Surname Wessollek - Meaning and Origin
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Wessollek: What does the surname Wessollek mean?
The last name Wessollek of Germanic origin and dates back to the pre-medieval times of Europe. It is a patronymic surname, formed by the first name of the father of the initial bearer. The name is derived from the personal name “Wessal”, which is a nickname for the Old German name “Waldesal”, meaning “power of the forest”.
The surname Wessollek is mainly found in Germany and its variant forms are Wessellek, Wessalek, Wesselick and Wessalick.
The initial bearer of the surname Wessollek may have resided near a forest or held a position of authority within the local forest. It is believed the surname Wessollek evolved as a result of the bearers transition from being a full-time forester to a farmer, which was among one of the most popular professions in the region during that period.
The earlier recorded instances of the surname Wessollek can be found in the Church records of Douglass, Westphalia, Germany, in 1294. At that time, Reinhardus Wessellek was a witness to an ecclesiastical ceremony. According to the records in Loccum monastery, year 1430, Fridiricus Wessellek and Reinhardus Wessellek were scribes and priests.
The modern spelling variations of the surname Wessollek are the result of many linguistic and cultural influences encountered by the Germanic peoples throughout their long history of migration. It has become a source of pride to many of its members and is a reminder of their ancient origin.
Order DNA origin analysisWessollek: Where does the name Wessollek come from?
The last name Wessollek is mainly concentrated in Central Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. It is believed that the name originated from the German-speaking region of Silesia, which is now part of Poland, and the Czech Republic. In Germany, the last name is most prominent in the states of Saxony, Munich, Lower Saxony, and Bremen. Besides Germany and Austria, this surname can be found in small numbers in other European countries, such as Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Netherlands.
Within Germany, the last name Wessollek has a history that can be traced to the 15th and 16th centuries. Names typically spread as whole families, or groups of families, moved to a new area and settled. Over time, the name may have spread to other parts of the country or even internationally.
On a global scale, the last name Wessollek is quite rare. According to a 2020 study, it is estimated that there are only a few thousand people with this last name worldwide. Most of these people likely live in Germany and Austria.
Variations of the surname Wessollek
The surname Wessollek is mainly found in Northern Europe, specifically in Germany. The variants, spellings, and surnames sharing the same origin are as follows:
Wessolleck: This spelling of the name is found most commonly in Germany. It is the most common variant of the surname.
Wäßollek: This is an alternate spelling of the surname found in Germany, which means that the two dots above the "a" are included.
Wäßolek: This is another form of the surname found in Germany and Austria. The two dots above the "a" are again included.
Wesselleck: This is an alternate spelling of the surname, found mainly in the Netherlands.
Wessellek: This is another variant of the surname found mainly in the Netherlands.
Wesseling: The Dutch language variant of the surname, which is written and pronounced differently than the previous variants.
Wesselink: A variation of the surname found mainly in the Netherlands.
Wessels: This variant is primarily found in Dutch-speaking countries.
Vessollek: This is a variation of the name used in Romania.
Vessolek: This is the Romanian variation of the surname.
Vécsilesz: This is the Hungarian form of the surname.
Weesollek: This alternate spelling of the name is found mainly in German-speaking countries.
Wessenleck: This is another form of the surname, primarily found in Germany.
Vessolecs: This is the Czech variant of the name.
Veselick: This is the Slovak variant of the surname.
Wieselska: This is the Polish form of the name.
Veselkov: Another Slavic variation of the surname.
Vessel: This is a variant of the surname found mainly in the French language.
Famous people with the name Wessollek
- Andre Wessollek: German film director who is best known for his work in the comedy series Stromberg
- Jan Michael Wessollek: German footballer who currently plays as a winger for Preußen Münster
- Kevin Wessollek: former German footballer who last played for Fortuna Düsseldorf II
- Werner Wessollek: German footballer who played defender for Fortuna Düsseldorf during the late 1980s
- Eva Wessollek: German actress best known for her role as Marlene in the 2013 film Sushi in Suhl
- Brigitte Wessollek: German fashion designer and businesswoman who is the founder of the luxury fashion line B. Wessollek
- Philipp Wessollek: German photographer and filmmaker, known for his work in documentaries and fashion
- Anton Wessollek: Czech footballer who plays for SK Slavia Prague in the Czech First League
- Stan Wessollek: Canadian folk singer and songwriter who is best known for his song “Oh, Canada”
- Marcel Wessollek: German drummer who twice won the “best drummer” award at the Austrian Drummer Contest