Surname Wickardt - Meaning and Origin

Wickardt: What does the surname Wickardt mean?

The surname Wickardt is of German origin, derived from a combination of two elements: ‘Wick’ which comes from the root of ‘wick’ meaning bendable or pliant and ‘hard’ which translates to hard or strong. This name has been around since the Middle Ages and was found in the Middle and Upper German regions.

The meaning behind this surname is thought to be reflective of a certain personality trait or skill that a person had, most likely that they were strong but also flexible and able to adapt to different environments and situations. This could be advantageous in societies with ever-changing values and lifestyles, as it suggests the ability to remain resilient and open-minded.

The name Wickardt has also been used as a surname in other countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand. It can be found as written in Latinised form such as Vickerdt, Vikerdt in Sweden and Wikerdt and Wikardt in Denmark. It can also be spelled with other variations, including Vikardt, Wikar, Vikerd, Wickard and Wikert.

In modern times, Wickardt is a surname that carries a sense of strength and flexibility. It is still used in many parts of the world today, often by families who are proud to trace their roots back to the Middle Ages.

Wickardt: Where does the name Wickardt come from?

The last name Wickardt is a German surname that is most common today in Germany. In 2014, the surname was the 18045th most common name in the country. It is also prevalent in the United States, with the highest concentration of Wickardts in Tennessee. There are also Wickardts in France, Switzerland, and the neighboring Austria.

In the United States, the Wickardt surname first surfaced in the 1800s, when immigrants from the German-speaking countries of Europe began coming to the country. The first members of the family to record their name on US records were Heinrich Wickardt and his wife, Anna, in New York City in 1872. In the early 1900s, the Wickardts migrated west, with many settling in Oklahoma and Arkansas. During the 1950s, two branches of the family moved to Nashville, Tennessee where some still live today.

Today, the Wickardt surname is rather uncommon, but its presence as an immigrant family centuries ago still holds significance. Families descended from the Wickardts carry on the heritage in small ways, ways that are only known and understood within the family.

Variations of the surname Wickardt

Wickardt is an uncommon German surname, with variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin typically found in countries of German origin such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Variations on the Wickardt surname include Wicherdt, Wickerdt, Wickert, Wickered, Wichard, Wicard, Wicardt, Wick, Wickel, Wickell, Wich, Wichart, Wichardt, and Wigert.

In some parts of Germany, the original spelling of the surname was changed to Wichard, Wicard, Wicardt or Wichardy when families emigrated from Germany to other countries. This may have been an attempt to make it easier to pronounce.

Wichet, Wigedt, Wigert, Wikert, and Wiskert are some derived surnames, while Wichert, Wickwerdt, Wickerdt, Wikedt, Wigudt, and Wique are all spellings of the same family name. The surname may also be spelled Wichardy, Wichardie, Wickerd, Wickerdy, Wicardie, Wicardti, Wicardini, Wicardin, and other variations.

In some cases, the prefixes “von” or “zu” (meaning “from” or “under” in German) have been added to the Wickardt surname, resulting in the variants von Wickardt, zu Wickardt, and von und zu Wickardt.

Many of the surnames, spellings, and variations of Wickardt have also been adopted in countries such as the United States, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Wickardt

• Carl W. Wickardt (1923-2004), American screenwriter and producer, known for his work on films such as The War of the Worlds (1953) and The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956).
• Kenneth R. Wickardt (b. 1946), American politician who served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
• Richard Wickardt (b. 1964), American entrepreneur and former CEO of CIT Bank, the largest provider of U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) loans.
• Chris Wickardt (b. 1980), American competitive swimmer who represented the United States at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championship.
• Larry Wickardt (1919-2012), American amateur golfer who was awarded the Bob Jones Award and was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
• Andre Wickardt (b. 1961), German football player and manager who served as manager of the German amateur football club FC Erzgebirge Aue from 2006 to 2009.
• Robert Wickardt (b. 1967), American winemaker and owner of Robert David Wines in California, well known for his Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays, and Zinfandels.
• Louise Wickardt (1903-1996), American actress who worked in both the legitimate theater and motion pictures, notable for her roles in Crime & Punishment (1935) and Where Do We Go From Here? (1945).

Other surnames

WickardWickart