Surname Westarp - Meaning and Origin
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Westarp: What does the surname Westarp mean?
Westarp is a surname of Germanic origin, and is the combination of two elements: “West” from the German word “westen” meaning “west” and “Arp” from the German word “arp” meaning “eagle” or “hawk”. This suggests the meaning of the name would be “located in the west” or “from the west”.
The origin of Westarp is believed to stem back to the times of the Germanic tribes living in northern and western Europe. These tribes often used a form of heraldry and symbolism to identify which particular tribe or clan they were a part of. In the case of the Westarp family, the eagle or hawk is likely a representation of their tribe or clan.
The Westarp name is found in records dating back to the early 1400s in northwestern Germany. Over time, the Westarp surname spread across Europe and the United States. Today, it is most common in northern and western Germany as well as in parts of the United States.
The Westarp name stands for a strong connection to the past, as well as loyalty and resiliency. It is a name that carries with it a history of belonging to a specific region and culture, and those that carry the name can be proud of their Germanic heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisWestarp: Where does the name Westarp come from?
The last name Westarp is primarily found in parts of Germany today. It is particularly concentrated in Bavaria, in the southern border states of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, and in Hamburg. The city of Hamburg has the highest number of Westarp surnames in Germany according to the 2015 Last Name Atlas.
The highest numbers of Westarp individuals outside of Germany are found in the United States and Austria. This is most likely due to migration patterns during the 19th and 20th centuries from Germans to these countries. It is also possible to find Westarp individuals in Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK, as well as other countries around the world.
The particulars of the origin of Westarp is still a matter of debate. Some sources suggest that the name is derived from Old German words meaning “West manor” or “West village”, while other sources say that the name could come from the Middle Low German words “vest” and “arbe”, meaning “west” and “work”. Whatever the origin, Westarp is still a common name in parts of Germany and other countries today.
Variations of the surname Westarp
The surname Westarp is of German origins and can be seen with various spellings, surnames and variants. Many families have adopted it throughout the years.
One variant of Westarp may be Westharf. This version includes the phonetic version of the “a” sound from the original name and the “arf” from the middle.
Another spelling of Westarp might be Westhorf. This variation is more similar to the original German version of the surname through the long “o” sound.
Surnames can take on various different spellings and variants over time with various families. Other German surnames related to the Westarp name include Wextrapp, Westarpf, Westahrf, Wessthorf, and Vestharf.
The surname Westarp is not necessarily unique to Germany.Some families with the surname have migrated to the United States, taking the surname with them and settling in different states. As such, some may find spellings like Wessthorn and Wesstherp in America.
Every family's surname takes on a different identity, with a history to tell. The Westarp surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
It is likely that more variants of the surname will appear over time, as it is passed to new generations. Whether it is spelled Westarp, Westharf or Westhorf, these surnames are all of the same origin, from German roots.
Famous people with the name Westarp
- Baron Rudolf von Westarp: German politician
- Burkhard von Westarp: German economist
- Peter von Westarp: German newspaper editor
- Hermann von Westarp: German military officer
- Fred Westarp: American comedian
- Gary W. Westarp: American professor
- Edith Westarp: German defense lawyer
- Jörg Westarp: German writer
- Fgey von Westarp: Austrian cellist
- Robert Westarp: American physicist