Witches History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Witches

What does the name Witches mean?

The distinguished German surname Witches comes from the former southwestern duchy of Swabia, and has several possible origins. Firstly, it may be derived from the Germanic personal name "Wido," which itself derives from either the Old High German "witu," meaning "forest," or the Old High German "wit," meaning "wide." Alternatively, the name may be derived from the place names "Wittichen" or "Widig."

Early Origins of the Witches family

The surname Witches was first found in southern Germany, where it was extremely popular in the Middle Ages as a first name due to its use in the Nibelungenlied, a Middle High German epic poem written in the 12th century. Wittich was the mythical hero of the Dietrich Sage, and it is likely that the original bearer of the surname was the son of someone who was named Wittig out of admiration for this hero.

Early History of the Witches family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Witches research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1318, 1395, 1419, 1460, 1610, 1654, 1684, 1836 and 1906 are included under the topic Early Witches History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Witches Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wittig, Wittich, Weddig, Witche, Witicher, Witigo and others.

Early Notables of the Witches family

More information is included under the topic Early Witches Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Witches family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Johannes Wittig, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1764; Ernst Wittig, a mercenary from Brunswick who settled in Canada after fighting in the American Revolution.