Surname Wilhaus - Meaning and Origin
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Wilhaus: What does the surname Wilhaus mean?
The last name Wilhaus is believed to be of Germanic origin and is derived from the personal name Wilo, thicket or wild. It is thought to have been borne by a noble family in the Middle Ages, who were the landowners of a settlement near Wilhausen. The earliest record of the name can be traced to the 1200s, when a Johann Wilo was recorded as living in the area.
The Wilhaus surname is fairly uncommon in the modern day, however, it is more prevalent in parts of Europe and the United States. In America, the name has mostly been associated with settlers from Germany in the 18th and 19th centuries and today the name is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania and Texas.
The Wilhaus family are believed to be of noble birth and have a long history in many different parts of Europe, including numerous individuals who served their nations in battle and other prestigious and noble roles. The name Wilhaus is sometimes associated with the bankers, ministers and physicians of Resen, Germany.
In modern day, the surname Wilhaus is still seen as a reflection of nobility and success and is still seen as a mark of honor throughout Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisWilhaus: Where does the name Wilhaus come from?
The last name Wilhaus is most commonly found in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. It is an archaic last name, believed to have originated from the German language, and is derived from the noble family name Wilhelm, which means ‘resolute protector’.
In the United States, Wilhaus is not a common last name. However, it is found mainly in the midwestern and eastern parts. Additionally, other forms of the name, such as Wilhous, Wilhow, Wilhuse, Wilhusse, Wil Haus, Wilhoose, Wilhousen, Wilhelmus, Wilhelms, and Wilhelmson, can be found in the United States.
Wilhaus is also found in small numbers in other countries such as France, Norway, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Within the United Kingdom, it is an uncommon last name found in a small number of people and families in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
In Germany, Wilhaus is especially common. It is frequently found in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the west and northwestern parts of the country. It can also be found in the northern and east-central Germany, particularly in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony.
Overall, Wilhaus is not a common last name around today. However, it is still found mainly in the midwestern and eastern parts of the United States, and is especially common in parts of Germany.
Variations of the surname Wilhaus
The surname Wilhaus is of German origin and has many variants and spellings including Wilhause, Wilhous, Wilhus, Wilhausen, Wilhaussen, Wehlhaus, and Welhaus. Some people with the surname Wilhaus have also modified the spelling to be Willhaus, Wilhousen, and Wilhause.
Variations in spelling of the surname Wilhaus can often be attributed to the evolution of the German language over time. Variations of the name may have also arisen as illiterate or semi-literate individuals spelled phonetically or even purposefully changed the spelling to distinguish themselves from an ancestor.
The variants Wilhausen and Wilhaussen refer to those who originated in the German village of Wülmersen in the district of Unna. Seemingly unrelated names such as Wehlhaus and Welhaus have both origins originating in the German word “welhausen” which when translated to English would be meaning “to build a house” thus indicating an ancestor’s occupation as a stonemason or carpenter.
The surname Wilhaus is not be confused with the Dutch name Wijlhuysen, which has a different origin and is pronounced differently. Although both types of surnames are of Germanic origin, they are separate entities.
In some cases, the surname Wilhaus has been adopted as a given name, usually among those of German or Dutch heritage. The name sometimes carries the suffix or prefix “von” which serves to indicate a noble lineage or hereditary nobility.
Double-barreled names such as Wilhaus-Smith or Wilhaus-Marshall are also not uncommon.
The name Wilhaus is found in many countries around the world, and the spelling has changed over time as families have moved across borders, assimilated into different cultures, or even anglicised their surname for simplicity or convenience.
Famous people with the name Wilhaus
- Joe Wilhaus: Rocker and singer-songwriter from Vancouver, Canada.
- Oren Wilhaus: Broadway Stage Actor from Chicago, USA.
- Paul Wilhaus: Producer and screenwriter with several credits to his name from Los Angeles, USA.
- Annelise Wilhaus: Award-winning playwright and writer from New York City, USA.
- Curtis Wilhaus: Olympic-level ski jumper from Richmond Hill, Canada.
- Steve Wilhaus: Musician and composer from Miami, USA.
- Jean Wilhaus: Singer and songwriter from Glasgow, Scotland.
- Nancy Wilhaus: Visual artist, known for her abstract expressionist paintings from San Francisco, USA.
- Walt Wilhaus: Country music performer from Nashville, USA.
- Jonathan Wilhaus: Composer and pianist from Berlin, Germany.