Surname Wichardt - Meaning and Origin
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Wichardt: What does the surname Wichardt mean?
The last name Wichardt is derived from the German language and is believed to have originated in the region of Saxony. It is thought to have derived from the words 'Wich', meaning protection, and 'hardt', meaning strong and brave.
The name Wichardt, then, is likely to have been used as an indicator of an individual or family's strong and protective nature. It may have been applied to someone or a group who acted as a guard, a warrior, or a leader tasked with protecting their people or territory.
Its use in this context was likely widespread throughout the region of Saxony where wars and large-scale battles were fought by various rulers for domination or to protect elements of their kingdom. It is likely that the use of the Wichardt name diverged following the settlement of many Saxons across the continent resulting in the name being adopted by other European nations.
In more modern times, the name Wichardt is most commonly found in either German-speaking countries or countries in which German settlers made their home. It still conveys a strong and protective message and is used by many families to honour their Saxon ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisWichardt: Where does the name Wichardt come from?
The last name Wichardt is common throughout Germany, primarily in areas of northern and eastern Germany. In fact, Wichardt is one of the most common surnames in the entire country. It is also commonly found throughout the rest of Central Europe, primarily in Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. In recent decades, due to immigration, the last name has even migrated to the United States, Australia, and South America. For example, a quick search on Ancestry.com reveals dozens of individuals with the last name Wichardt who immigrated to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries. For those researching the name, some of the earliest known records of the name date back to documents from the Brandenburg region of Germany in the 1700s. The Wichardt surname was most likely derived from a nickname given to the first person to begin using the name. It is speculated that the nickname may have referred to someone born with dark hair and a ruddy complexion. Consequently, the name could be considered an occupational name derived from the early German word "wicher," meaning "dark hair or complexion." Despite its origin, the last name Wichardt is firmly embedded in much of European and even American history, with thousands of people currently bearing the surname.
Variations of the surname Wichardt
The surname Wichardt is derived from the Germanic given name Wichard, which is composed of two elements, 'wig', meaning 'war' or 'struggle', and 'hard', meaning 'brave'. Variants of the surname include Wickerd, Wyckert, Wycart, Wichert, Wikerat, Wychert, Wyckardt, Wijckert, Wikard and Wiccard.
Spellings of the last name vary between countries and dialects and include, in addition to the above, Wickart, Wychhard, Wichhrt, Wickard, Whickerd, Wikerat, Wickert, Wyckard, Wychhardt, Wigerart and Wikharth.
In the United Kingdom it is sometimes spelt as Wichard, Wicard or Wickard.
Surnames derived from the same origin are Wichhardt, Wichert, Wicher, Wikert, Wikhert, Wycker, Wicker, Wyckert, Vichard, Wychard, Wickhard, Wickhart and Wychart.
The surname can also be found under the versions 'Vicard', 'Vigard' and'Vygart'. This name was brought from the continent to Britain in modern times and is mostly found in East Anglia.
It can also be found spelled Vickard, Vikard or Vickerd. Dictionaries show the name is popular in Germany and also in France, where it is sometimes spelled 'Wicart'.
Variants and spellings of Wichardt include Wymark
Vykardt, Wichert, Weicherdt, Wyycherdt, Weicherd, Wiechart, Wichart, Wickardt, Vyckerdt and Wyckhart. The modern surnames Wickard and Wicker derive from the same source.
Famous people with the name Wichardt
- Leon Wichardt: South African cricketer who played four Tests for South Africa in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- April Wichardt: South African singer and songwriter who was a semi-finalist on the South African version of The Voice in 2016.
- Niel Wichardt: South African artist and sculptor, known for his large works of art that are found in cities around South Africa.
- Jako Wichardt: South African rugby union player who played for the eThekwini Sharks in Super Rugby.
- Louis Wichardt: South African filmmaker who rose to fame with his films Inxeba and My Father’s War.
- Stephan Wichardt: South African athlete who competed in sprint events at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
- Johannes Wichardt: German politician who served as the mayor of Lippstadt from 1997 to 2009.
- Helena Wichardt: Swedish politician who was a member of the Swedish parliament in the early 20th century.
- Carolina Wichardt: Argentine actress who starred in the telenovela ‘Esperanza Mia’ from 2014 to 2015.
- Simone Wichardt-Keilen: German journalist and television presenter known for her work on the show ‘Frau TV’.