Surname Derichsweiler - Meaning and Origin
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Derichsweiler: What does the surname Derichsweiler mean?
Derichsweiler is a surname that originates from Germany. It is derived from the German words "der" (which means, "the") and "ichsweiler" (which means, "minekeeper"). Together, it could be translated as "the minekeeper" - suggesting that the origin of the name likely has something to do with mining.
The name likely appeared in the early Middle Ages, when kings or nobles would grant rights to certain individuals to manage their mines. The individual was given the title of Derichsweiler, or the keeper of the mine. This could include activities such as overseeing workers, making sure that operations ran smoothly, and ensuring the lead ore was processed and transported correctly.
It is likely that the individual that was chosen for this role held a certain degree of power and prestige within the community. Over time, as a way to honor their ancestor’s place in the community, the family adopted the name Derichsweiler.
The Derichsweiler surname can be found throughout Germany, as well as countries where German migrants settled, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Through their travels, members of the Derichsweiler family have kept their traditional name, ensuring the legacy and history of this unique name lives on.
Order DNA origin analysisDerichsweiler: Where does the name Derichsweiler come from?
The last name Derichsweiler is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today, particularly in western regions such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, as well as in parts of the former East Germany like Saxony-Anhalt, the small German-speaking enclave of Graubünden in Switzerland, and even South Tyrol, which is part of Italy. It is estimated that in Germany there are just shy of 1400 people who are part of or descend from a Derichsweiler family. Of the Austrian population, about 15 people still bear the Derichsweiler surname.
The Derichsweiler name in these countries is believed to have originated with a West Germanic tribe known as the Franks. This tribe slowly migrated into Belgium and the Hessen region of Germany from what is today Holland and the Netherlands. It is here, in the Hessian region, where the origin of the Derichsweiler name likely started. The name itself is likely derived from the old German words ‘deri’ meaning ‘people’ and ‘schwaler’ meaning ‘servant’, thus translating to ‘people’s servant’.
Over the course of many centuries, the Derichsweiler family spread throughout the region, mixing and intermarrying with other Germanic tribes and families, many of which still exist today. The Derichsweiler name is not overly common outside of Germany and Austria today, but people of the Derichsweiler family have emigrated to many different parts of the world, whether for work or other reasons.
Variations of the surname Derichsweiler
The surname Derichsweiler is believed to be derived from the German or Swiss toponym “Derichsweilen”, which was a place located in the state of Zurich, Switzerland. The toponym itself is believed to have been derived from the Old German personal name “Derich”, with the “weilen” suffix added to indicate a place name.
Common variants of the name Derichsweiler include: Dirichsweiler, Drichswiler, Drichsweiler, Dirksweiler, Derksweiler, Derks, and Drichs. Spelling variants include: Derichswiller, Derickzwiler, Derchsveiler, Dericsweiller, Dirichsweiller, Dercherswiler, and Dirkswiler.
Surnames of similar origin or in variant spellings include: Derk, Dirks, Dirksen, Dirksen, Dirkson, Dirkzon, Dirkson, Dirksin, Dirksma, Dirkzema, Derlien, Derlin, Dirlein, Dirleman, Dirlemann, Derlich, Derlick, Derrah, Dirrah, and Dirren.
The surnames of Derichsweiler and its variants are believed to have been borne by families that originally hailed from the area near the place Derichsweilen in Zurich. Though found in many countries around the world today, the surname still seems to be especially concentrated in the United States, particularly in the Midwest.
Famous people with the name Derichsweiler
- Georg Derichsweiler, a former cyclist from Germany who raced in the UCI, the world governing body of competitive cycling, during the 1980s.
- Dieter Derichsweiler, considered one of the most successful skiers in Germany during his lifetime, who had representation for the 1972 Winter Olympics.
- Uwe Derichsweiler, a former German pole vaulter who competed for West Germany, earning a fourth-place finish at the 1982 European Athletics Championships in Athens.
- Simon Derichsweiler, a professional triathlete and Ironman finisher in 2016.
- Robert Derichsweiler, a former defensive footballer during the 1950s and 1960s, with stints in the Oberliga and the Regionalliga, alongside stints in the German national amateur football team.
- Kurt Derichsweiler, a former founder of the Feuerwehrschule Bayern, a recognised private fire fighting school in Germany.
- Hans-Martin Derichsweiler, a German classical violinist and long-time member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Saarbrücken.
- Alexander Derichsweiler, a German professional poker player known to have won several Grand Series of Poker events in Las Vegas.
- Gregor Derichsweiler, a former German ice hockey goaltender with an 11-year professional career that included stints with clubs in USA, Germany and Switzerland’s Elite League.
- Rupert Derichsweiler, a well-known Austro-German painter who exhibited his abstract works at many art galleries in Germany and Italy between the 1970 and 1980s.