Show ContentsWeidman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Weidman

What does the name Weidman mean?

There are several possible origins for the name Weidman because the German word "weide" from which it originates has three quite different definitions. Firstly, it means "willow," implying that the first bearer could have been someone who lived near a large or notable willow tree; many surnames in Germany and most other European countries were taken from some noteworthy feature near the person's house. Secondly, it means "grazing," implying that the name may have been taken because the first bearer lived near good grazing lands. Lastly, the word also means "hunting"; this could mean that the man was a hunter, or it could mean that he lived near well-known hunting grounds.

Early Origins of the Weidman family

The surname Weidman was first found in Westphalia, where the name Weidman emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Weidman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Weidman research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1686 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Weidman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Weidman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Weide, Weid, Weiden, Waide, Weidler, Weidman, Weidmann, Weidtler, Widmann, Wiede, Wiedmann, Wiedemann and many more.

Early Notables of the Weidman family

Notables of the period with the name Weidman were

  • Moritz Georg Weidmann (1686-1743), a German bookseller and publisher based in Leipzig

Weidman Ranking

In the United States, the name Weidman is the 8,231st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Weidman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Weidman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Matthias Weidman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 2
  • Magdalena Weidman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 2
  • Magdalene Weidman, aged 49, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1735 2
  • Abraham Weidman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1735 2
  • Jacob Weidman, aged 5, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1735 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Weidman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Leonhard Weidman, aged 13, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • Barbara Weidman, aged 43, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • Johann Weidman, aged 53, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • Johannes Weidman, aged 42, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • William Weidman, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Weidman (post 1700) +

  • John Weidman (b. 1946), American librettist and staff writer for Sesame Street
  • Jerome Weidman (1913-1998), American playwright and novelist
  • Charles Weidman (1901-1975), American dancer and choreographer
  • Thomas J. Weidman, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 16th District, 1978 3
  • Louis Weidman Jr., American Republican politician, Postmaster at Beech Grove, Indiana, 1959-61 (acting, 1959-61) 3
  • Evan S. Weidman (d. 1949), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1932 3
  • Weidman Dominick, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1868


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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