Show ContentsWächter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wächter family

The surname Wächter was first found in Hessen, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would shape European history. The name would emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Wächter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wächter research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1779, 1819, 1825, 1828 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Wächter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wächter Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wachter, Waechter, Wachtel, Wachterer, Wachte, Wacht and many more.

Early Notables of the Wächter family

Prominent figures of the time who bore the name Wächter were Carl Eberhard Waechter, Lord Chamberlain at the court of Denmmark, who was raised into the nobility in 1779. He later became the Danish Ambassador to the Upper Rhine region, to Swabia, to the court of the Palatinate...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wächter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wächter Ranking

In the United States, the name Wächter is the 5,108th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


Wächter migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wächter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Wachter, who settled in Georgia in 1741 with his wife Susannah and their two daughters
  • Jacob Wachter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
  • Martin Wachter, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
  • Gabriel Wachter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
  • Hans Georg Wachter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wächter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Catharine Wachter, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • John Wachter, who arrived in Maryland in 1822 2
  • Anna Wachter, who arrived in Baltimore in 1833
  • Dorothea Wachter, who arrived in Texas in 1845 2
  • Nicholas Wachter, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Wächter (post 1700) +

  • Harry Wilcox Wachter (1868-1941), American architect in Toledo
  • Frank Charles Wachter (1861-1910), American politician and Congressman from Maryland
  • Gottlieb Charles Wachter (1865-1928), German-born, American businessman and city commissioner in Bismarck, North Dakota
  • Matthew Walter "Matt" Wachter (b. 1976), American bassist, keyboardist, and the backing vocalist in the rock band Angels & Airwaves
  • Hermann Julius Gustav Wächter (b. 1878), German physician, best remembered for describing Bracht-Wachter bodies
  • Eberhard Georg Friedrich von Wächter (1762-1852), German painter
  • Johann Michael Wächter (1794-1853), Austrian bass-baritone
  • Eberhard Wächter (1929-1992), Austrian baritone
  • Anita Wachter (b. 1967), Austrian gold, four-time silver and three-time bronze medalist World Cup alpine ski racer


The Wächter Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Industria et vigilantia
Motto Translation: By industry and vigilance.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)


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