Weyher family
The Weyher family was a German-origin noble family that became prominent in Pomerania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Weyher family was a historical noble lineage whose origins are traced to Würzburg in Germany and whose most significant political and ecclesiastical influence developed in Pomerania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The family name appears in several forms, including Weyher, Wejher, Weiher, Waier, Weier and Weiger; in Polish historical usage, the family is often referred to as the Weyherowie or Wejherowie. These spelling variations reflect the family’s movement across German- and Polish-speaking regions and the differing conventions used in historical records. The lineage’s Pomeranian presence is associated with Dietrich von Weiher, also known in Latinized form as Theodericus Weyher. Klaus Weiher, described as belonging to the noble von Weyher family, is credited with establishing the Polish line. Through that branch, members of the family entered the administrative, military and ecclesiastical structures of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Their offices included bishoprics, starosties, castellanates and voivodeships, placing the family among the influential noble houses active in the region during the early modern period. Martin Weiher, born in 1512, became the second Lutheran bishop of Cammin and served until his death in 1556. His career illustrates the family’s role in the religious and political institutions of sixteenth-century Pomerania. Ernest Wejher, who lived from 1517 to 1598, held the offices of voivode of Chełmno and starost of Puck. His sons and descendants continued the family’s public role. Jan Wejher served as starost of Puck, while Melchior Wejher held economic and administrative responsibilities connected with Malbork and later became castellan of Elbląg and voivode of Chełmno. During the seventeenth century, the family’s prominence was particularly visible in military and territorial administration. Mikołaj Wejher became voivode of Malbork in 1641 and voivode of Chełmno in 1643, in addition to holding starosties including Radzyń Chełmiński and Kowalewo Pomorskie. Ludwik Wejher pursued a military and governmental career. He was a colonel in the Polish army, took part in the defence of Zamość in 1648 and later commanded the defence of Malbork in 1656. He also held the offices of castellan of Elbląg, voivode of Pomerania and starost of Wałcz. Jakub Wejher, another son of Jan Wejher, was among the best-known members of the family. He served as voivode of Malbork and founded the settlement known in historical sources as Weihersfrei, Weyhersfrey or Neustadt, now Wejherowo. The foundation connected the family name with the development of an enduring urban centre in Pomerania. The Weyher family is therefore best understood as a historical noble house rather than a modern commercial brand. Its significance rests on lineage, officeholding, military service, religious authority and territorial patronage. The available reference material does not establish a continuing commercial organization, a current owner, a corporate headquarters or active product lines under the name Weyher. A later reference also associates Ludwig von Weyher with Gut Langfuhr and with advice recorded in an eighteenth-century work by Samuel Luther von Geret of Thorn, but the supplied material does not provide enough detail to establish a complete account of that branch or its later history.
History
The Weyher family was a noble lineage of German origin whose early roots are traced to Würzburg. Its name appears in a number of historical spellings, including Weyher, Wejher, Weiher, Waier, Weier and Weiger. In Polish sources, members of the family are commonly associated with the forms Wejher and Wejherowie. Such variation reflects the family’s presence in territories where German and Polish languages, administrative systems and documentary traditions overlapped. The family’s Pomeranian history is linked to Dietrich von Weiher, also called Theodericus Weyher. Klaus Weiher, or Claus von Weyher, is identified as the founder of the Polish line. Descendants of that branch became active in the political, military and religious institutions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Their careers show how noble families could extend influence through a combination of landholding, public office, church authority and service to the state. Martin Weiher, the son of Klaus Weiher and Sophie von Ramel, was born in 1512 and became the second Lutheran bishop of Cammin. He died in 1556. His ecclesiastical office placed the family within the religious transformations and institutional politics of sixteenth-century Pomerania. Ernest Wejher, born in 1517, became voivode of Chełmno and starost of Puck before his death in 1598. These offices combined regional governance with judicial, military and fiscal responsibilities. The next generation continued the family’s involvement in public administration. Jan Wejher, born in 1580, served as starost of Puck. His brother Melchior Wejher, born in 1574, was associated with the administration of Malbork, served as castellan of Elbląg and became voivode of Chełmno. Their careers demonstrate the family’s integration into the office-holding elite of Royal Prussia and the wider Commonwealth. The family reached a particularly visible stage of political and military prominence in the seventeenth century. Mikołaj Wejher, a son of Jan Wejher and Anna Szczawińska, became voivode of Malbork in 1641 and voivode of Chełmno in 1643. He also held the starosties of Radzyń Chełmiński and Kowalewo Pomorskie. Ludwik Wejher, another son of Jan and Anna, became a colonel in the Polish army in 1647. He commanded the defence of Zamość during the events of 1648 and later participated in the defence of Malbork in 1656. Alongside his military responsibilities, he held high civil and territorial offices, including castellan of Elbląg, voivode of Pomerania and starost of Wałcz. Jakub Wejher, born in 1609, was another major figure of the family. He became voivode of Malbork and is remembered as the founder of a settlement that historical sources call Weihersfrei, Weyhersfrey or Neustadt. The town is now known as Wejherowo. Its foundation gave the family name a lasting geographical association in Pomerania and illustrates the role of noble patrons in establishing and developing settlements. A later figure, Ludwig von Weyher, is associated with Gut Langfuhr. The supplied reference material states that he received advice in 1771 and was mentioned in a work by Samuel Luther von Geret of Thorn, but it does not provide sufficient context to reconstruct his full biography or the subsequent history of the family. The available evidence likewise does not establish whether the family retained a continuous unified political status after the early modern period. The Weyher family should not be classified as a modern consumer or corporate brand. Its historical identity is that of a noble house whose members held offices in Pomerania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The most documented period of prominence extends from the sixteenth through the seventeenth centuries, with individual references continuing into the eighteenth century.
- 1656
Defence of Malbork
[1]Ludwik Wejher later commanded the defence of Malbork.
- 1648
Defence of Zamość
[1]Ludwik Wejher commanded the defence of Zamość during his military career in the Polish army.
- 1643
Mikołaj Wejher becomes voivode of Chełmno
[1]Mikołaj Wejher became voivode of Chełmno while also holding several starosties.
- 1641
Mikołaj Wejher becomes voivode of Malbork
[1]Mikołaj Wejher assumed the office of voivode of Malbork.
- 1580
Birth of Jan Wejher
[1]Jan Wejher was born into the branch descended from Ernest Wejher and later served as starost of Puck.
- 1556
Death of Martin Weiher
[1]Martin Weiher died after serving as the second Lutheran bishop of Cammin.
- 1512
Birth of Martin Weiher
[1]Martin Weiher was born as the son of Klaus Weiher and Sophie von Ramel; he later became the second Lutheran bishop of Cammin.
Origins traced to Würzburg
[1]The family’s origins are traced to Würzburg in Germany before its later prominence in Pomerania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Establishment of the Polish line
[1]Klaus Weiher, also known as Claus von Weyher, is identified as the founder of the Polish line of the family.
Foundation of Wejherowo
[1]Jakub Wejher founded the settlement historically known as Weihersfrei, Weyhersfrey or Neustadt, now Wejherowo.
Products and positioning
Historical noble family and lineage, not a documented contemporary commercial brand.
Sources1 sources
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