What does the name Wessel Mean?

Answer 1

I have found that the closest and most accurate meaning for the name 'Wessel' is from the word for the animal 'Weasel'.

Of course the spelling would be archaic German, interpreted to English spelling so may not be exactly right .

Sorry, but this is as close as I can get.

The meaning I found was reinforced by the original family crest having three weasels on it (definitely NOT what people on various other commercial websites have. ).

The following answer is more a 'History and origin of the name' rather than the meaning.

From my own family research. the closest (and I'm quite sure the most accurate for at least my ancestry line ) for the origin of the name Wessel originated from a Parish near Hamburg in the North of Germany named Wesel. The Parish became a Hamlet and then a village.

Most people that have researched their own ancestry looking for the name 'Wessel' or spelling close to it i.e Wessels etc. find that their name also originates from the Northern part of what is now Germany. The Parish of Wesel that I found, went back to at least the middle ages.

I'm sure there are other origins for the name from other areas of Europe and the world eg Wessex in Britain or different meanings but the same spelling from other countries. Or names that have been scribbled down in Immigration lists that when re-entered spelt wrong, therefore changing the spelling of the original name forever.

Hope this helps.