Surname Welde - Meaning and Origin
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Welde: What does the surname Welde mean?
The last name Welde is of German origin, derived from an old German word meaning “rule.” This term often referred to an individual in a position of governance or authority. It is likely that individuals who bore this surname were eminent and respected in their community.
Welde may also be an occupational surname referring to a ruler, or a person involved in something related to ruling. This could be a judge, a steward, a magistrate, or a town or village official. The name likely developed independently in various parts of German-speaking Europe.
The name Welde may also have arisen from a place-name, related to a river, field, or estate. In this case, individuals with the surname were likely associated with or descended from people from a particular place.
Welde is a common name in Europe, particularly in Germany, where it is regarded as being a noble and distinguished name. It is also found in parts of America, particularly among people of German descent. The name is also found in other forms, such as Velde, Weld, Veldt, and Welden.
Order DNA origin analysisWelde: Where does the name Welde come from?
The last name Welde is most commonly found in Germany. Welde is an old Germanic name and features as a surname in records as far back as the 1500s.
Today, Welde is most often associated with communities in the German states of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. It's also been found in small numbers in neighboring countries such as Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
The top five towns with the highest number of Welde surnames are Niederkassel (664), Mainz (374), Bonn (356), Andernach (332), and Wiesbaden (287).
The Welde family is likely of patrilineal descent, meaning that it has been passed down from father to son. The coat of arms associated with the Welde family is an image of a gold boar (Eber) on a field of black, as well as silver and green charges.
Throughout the centuries, the Welde surname has held a multitude of spellings, from Welde to Wölde to Waelde to .Velde to even Wilte. Each variation has evolved and been passed down from family generation to family generation in order to reflect the identity of the surnamed at the time.
Despite being found in Germany for centuries, the Welde surname is not considered particularly common today, yet it still stands as a reminder of the German family lines that have shaped the German nation.
Variations of the surname Welde
The surname Welde is a habitational name originating from any of the places named with an Old English personal name Wæld or Weld, or a similar word meaning ‘forest’ or ‘wilderness’. The various spellings and surnames of Welde include Weld, Welds, Wild, Wilde, Wylde, Wield and Wielld. There are also variants of the surname Welde such as Welden, Weild, Wilden, Willden, and Wylden.
The earliest known mention of the surname is of one Ailfric Welden, mentioned in the 'Placita de quo warranto', c. 1215. The surname Welde is most common in the East Anglia region of England, especially in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk.
In Germany, the surname Welde can be found in record in 1231, where Berlich von der Welde was listed in Oldenburg's tax rolls. In Austria, the surname Welde is most commonly found in the provinces of Upper and Lower Austria and the Burgenland. In the Netherlands, the surname Welden can be found in records dating back to 1645.
The name Welde has been spread to other parts of the world including the U. S. and Canada via emigration. Notable figures with the surname Welde include early 20th century American figure skater Sonja Welde and William L. Welde, journalist and newspaper editor.
Famous people with the name Welde
- Karl Welde: Karl Welde is a popular German professional table tennis player. He is known to have achieved success in a wide range of competitions and tournaments, including at the 2020 European Championships.
- Blythe Welde: Blythe Welde is the founder of the international networking platform, Women in Sport. The company's goal is to unite and empower female athletes and promote the sport and its various athletes.
- Brigitte Welde: Brigitte Welde is a well known German opera soprano and vocalist. She was seen performing extensively at the Volksbühne, and is said to have contributed significantly to the success of this company.
- Marcus Welde: Marcus Welde is a German handball player currently playing for ASV Hamm-Westfalen. He has achieved success both in club and international competitions, such as the European Youth Olympic Festival.
- Emil Welde: Emil Welde is a popular German luge athlete who has competed in several world and European championships. He was born in 1967, and is an Olympic bronze medalist having medalled in the 1988 winter Olympics.
- Theodor Welde: Theodor Welde is a German comedian and TV presenter who is best known for his regular Friday night show on the national channel Kabel 1. He is also a sought after actor in theater and TV productions as well.