WAISS Origin of surname
WAISS, VAIS
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from a physical characteristic or nickname. The name is also a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.
Waiss and Vais are variants of Weiss, which means "white" in German. As a family name derived from a personal nickname it referred to persons with white hair, beard or skin.
This surname is also associated with towns and cities in Central and Eastern European countries, among them Weissenburg/Wissembourg in Alsace, eastern France; Weisweil in Baden, Germany; Stuhlweissenburg/Szekesfehervar in west central Hungary; and Weissenburg/Alba Iulia in Transylvania, central Romania. Some variants, like Weissbecker (literally "white baker" in German), are names deriving from certain trades and occupations. Weiss is recorded as a Jewish family name in 1197 in Wuerzburg, Germany, with Samuel Weiss, also known as Albus. Weisswasser is documented in 1678; Weissweiler in 1687; Weisskopf in 1690; Weisweiler in 1700; Weisel and Weiselitz in 1711; Weissweiller in 1743; Weissburg in the 18th century; Weis and Weissenburger in 1808; Weiskopf in 1891; and Waiskof in 1954. In the 19th century Vais is documented as a Jewish surname with the Romanian soldier Leiba Vais, who fought in Romania's war of independence in 1877.
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from a physical characteristic or nickname. The name is also a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.
Waiss and Vais are variants of Weiss, which means "white" in German. As a family name derived from a personal nickname it referred to persons with white hair, beard or skin.
This surname is also associated with towns and cities in Central and Eastern European countries, among them Weissenburg/Wissembourg in Alsace, eastern France; Weisweil in Baden, Germany; Stuhlweissenburg/Szekesfehervar in west central Hungary; and Weissenburg/Alba Iulia in Transylvania, central Romania. Some variants, like Weissbecker (literally "white baker" in German), are names deriving from certain trades and occupations. Weiss is recorded as a Jewish family name in 1197 in Wuerzburg, Germany, with Samuel Weiss, also known as Albus. Weisswasser is documented in 1678; Weissweiler in 1687; Weisskopf in 1690; Weisweiler in 1700; Weisel and Weiselitz in 1711; Weissweiller in 1743; Weissburg in the 18th century; Weis and Weissenburger in 1808; Weiskopf in 1891; and Waiskof in 1954. In the 19th century Vais is documented as a Jewish surname with the Romanian soldier Leiba Vais, who fought in Romania's war of independence in 1877.