Surname Waldrum - Meaning and Origin
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Waldrum: What does the surname Waldrum mean?
The last name Waldrum is of Germanic origin and is believed to come from the Old High German ‘wald’ meaning ‘forest’, and ‘ruman’ meaning ‘to ruminate’. It was likely initially used as a topographic name to describe those who lived in a forested area, and over time it was adopted as a surname. It is also believed that the name may originally have been ‘Waldrom’, referring to a courier who travelled through a forest to deliver messages.
The earliest recorded use of the Waldrum surname was in the 13th century, in the parish of Upham in the Winchester district of Hampshire, England. In the years since, the surname has spread throughout the world, with particularly high concentrations in the United States, England, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.
Despite being of Germanic origin, Waldrums are an incredibly diverse group of people. They have been found in a wide range of professions, from famous artists and athletes to farmers and miners. Traditionally, they descend from German families, though recent Waldrums have also been of Spanish, Polish, and Italian origin.
The Waldrum name is indicative of strength and timing. Those who bear the name have a tendency to move quickly and decisively, often showing great thoughtfulness and innovation in their actions. The Waldrum surname will continue to be passed down generationally, and its bearers will continue to have a keen eye on living life with ambition.
Order DNA origin analysisWaldrum: Where does the name Waldrum come from?
The surname Waldrum is most common in the United States today, particularly in the southeastern states and parts of the Midwest. The Old World origin of the Waldrum surname is not known, but it is believed to be of German or Dutch descent.
In the United States, the earliest known Waldrum family is documented in the Virginia Colony in the 1730s. From there, they spread out to North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee in the 19th century. Today, the last name is especially concentrated in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
The Waldrum name is also known to appear across other countries, with a variety of spellings, such as Walldrums in Switzerland and Ireland, Waldrops in Great Britain, and Waldenburger in Germany.
The Waldrum name first became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the last name is especially common in the southern United States, but it is beginning to spread north and west.
Overall, the Waldrum surname is considered to be of German or Dutch origin and is known to be mainly concentrated in the southeastern and some parts of the midwestern United States. It is believed to have been first carried by the Virginia Colony in the 1730s and has since spread to other parts of the country and throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Waldrum
The surname Waldrum has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Waldron, Walderman, Wolldrumm, Waller, Wallers, Wallar, Wallersom, Wallarman, Wollardrum, and Waldermann.
Waldron is the most common variant of the surname Waldrum and is one of the oldest surnames found in England and Scotland. It is derived from the Old English words "waldra" which means "forest" and "dun" which means "hill".
Wolldrumm is another variant of the surname and is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German words "wald" meaning "forest" and "drumm" meaning "hill".
Waller is another spelling and variant of Waldrum. It is derived from the Old German "walhra" which means "forest" and "heri" which means "army".
Wallers is another variant of the surname and is of French origin. It is derived from the Latin word "walterius" which means "leader of the army".
Wallar is the variant used in Sweden and is of Swedish origin. It is derived from the Old Norse words "waldr" which means "forest" and "ar" is an old Norse suffix meaning "army".
Wallersom is the variant used in Denmark and is of Danish origin. It is derived from the Old Danish words "walhorn" which means "forest" and "sonen" which means "son of".
Wallarman is the variant used in the Netherlands and is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle Dutch words "walhermo" which means "forest" and "man" which means "man".
Wollardrum is the variant used in Ireland and is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish words "Tuathal" which means "lord of the tribe" and "druim" which means "ridge".
Waldermann is the variant used in Germany and is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German words, "wal" meaning "forest" and "derman" which means "man".
Famous people with the name Waldrum
- Tracey Waldrum: a British-American actress known for her roles in the British drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates and the American television series Charmed.
- Brian Waldrum: a former American football linebacker who played for the University of Michigan from 1974 to 1977.
- Kim Waldrum: a former American professional soccer player, executive, and women's soccer coach. She was head coach of the 2003 USA U-19 Women's National Team and head coach of the 2002 NCAA National Champion University of Portland Women's Soccer Team.
- Kathleen Waldrum: an American film producer best known for her work on the Academy Award-winning film Little Miss Sunshine.
- Joe Waldrum: an American former professional basketball player who appeared in one game in the National Basketball Association for the Kansas City Kings in the 1988–89 season.
- Dave Waldrum: a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues.
- Jacob Waldrum: a former professional American football linebacker who played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Raiders.
- Bill Waldrum: a former American basketball player and coach who was most recently the head coach of the men's basketball team at Longwood University.
- Chadwaldum Stewart-Tilney: a Jamaican artist best known for his mural work in his country, specifically in Kingston.
- Karon Waldrum: an American former college basketball coach who was the head coach of the teams of the University of Mobile in Alabama.