Surname Wilgen - Meaning and Origin

Wilgen: What does the surname Wilgen mean?

The surname Wilgen is of Dutch origin, originating in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. The name is derived from the Dutch term “wijlgen” which means “willow tree,” referring to the ancient forests near the German border. This surname is found in records as early as the 1600s, and is known to have been adopted by families migrating to other parts of Europe and the United States.

It is believed that those who adopted the surname Wilgen were of farming or working stock, probably belonging to the artisan or peasant classes. Many Dutch families in the 1600s were connected to land ownership, and the willow tree had a particular significance in Dutch culture as a sign of peace and protection of travellers and strangers.

In modern times, individuals and families bearing the name Wilgen tend to be spread throughout the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and parts of Europe. While many of the Wilgen's are connected to European roots through ancestral lines, it is likely that some of those bearing the name may be of Middle Eastern or Asian descent.

Members of the Wilgen family may be found in many professions, including education, engineering, health services, and business. There is also a long and proud history of military service in the Wilgen family. Most recently, members of the Wilgen family are also found in the fields of science, technology, and the arts.

Whether the surname is of Dutch origin or of recent immigration, the Wilgen family is spread across the world and is known for its strong and vibrant history of success, service, and hard work.

Wilgen: Where does the name Wilgen come from?

The last name Wilgen is most common in the Netherlands today, where it is most concentrated in the province of North Holland. In the Netherlands, it is predominantly found in and around the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Wilgen is also found alongside other Dutch names such as Hoekstra, Snijders, and Bosman in small pockets throughout Germany. In the United States, the highest concentration of the surname Wilgen is in the states of New York, New Jersey, California and Texas.

Wilgen is an old Dutch family name, derived from the Old Dutch word ‘wilge’ which means ‘willow tree’. It is thought to have been used as an occupational name for an individual who worked with willow trees, more specifically, a thatcher or basket-maker. It is also possible that Wilgen was used as a toponymic name to denote someone who was originally from a place named with a variant of ‘wilge’ such as Wijlre, Wylre, Blinde Wilge, Oust Wilgen or Sint Wilgen.

The Wilgen name still persists to this day, and can even be seen in the popular Dutch language periodical, De Wilgenstam, which is named after a willow tree in Utrecht. In modern day Holland, the Wilgen name is often shortened to 'Wilg' by dropping the 'en' ending.

Variations of the surname Wilgen

The surname Wilgen is of German origin and has an alternate spelling of Wilgin.

Variant spellings of Wilgen may include Wilgens, Wilgens, and Wilgens, and variants such as Willgen, Willgers, Wylge, Wylgen, Wilgey, Wilig, Willege, Willeke, Wilge, Wilgat, Wilges, Wylg and Wilgen.

Surnames with similar origin can include Wilner, Weltner, Welter, Welt, Weltmann, Woltmann, Wilz, Wilk, Wilke, Wilkens, Wilt, Wilkenson, Wiltz and Willem.

The name dates back as far as the Middle Ages, with records of the name appearing in documents such as the “Archive of the Teutonic Order” in 1275. It is thought to have derived from a Germanic personal name “Wilag”. During the Middle Ages, the use of the name was common in areas such as Northern Germany and Prussia.

Due to various socio-economic and political changes over time, some members of this family spread across Europe, with some emigrating to the United States and other countries. The spelling of the name has developed with such migrations and persists in places where the original spelling is not as common.

In the modern day, the Wilgen surname is still found in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Austria, and is also found in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is used as either a given name or a surname and its variants can often be seen in local telephone directories and other listings.

Famous people with the name Wilgen

• Christian Wilgen, Dutch footballer
• Creed Wilgen, English artist
• Harry Wilgen, Norwegian actor
• Mieke Wilgen, Dutch curler
• Peter Wilgen, Dutch photojournalist
• Joost Wilgen, Dutch former Olympic cyclist
• Erik Wilgen, Dutch ice hockey player
• Mathilde Wilgens, Dutch singer
• Thomas Wilgen, Dutch footballer
• Willem Wilgen, Dutch politician

Other surnames

Wilges