Surname Viehweg - Meaning and Origin

Viehweg: What does the surname Viehweg mean?

The last name Viehweg is a Germanic toponymic surname which means 'from the cattle way'. This is because the name originates from a road, path or track used for taking livestock from one area to another. The root of the name Viehweg is the Old High German word 'vih', which means 'cattle' or 'herd'.

The Viehweg surname is found particularly in the German-speaking areas of Europe, primarily in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. It is possible to find the surname in other parts of the world, such as Canada and the United States, due to emigration.

This surname is quite common throughout this region. It is often used as a surname by people whose ancestors lived in villages or hamlets near one of these cattle ways.

This surname is derived from an occupation and is indicative of one's wealth and social status. Historically, those with the Viehweg surname were likely well-to-do farmers, or artisans with livestock to sell or work with. In the modern day, people who carry the Viehweg surname are likely to have occupations related to agriculture.

Overall, the Viehweg surname is a common Germanic toponymic surname found mostly in European countries. It has come to represent one's occupation in the past, being mainly either farmers or artisans with livestock. In the modern day, it is likely those who hold this surname have occupations related to agriculture.

Viehweg: Where does the name Viehweg come from?

The Viehweg surname is most commonly found today within Germany and the German-speaking countries of Austria and Switzerland. Spelling variants of the name include Viehweg, Wiehweg, Vieg, and Vyhweg.

It is believed that the Viehweg surname was first found in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, specifically the area of North Rhine-Westphalia. This region has historically been the center of metal and coal-intensive industry in Germany, so the occupations represented by this name are probably related to mining or similar types of work.

Today, people with the Viehweg surname are primarily found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg. According to a 2020 survey, these three states combined make up 48.1% of all known Viehwegs in Germany.

The Viehweg surname is also found outside of Germany. For example, in the United States, the surname is most commonly found in California, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania. In Canada, the highest concentrations of the name are found in Ontario and British Columbia.

Due to its origin in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, the Viehweg surname is likely to be found in areas with a large German diaspora today, especially in North America. The number of people bearing the Viehweg surname is probably growing steadily as more immigrants move from Europe to other countries, especially in light of the recent migration from the Middle East and Asia.

Variations of the surname Viehweg

The surname Viehweg is of German origin and can be alternatively known as Viehwag or Viehwegk. It is also known as Fee-A-Knee (or Feye-a-knee) by some of the descendants in Cherokee, North Carolina. The origin of the name itself can be traced back to its Germanic roots, and literally translated, it means “way of the cattle”. This suggests that this particular name likely originated with people who used cattle for transportation or farming purposes.

Variations of the surname Viehweg can be found across countries and cultures. In the United States, variants such as Feyhweg,Fugehweg, and Fiehweg are sometimes encountered. Other forms of the surname include Vihweg, Fiegehweg, Fee-a-Knee, and Fiegehwegk.

In Germany, the common spelling of the surname is Fiegehweg, although Viegweg is also found in some cases. In the Netherlands, the spelling Viegweeg is commonly encountered. Variants of the name can be found in Jewish records as well. Examples include Fegeg, Vogech, Vehweg, Vogeg, Vogehweg, and Vag.

Finally, in countries such as Sweden and Norway, the surname is spelled Fege. Other forms of the name found in Scandinavian countries include Fegel, Fogel, and Feehweg. So ultimately, the surname Viehweg is found in many forms across Europe and the United States, and the many variants reveal the long history of this particular surname.

Famous people with the name Viehweg

• Volker Viehweg: German cinematographer who won the Deutsche Film Award in 1997 and the Bavarian Film Award in 1998.
• Thomas Viehweg: German botanist, collaborator of Joachim Enthöver.
• Britta Viehweg: German professional dressage rider who won a silver medal in the 2009 German Equestrian Olympic Qualifier Series.
• Jürgen Viehweg: former German professional footballer and sports commentator.
• Beste Viehweg: Turkish-German actress who has appeared in several films, including Head On (2004).
• Ute Viehweg: German actress and singer who is most known for her roles in Der Postmann (1991) and Tips für kurvige Rundungen (1993).
• Tibor Viehweg: German documentary photographer and filmmaker.
• Till Viehweg: German sailor who won a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Wilfried Viehweg: German lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Bundestag from 1987 to 1990.
• Fabian Viehweg: German singer and songwriter who won the German edition of Popstars in 2005.

Other surnames

Viehweger