Wiegand
A German surname formed from an old personal name, originally meaning something like “war-brave” or “battle-strength.”
The #5,769 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 51,423 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Wiegand comes from an old Germanic personal name, usually analyzed as being built from elements meaning “fight, battle” and “to wage war” or “to struggle.” In older name forms, the first part is often linked with Old High German words for battle or combat, while the second reflects an ancient Germanic name element meaning strength or battle. The surname therefore began as a patronymic: it identified someone as the son or descendant of a man called Wiegand.
History
The name is long established in German-speaking areas and appears in historical surname lists and regional name records in several spellings. It spread beyond Germany with later German migration, which is why it appears in the United States as well. Modern variants and related forms sometimes reflect local dialect spelling or the evolution of the old given name into a family name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is closely tied to an old personal name, so it preserves a very ancient Germanic naming style rather than describing an occupation or place.
From the historical record
“Wilts Fifoot. See Fifett Figgins. D. Wiegand ; Dch. Viegen ; Fl. Vigen ; p.n. Figgis. Fl. Figevs ; a p.n. See Feek”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (1st ed.)