Surname Willerscheid - Meaning and Origin

Willerscheid: What does the surname Willerscheid mean?

The last name Willerscheid is a German surname derived from the Middle High German Wilersheid, typically Anglicized as Wilershead or Willersheid. It roughly translates to “protection from willering,” referring to one who protects others from being taken advantage of. The name was likely given to families with a reputation for fairness, protecting the rights of those around them, and standing up for justice.

The origin of the Willerscheid surname is believed to be southern Germany or Switzerland, most likely Rhineland Palatinate. The name first appeared in records in the Rhineland city of Siegen in the late 1400s. During this time, families often took on surnames to help distinguish one family from another. By the mid 1700s, the Willerscheid’s had settled in the small town of Weidenkeim, located near the German-French border in the Rhineland Palatinate.

Today, the surname Willerscheid is a testament to the strong will and compassionate spirit of this ancient family. Variations of the surname are found throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and even as far away as Australia. Despite the changing face of the world, the Willerscheid name still stands as a reminder of a long-forgotten era and the determination of its proud bearers.

Willerscheid: Where does the name Willerscheid come from?

The last name Willerscheid is most commonly found in Germany today. It is especially concentrated in the north-central region near the border between North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. Specifically, the cities of Rombeck, Dreis, and Wamel are noted as areas with a significant concentration of people with the last name Willerscheid.

The last name is believed to have German origins, and the first historical record of the family was in the late 12th century. Variations of the name, such as Wilrich, Wehrschied, and Willershaid, are still commonly found today, with bearers of the name found in North America, Germany, and other parts of Europe.

Willerscheid is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German words “welscheit” or “wirscheit”, which referred to an artisan who made or sold books, vellum, or paper. This type of name is common in Germany and indicates that at least one of the direct ancestors of the family was involved in this trade in the 15th or 16th century.

Today, the Willerscheid name has been passed down through many generations and is spread throughout the world. Over the centuries, bearers of the name have achieved great success, with famous people including Albert Willersheid, a 'Master of Arts' from the school of philosophy at Oxford University, and Alexander Willersheid, an Austrian mathematician.

Variations of the surname Willerscheid

The Willerscheid surname is a German-based surname, which has variations in spelling and variant forms. It may appear as Wilerscheid, Willersheid, Willersheidt, Willerskheid, Willerschied or Wilerschied.

Willerscheid is derived from the German words “willer” and “scheid”, meaning bold and border respectively. It is thought to refer to a location or boundary marker, or simply someone who was brave or daring. This may have been someone of wealth status, or a notable member of a village. It could have come from a house or village that stood on a border or boundary. Alternatively, it may actually indicate the name of a local clan whose main occupation was to guard a border area for a lord or prince.

Variants of the surname include Willescheiden, Wilersheid, and Willscheid. Variations of the spelling include Willerscheyd, Willerscheit, and Willerscheide. It is also used in variants or combined with other family names, such as Weberwillerscheid, Benderwillerscheid, Bredensteinerwillerscheid, Schroederwillerscheid, & Kitzingerwillerscheid.

The Willerscheid surname is quite rare, however, it can be found in many records across Germany and Central Europe. In fact, it is quite widely distributed in Germany, with the highest concentrations being in the regions around Cologne, Aachen and Hessen in the south. It is less common in the United States, but there are some families that immigrated in the 19th century and since then have grown to be well established.

Famous people with the name Willerscheid

• Dr. Teri Willerscheid: a leading gastroenterologist based in Minnesota.
• Stephen Willerscheid: former United States Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros from 1980 to 1982.
• Matthew Willerscheid: former US ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.
• Jean Willerscheid: a renowned German painter and sculptor.
• Georg Willerscheid: a German sculptor who specialised in animal forms.
• Klaus Willerscheid: German singer and former member of the band Die Prinzen.
• Tim Willerscheid: American chef and restaurateur.
• Ed Willerscheid: American executive producer and author.
• Thomas Willerscheid: German entrepreneur and concept developer.
• Ethan Willerscheid: American professional baseball player for the Texas Rangers.

Other surnames

Willerscheidt