Wett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany

Etymology of Wett

The surname Wett, can have several possible origins. Firstly the name may have originated in a nickname, derived from a physical attribute or personal characteristic of the bearer. In this case, the name would come from the German word "wett" meaning "equal, even" and "paid off" or "wette" meaning "mortgage contract, legal obligation, pledge, stake (in a bet), compensation, fine."

The name could come from the Middle High German "weter" meaning "weather," indicating someone who is good in forecasting the weather. This connection can be seen when paired with the compound "sage," to create Wettersage, or weather prophet. The surname Wett, may also be of toponymic origin, from the place where the original bearer once lived or held land.

There are many places names with the root "Wett" in Germany, such as Wetter near Marburg, Wettern in Hamburg, Weetfeld near Hamm, as well as the river Wetterau an der Ruhr near Nelle. Another possibility is that Wett is of locative origin, derived from a geographical feature near where the bearer lived. The name, in this case, could come from either "Wette" meaning a small pond for horses or from the Middle High German word "weeter" meaning "storms and sprinkling weather" or from the English word "wet."

Finally, the name may be patronymic, from the name of the father of the original bearer. In this instance, the name derives from the Germanic name Widerold which in turn derives from the Middle High German "witu" meaning "wood" or the Old High German "wit" meaning "wide." The element "Wett" can often be found attached to other elements to form compound names such as Wetegrove, Wetteborn, Wetterhans, Wettermann, Wetterrauber, and Wettlaufen.

Early Origins of the Wett family

Early History of the Wett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wett research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1401, 1495 and 1648 are included under the topic Early Wett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wett Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wett, Wette, de Wette, Wetter, Wetten, Wettlaufer, Wetegrove, Wetteborn, Wetterle, Wettmar, Wettering, Wetterhans, Wetterhahn, Wettermann, Wetterrauber and many more.

Early Notables of the Wett family

Notables of the time included

• the Wettin family, who had been powerful since the Middle Ages, at times controlling Thuringia and Saxony...
• One branch became royalty in England, when Edward VII, the son of Queen Victoria and Albert, a prince of the German duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, whose family name was Wettin, became the first Briti...
• The family name Wettin was later changed to Windsor, in deference to anti-German sentiment during WWI...