This interesting surname has two possible origins. The first is that it is of locational derivation, from a place called Wetteren, south-west of Ghent in Belgium. However, in some instances, the surname may also be of early medieval German origin, and derive from a nickname for somebody who was known to have a fiery temper, or one who was quick to anger, from the German "wettern", thunder. Early examples of the surname found in German Church Registers include the marriage of Maria Wettern and Georg Hoffman on September 9th 1627, at Berleburg Stadt, Westfallen, and the marriage of Werner Wettern and Gertrut Hackenbrachts on March 24th 1631, also at Berleburg Stadt. The place in Belgium is near the Dutch border, hence the following recordings in Dutch Church Registers: the christening of Trijntje Van Wetteren at Lisse, on December 18th 1700, and the marriage of Dirk Jausze Van Wetterern and Willemtje Guldemont on May 4th 1715, at Sassenheim. Palmyre Wetteren was born on July 7th 1858, at Ghlin, Hainant, Belgium. The Coat of Arms most associated with the name shows a green shield with a silver chevron, and three silver pigs, two in chief and one in base. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes Wettern, which was dated May 27th 1624, marriage to Margreta Huesters, at Berleburg Stadt, Westfallen, Germany, during the reign of Ferdinand 11, Holy Roman Emperor, 1619 - 1637. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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