Surname Wedderwille - Meaning and Origin
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Wedderwille: What does the surname Wedderwille mean?
Wedderwille is a Dutch surname that is likely derived from a place-name containing the elements “wedder” meaning “wet” or “dam” and “wille” meaning “willow”. This suggests that the people living in the area associated with the surname Wedderwille may have been living near a marsh, a waterway, or a willow tree.
Historically, popular names are a reflection of the ancestors’ occupation, traditions, geographical origin, and religious beliefs. Dutch surnames, in particular, often tell a story about the family’s past, as many of them were derived from places and occupations. By examining the name, Wedderwille, you can surmise that the ancestors most likely lived near a wet area such as a marsh or a stream.
The surname Wedderwille may also suggest that the ancestors were farmers, as willows are popularly used in construction, saddlery, and furniture-making. In addition, it is possible that the original holders of the name Wedderwille could have also been involved with fishing and trading as a result of living near a stream.
Nowadays, there are several communities and families that share the surname Wedderwille, living mainly throughout the Netherlands. Although the people today are likely no longer involved in the same occupations as their ancestors, this surname still serves as a reminder of their past and of the place they called home.
Order DNA origin analysisWedderwille: Where does the name Wedderwille come from?
The surname Wedderwille is thought to have originated in Germany and Netherlands. However, it is unclear when the family first arrived in either of these countries. It is thought the name was derived from the German elements wedder meaning "valley" and wille which translates to "willows."
The Wedderwille name is still relatively common and is mostly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. In the United States, it is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 Wedderwille families living mainly in California, Texas, and New York.
Wedderwille families are more common in Germany and the Netherlands, where it is believed that the family originated from. This surname is particularly common in the Germanic-speaking regions of Germany such as the Ruhr, Thuringia, Bavaria, and Saxony.
The Netherlands also boasts a notable number of Wedderwille families in the southern provinces.
Despite its relative rarity in many countries, the surname Wedderwille is still in use in some parts of the World today. Embedded within the stories and the history of the Wedderwille family’s travels, is an invitation to uncover the unique story of each individual member of this remarkable family.
Variations of the surname Wedderwille
Wedderwille is a surname with Germanic roots, thought to derive from the region of Wedderwillen, located between Osnabrück and Minden in the district of Minden-Lübbecke. It is an uncommon name and there are few variations.
The variant spellings of Wedderwille are Wedderwell, Wedderwellen, Wetterell, Weterell, Wetterwille, Wedderley, Winderwell and Wiedderwille.
The most common surname variants are Winderwille and Wendderwille. This variant spelling is most likely the result of a phonetic translation of the name, due to the difficulty in anglicizing the German name.
Surnames of similar origin include Wetterer, Wettererle, Vetters, Vetterle, Vetterling, Wetterle and Wetterling.
The Wedderwille surname has been documented as far back as 1545, in a document dated 13 April 1545 of the town of Schwelm, located in the Westphalia district of Germany. The document records Lutheran pastor Johann von Wetterwille as a witness during a request to open a branch office in the district of Schwelm.
The Wedderwille surname can be found in various research records in the German states of Westphalia, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, and is also present in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is most notably found in the PA and NJ area of the US and has been widely reported in the UK, particularly in Scotland.
Famous people with the name Wedderwille
- Herman Wedderwille: Dutch religious leader who founded the Wedderwille movement, a Christian fundamentalist movement.
- Nikolas Wedderwille: Dancer, choreographer, and producer from Germany.
- Christophe Wedderwille: French photographer who has won a number of awards for his work.
- Reuben Wedderwille: a South African artist known for his sculptures and installations.
- Joseph Wedderwille: German-Swiss chemist and business man who invented "Wedderwille's Anti-acne Method".
- Dietrich Wedderwille: German physicist and inventor of the E-Modulatron, a machine for testing electronic circuits.
- Henry Wedderwille: British entomologist and zoologist who wrote several books on invertebrate zoology.
- Elsbeth Wedderwille: Dutch artist who painted landscapes and portraits.
- Andre Wedderwille: Dutch footballer who played professionally for Dutch sides in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Olympia Wedderwille: Swedish singer and songwriter whose music has been featured on television shows and in films.