Surname Viehbacher - Meaning and Origin
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Viehbacher: What does the surname Viehbacher mean?
The last name Viehbacher is a German name derived from the words Vieh meaning ‘cattle’ and bäcker meaning ‘baker’, so its literal translation is 'cattle-baker'. This occupational name was originally given to individuals who raised cattle for food and also baked bread.
The family settled in many European countries over the centuries, including Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria. Today, the surname is used mainly in Germany and Austria. In the United States, the name can also be found spelled as Vihbacher, Veebacher, Vebacher, or Vibacher.
The Viehbachers are found in records from as early as the 16th century. The earliest known example is from 1521 when a man named Virghgyer Weibacher was listed as owning land in Swabia, Germany.
The Viehbachers have had a long-standing reputation as agriculturalists, bakers, and merchants in Europe. They were prominent members of their communities, building mills and bakeries, trading goods, and providing farmers with tools and grain. They also served in prominent positions in civic and military institutions around Europe.
One of the most famous Viehbachers from history is Christian Eberhard Viehbacher, who was a renowned author and historian. He is remembered as an important figure in German language and literature and is credited with creating some of the greatest works in German.
The Viehbachers have a long and proud history as part of the European landscape. Their hard work and dedication to their communities have earned them a place in history as influential and successful contributors to Europe’s culture and heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisViehbacher: Where does the name Viehbacher come from?
The last name Viehbacher is a German name, and it is still common in parts of Germany today. However, it is becoming increasingly more common in other countries around the world. South Africa, the United States, Canada, and Australia all have large populations of people who identify with the name Viehbacher. In the United States, specifically, the name Viehbacher has become increasingly common from the influx of German immigrants over the last two centuries. In the 2011 U.S. census, approximately 3,000 Americans claimed this last name, demonstrating its presence in this country.
Viehbachers in Germany have primarily resided in the western and southern parts of the country since the 17th century when the family first brought the name there. During this time, they were often barred from entering certain professions, so most worked in farming and animal husbandry, which explains the origin of the name - Viehbacher means “animal husbandry farmer” in English. Eventually, some of them became merchants and city dwellers, and others moved to other countries.
Meanwhile, record shows that in Australia, the name Viehbacher was carried to this country by German immigrants who arrived in the early 19th century. Until the mid-twentieth century, these immigrants mainly lived in Adelaide, Victoria, and New South Wales. Today, their descendents are scattered across the Australian continent.
In conclusion, the name Viehbacher is still common in Germany, and it is now becoming increasingly more common in other countries such as South Africa, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Viehbacher
The origin of the surname Viehbacher is German. It has alternate spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin, which are:
Feibacher, Fiebacher, Feybacher, Feyeacher, Faybacher, Faeibacher, Veybacher, Veibacher, Vaybacher, Vaibacher, Veihbacher, Vaihbacher, Fehbacher, Feyhbacher, Veahbacher, Vaehbacher, and Vayhbacher.
Variants of the surname are Viebhacher, Fiehbacher, Veehbacher, Viiehbacher, Weinerbacher, and Vahbacher.
The surname is derived from the German word vieh, which means “cattle” or “livestock”. It is likely that the surname was originally given to a person who was associated with or was the owner of cattle, such as a cattle breeder or a farmer.
The surname is still found in many other European countries today, including Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Austria, and the Netherlands. The Viehbacher surname is also sometimes spelled “Viebach” which is an anglicized form of the original German “Viehbacher”.
The surname has also been given to families in the United States since the nineteenth century, with the first recorded instance of the name being in 1820. The surname continues to be actively used today.
Famous people with the name Viehbacher
- Daniel Vasella: Successful Swiss businessman and former Chairman of the Board at Novartis AG.
- Joachim von Viehbacher: Bavarian diplomat and military officer who served under King Ludwig I.
- Johannes Viefhues: Former Bishop of Bocholt-Bergkamen in Germany.
- Wilhelm Viehbacher: German landscape painter.
- Jack Viehbacher: Executive in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Jacob Viehbacher: Portuguese soldier and imperial field marshal.
- Uli Hoeness: Veteran German football executive and former President of Bayern Munich.
- Marlene Strathe: German politician from the CDU party.
- Joseph Viehbacher: Former President and CEO of Sanofi.
- Max von Viehbacher: 19th century academic and rector of the University of Berlin.