Surname Willhaus - Meaning and Origin
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Willhaus: What does the surname Willhaus mean?
The surname Willhaus is a German locational name, derived from the compound of Will, the word meaning ‘will‘ or ‘wish’ and Haus, as the German for ‘house‘. Therefore a literal translation of Willhaus is ‘house of wishes’. It is likely that the surname Willhaus originated as a topographic name for someone who lived beside a building known as the House of Wishes’. During the Middle Ages, this type of surname was given to people who resided in a location associated with a special feature or deed.
In the modern world, Willhaus is most commonly found throughout Germany and Austria, although there are a small number of people bearing the surname scattered across Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. Territorially, Willhaus is a popular surname amongst the state of Hesse, where it has been strongly associated with the city of Darmstadt and the Hessian Administrative Operating Region.
Willhaus is a plausible name to come from a variety of immigrant backgrounds. It is thought to have variously arisen from Swedish-speaking families of the Baltic region, the Jewish diaspora before and in the wake of the Second World War, and through refugees from Poland, Russia and the Ukraine as well as from German-speaking immigrants to the USA.
Whatever its origin, Willhaus is a popular surname and an interesting one to research given its varying strands of origin. It is a worthy name to inherit!
Order DNA origin analysisWillhaus: Where does the name Willhaus come from?
The Willhaus surname is a very rare name today, with only about 500 people bearing the name in modern times. It originated in Germany and is believed to have been first used by a group of German immigrants who migrated to various parts of Europe, such as England, France, and Russia, and eventually the United States. It is most likely a Germanization of the surname William which means "protection."
In the United States today, the Willhaus surname is mainly concentrated in Louisiana, Texas, and California, as well as the Midwest region. Willhaus families are also common in large cities like Washington D.C., Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The name is now most commonly found among the descendants of German immigrants who came to the US in the late 19th century.
The Willhaus name is also recognizable in certain areas of Europe, in particular the United Kingdom, where it is most prevalent in London, Scotland, and Wales. It is also common in Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.
Overall, while the Willhaus surname is not a common name today, it is still known by many people around the world. The name is a reminder of the impact German immigrants have had on various countries over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Willhaus
The surname Willhaus is an Ashkenazi Jewish name that has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Willhaus is a variation of the Hebrew name Wellhausen (or Vellhausen) ("Will" being an English translation of this word). Other variations of this name include Wellhaus, Velhaus, Wilhaus, Vealhaus, Veilhaus, Voelhaus, and Vailhaus.
In German and Yiddish, the surnames Wahlhaus, Wollhaus, Wolhaus, and Wilhaus are common spellings; these variants are also seen as Wollhaas, Wullhaus, Wollhous, and Wöllhaus in Germany.
In Eastern Europe, the surname is transliterated in various spellings, including Valchoukh, Valhouk, Valchouk, Velkhov, Felkhov, Val'khov, and Val'khou.
In the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, the surnames Willhaus and Wellhausen are common variations used. Willhauss, Wilhause, and Willhous are also seen.
Overall, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Willhaus. It is important to be aware of the various spellings to maximize your chances of success in any ancestral research involving this surname.
Famous people with the name Willhaus
- J. Kay Willhaus, American politician from the state of Maine.
- Melissa Willhaus, former professional American tennis player.
- Danny Willhaus, football offensive lineman in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers.
- Mark A. Willhaus, politician and American soldier from the state of Indiana.
- Robert J. Willhaus, physicist and co-founder of Willhaus Electronics, Inc.
- Mike Willhaus, saxophonist and composer from Munich, Germany.
- David Willhaus, German journalist and news presenter.
- Georg Willhaus, German journalist and translator.
- Jan Willhaus, Dutch physicist and scientific director of the Institute for Laser Physics and Quantum Technology.
- Margit Willhaus, German concert pianist.