- Kristin Weyerhaeuser: Member of the Board of the Weyerhaeuser Co.
- Will Weyerhaeuser: Member of the Board of the Weyerhaeuser Co.
- Gideon Weyerhaeuser: First born child of Charles and founder and chairman of the Gee Whiz Foundation.
- Mark Weyerhaeuser: Former U.S. Army officer and conservationist.
- John Weyerhaeuser: American businessman who served as Chief Executive Officer of Weyerhaeuser Company.
- Anna Weyerhaeuser: American swimmer who competed in the 2016 Olympics.
- Marsha Weyerhaeuser: American socialite and philanthropist.
- Karl Weyerhaeuser: Norwegian film actor known for his work in theatre and television.
- Silas Weyerhaeuser: American entrepreneur and investor who co-founded the lumber business Weyerhaeuser & Denkmann.
- Paul Weyerhaeuser: American aviator who set numerous flying records during the 1940s.
- Andreas Weyerhaeuser: German sculptor and glass artist known for his works of art.