Weider History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The history of the Weider family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in Shropshire. The name Weider indicates that the original bearer of the name lived close to a prominent body of water such as a lake or river.

"Water was the normal medieval pronunciation of Walter. Theobald Walter is also called Theobaldus filius Walteri, Theobaldus Walteri and Tebaut Water in the Feet of Fines for Lancashire 1212-1236." 1

Another reputable source has another theory about the origin of the name. "In some dialects, the word water is applied to lakes and rivers, as Ullswater, Derwent-water, Black-water. Upon the adoption of surnames by the common people, a person who resided near such a place would be called William or John Atte-Water, still retained in Attwater; but on the omission of the preposition in the XV. century, the name was pluralized to Waters. The latinizations are De Aqua and Ad Aquam." 2

And another source claims it was "a name given to one who navigated the waters, or resided near them." 3

Ralph Wader of Guader, Earl of Norfolk (fl. 1070), was "son of Ralph the Staller (d. 1066). This Ralph is frequently referred to in Domesday Book as having held various estates, and is twice mentioned as 'Radulfus comes vetus' (ii. 128b, 129), and on one other occasion as 'Radulfus Stalra' and father of Ralph Guader." 4

Early Origins of the Weider family

The surname Weider was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, in Ludlow, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Waterus de Cantelupo was listed in Lincolnshire in c. 1135; and later John Watter was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Warwickshire in 1214. Richard Wauter and Roger Water were found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and a few years later, Hugh Water was listed in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1279. Alice Waters was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327 and John Wauters was listed in Warwickshire in 1348. 1

Early History of the Weider family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Weider research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1610, 1731, 1754, 1774, 1777, 1797, 1816, 1840, 1841, 1842 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Weider History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Weider Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Weider include Waters, Water and others.

Early Notables of the Weider family

Notables of the family at this time include John Waters FitzGeorge of Newcastle, whose grandson became Count Waters, Baron and Seigneur of Mainsfort in the province of Bery in France.Sir John Waters (1774-1842), Welsh lieutenant-general, was born in 1774 at Tyfry, near Welsh St. Donats, Glamorganshire. His grandfather, Edward Waters of Pittcott, was High Sheriff of Glamorganshire in 1754. His father, whose name is not ascertained, died young, leaving a large family. The Marquis of Bute obtained a commission for the son in the 1st (Royal Scots) foot on 2 Aug. 1797. He was given the colonelcy of the 81st foot...
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Weider Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Weider family to Ireland

Some of the Weider family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Weider migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Weider or a variant listed above:

Weider Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Mchle Weider, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "William and Sarah" 5
Caspar Weider, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 5
Andrew Weider, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1763 5
Adam Weider, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 5
Christr Weider, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Weider Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Karl Weider, who arrived in North America in 1871 5
Vincent Weider, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Weider (post 1700) +

John Weider (b. 1947), English rock musician who plays guitar, bass, and violin, best known as the bass player for the British band, Family from 1969 to 1971
Wolfgang Weider (1933-2024), German Roman Catholic prelate, auxiliary bishop of Berlin (1982-2009)
Bjarne Odd Weider (1913-1985), Norwegian clergyman, Bishop of the Diocese of Sor-Halogaland from 1969 until 1982
Benjamin "Ben" Weider OC CQ (1923-2008), Canadian co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness with his brother Joe
Josef Edwin "Joe" Weider (1919-2013), Canadian co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders, creator of the Mr. Olympia, the Ms. Olympia contests

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)