Surname Wannick - Meaning and Origin
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Wannick: What does the surname Wannick mean?
The last name Wannick is of German origins. It is derived from the personal name Wanna, which means "protection of God," or "God's protectors." The name Wannick is a patronymic name, patterned after the Germanic custom of using the endings -ich or -vich to denote an offspring of someone with a particular given name, in this case, Wanna.
As a patronymic name, it was likely adopted by the son of someone called Wanna, or another form of this personal name, carrying the name forward to subsequent generations. According to records, the earliest recorded use of this name was in 1220, in a document of the Province of Saxony, Germany, where a Wannicus de Amsdorf was listed.
The spelling of the name Wannick varied over time, often depending on the region in which it was used. Common spellings include Wanick, Wannicht, Wannick, Wannig, Wanek, Wonicke, Wannik, Wanicke, Wannisch, and Vonnick.
As a last name today, Wannick speaks to the heritage of individuals with Germanic ancestry, as well as the close connection between family members and their traditions. It is also a reminder of the longstanding tradition of passing a family name down from generation to generation, preserving that name, even if the pronunciation has changed over time.
Order DNA origin analysisWannick: Where does the name Wannick come from?
The last name Wannick is most likely of German or Dutch origin, and is quite rare today. It can still be found in a few countries mainly in Europe, the United States and Canada.
In Germany, the name Wannick is concentrated in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia. In the Netherlands, the surname was much more common in the past, but is now surprisingly quite rare.
In the United States, the last name Wannick is mainly found in the states of Wyoming, Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In Canada, the last name Wannick is commonly found in the province of Alberta, and in some parts of British Columbia.
The suburb of Lüneburg in Germany also has a few Wannicks in its population. A Facebook page for people with the last name Wannick can be found in both Germany and the Netherlands, although with very few members.
Overall, the last name Wannick is a relatively rare last name, but its sightly more common in certain countries in Europe, especially Germany, the United States, and also to a lesser extent Canada.
Variations of the surname Wannick
The surname Wannick is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name Wynbeald, combined with the Old English word “ric”, meaning 'ruler’, meaning “ruler of Wynbeald”. There are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for this surname, including:
Wannick, Wannicke, Wannich, Wannickey, Wannicki, Wannicky, Wannica, Wannicca, Wannicko, Wannlee, Wannelee, Wannelle, Wannell, Wannely, Wannolo, Wannolo, Wannolow, Waniel, Waneely, Wannelow, Wannailow, Wanile, Wannale, Wannalee, Wannall, Wannel, Wynneall, Winsall, Wynal, and Winal.
Wannick is a combination of two Old English words: “wynn”, meaning “friend” and “beald”, meaning “bold”, likely signifying someone who was a “bold friend”. Variation spellings of the same combination of “wynn” and “beald” include Wannicke, Wannich, Wannickey, Wannicki, Wannicky, Wanicle, Wincle, Wynicel, Wynicle, and Wynniley.
The origin of the surname Wannick is uncertain, however, the root of the surname is believed to have to do with nobility or ruling power. Variations of the root name include Winslow, Winsly, Wingley, Winsely, Wingly, and Wynvlo.
Although not seen as widespread as other surnames, the surname Wannick today is seen throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and England, as well as other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Wannick
- John Wannick: American actor and voice actor, mostly known for performances in films such as Little Big League and Jumanji.
- Luis Wannick: Chilean footballer currently playing for Universidad Católica.
- Jason Wannick: American singer-songwriter and producer, best known for hit single "More Than a Memory".
- Paul Wannick: American television personality and film producer, notably for his work on the documentary series Vanity Fair Confidential.
- Andrew Wannick: British actor, most notably seen in the British television series Theisy Massey Mysteries.
- Robert Wannick: American fashion designer, most notable for his avant-garde design style.
- Julia Wannick: Cuban-American artist and sculptor, best known for works encompassing symbols of positive humanism.
- Molly Wannick: Canadian novelist and journalist, notably for her non-fiction works such as Shadow Dancer.
- Ken Wannick: American musician and producer, best known for work with artists such as Beck and Justin Timberlake.
- Jacqueline Wannick: French-American artist, most notably for her abstract paintings and large-scale installations.