Surname Wahls - Meaning and Origin

Wahls: What does the surname Wahls mean?

The last name Wahls is of a German origin and is derived from the Old German word “wal” which means an inhabitant, dweller, or protector. It is likely that the last name Wahls was originally formed by people in the Middle Ages who lived near forests or regions that had various natural features like hills or valleys.

Additionally, the last name Wahls may also be from one of three different places: Waels, a city in northern Germany, Wahlsburg, a village in the state of Thüringen, or Wahlsheim, a municipality in Bavaria. These places were likely home to ancestors of the individuals that took on the surname Wahls.

The last name Wahls can be found in many countries around the world, suggesting that it has been passed down and spread from generations throughout various immigration movements. Today, the last name Wahls is pronounced the same way in countries such as the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Overall, the last name Wahls is most likely associated with a Germanic identity. It serves as a reminder of the way many Germanic families have spread, maintained, and adapted their roots in various places all over the world.

Wahls: Where does the name Wahls come from?

The last name Wahls is today most commonly found in Germany and the United States. In Germany, it is especially concentrated in the northern states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. The surname has been around since the Middle Ages and derives from the German word "Wahl", meaning choice or selection, and suggests that someone with the surname carried a certain kind of influence.

In the United States, the surname is found in many parts of the country. The most common states where the name Wahls appears are Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. This pattern of distribution likely reflects the common path taken by German immigrants in the 19th century, settles in these midwestern states after leaving Germany.

The Wahls surname is also found in Canada, especially Ontario, and small pockets of Scotland, Austria, and Poland. While it's not a particularly common surname, there's a possibility that those with the surname could be related. Since the spelling has remained largely consistent, anyone with the surname Wahls can trace their family line back to its German roots.

Variations of the surname Wahls

The surname Wahls has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Wahlen. This form of the name was most likely derived from the German or Swiss-German surname Wahl, which is derived from the Old German word wahl, meaning “choice.” Other variants of the surname include Wals, Woell, Wahlers, Waell, Waal, Walch, Wahlscheid and Wahlberg.

The surname also has a number of anglicized spellings, including Walls, Walles, Wallis, Walce, Walshe, Walish and Welch. These spellings are especially common in Irish and Welsh contexts. The surname also has a Dutch spelling, Waals, as well as a Scandinavian spelling, Waalen.

Some related surnames include Wall, Walz, Wann, Watt, Wandschneider, Wander, Wald, Wagner, Werkmeister, Weitzel, Witteveen, Wolf and Woestenberg. These surnames are closely related to the Wahls name, but often have different etymologies.

Overall, the surname Wahls is a very varied name, which has resulted in many different variants and spellings. Those with this name can trace their origins back to the German “choice”, which has resulted in many different variations of the name.

Famous people with the name Wahls

• Zach Wahls, American author, activist, and former political candidate.
• Jack Wahls, American actor, comedian, musician, and writer.
• Len Wahls, American entrepreneur and businessman.
• Emily Wahls, American songwriter and producer.
• Garfield Wahls, American physicist and educator.
• Tanya Wahls, American Army veteran and motivational speaker.
• John Wahls, American actor and director.
• Trajan Wahls, American multidisciplinary filmmaker.
• Olga Vencimio-Wahls, American Sound and Music Culture lecturer.
• John Alfred Wahls, American actor who appeared in film and television.
• James Edward Wahls, American composer and music producer.
• Aleah Wahls, American missionary and inspirational speaker.
• Jenea Wahls, American gospel singer, worship leader, and recording artist.
• Sven Wahls, Swedish skipper and winner of Gotland Runt, an annual ocean sailing race.
• Michelle Wahls, American competitive figure skater.
• Roger Wahls, American aviator and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
• Olle Wahls, Swedish actor, theatre director, and artistic leader.
• Elliot Wahls, American director and producer.
• Stefan Wahls, Swedish contemporary artist.
• David Wahls, American astrophysicist and professor.

Other surnames

WahlWahlbergWahleWahlenWahlerWählerWahlersWahlfeilWahlscheidWahlscheidt