Surname Willhause - Meaning and Origin
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Willhause: What does the surname Willhause mean?
The last name Willhause is of Germanic origin and is derived from the given name Wilhelm or Willhelm, plus the Middle High German word ‘hûs’, meaning ‘house’. The surname is a habitation or toponymic name, which is a surname derived from a place-name or geographical feature.
In some cases, the surname itself originated as a nickname for someone who lived in a large house. The surname can be found in records dating back to 1245 in Germany, when one Johannes Willhaues was listed in documents from Silesia.
In his travels, the surname became ‘Wilson’ in Scotland, ‘Willis’ in England, and ‘Wilhelmi’ in France. It was also recorded as ‘Willenhaus’ in some areas.
The surname can come in various spellings and is still very popular in Germany today, where it is particularly concentrated in central Germany. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in large cities like New York and Los Angeles.
The surname is likely derived from the Latin word ‘voluntas’ meaning ‘will’, Maerz and Korom suggesting that it may have originally been used as a descriptive name for someone who was particularly stubborn or determined in their pursuits.
Order DNA origin analysisWillhause: Where does the name Willhause come from?
The last name Willhause is most commonly found in Germany today, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name could have come from a spelling variation of the German name Wilhausen. This surname is believed to have derived from the place name Wilshausen, which is a village located in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
This surname was first mentioned in early records in the 12th century, and during the Middle Ages it was primarily used in aristocratic families. Records show that the name was mainly found in the former Prussian province of Posen, which is now part of modern Poland.
By the early 18th century, the population of Willhausers had spread to other parts of Germany and Europe. Today, Willhausers can be found all over the world, with many living in North America and Australia.
The name Willhause is still quite common in Germany – records show that in 2018, there were over 6,000 people living in Germany with the last name. The highest concentration of Willhausers can still be found in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The city of Stuttgart, located in Baden-Württemberg, is home to the largest community of Willhausers in the country, with more than 1,000 people living there.
Variations of the surname Willhause
Willhause is a surname of German or Frisian origin, with several variants in spelling and pronunciation.
Some common variants of Willhause include Willhaus, Willhaese, Wilhaes, Wilhoese, Wilhosse, Welhouse, Wilhouse, Wellhaus and Wilhaus. Less common variants include Wilhauser, Wilhause, Wilhos, Welhos, Wilhoz, Willhois, Wilhausin, and Wilhoce.
Variants and spellings of the surname include De Wilhaus, De Wilhause, von Wilhause, van Wilhaus, Wilhausen, Wilhauser, Wilhousen, Willhauser, and Willehause.
The Frisian spelling is Willhaus/Wilhaus. It can also be found spelled with a hyphenated Will-Haus, Wil-Hause, Wil-House, and Wil-Hausen.
The Willhause surname is found in various regions across Europe and North America, with some families in Germany, Netherlands, the Alsace region in France, and the United States.
In some areas, the name has become blended with other similar sounding surnames, such as Willoughby, Willig, Wilhite, Willett, Willer, Wilkens, and Wilkerson.
Willhause is thought to be derived from the Middle German term “velhuser,” meaning “inhabitants of a corner or small village.” It is also sometimes used as an occupational surname, indicating a one who is a “wine house” (vintner), from Middle High German “wilhouse.”
The name is shared in some families by descendants from different families who had adopted the name together. Willhause is a relatively rare name, with some lineages of the same family having changed the spelling over the years of immigration and dispersion.
Famous people with the name Willhause
- Joachim Willhause: German professional footballer.
- Christian Willhause: Former professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Paul Willhause: Former NFL linebacker for the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
- Claudia Willhause: German equestrian in show jumping.
- Fred Willhause: Founder of the Willhause family in the United States.
- John Willhause: American football player to be drafted in the NFL in the 1960s.
- Rich Willhause: Winner of The Amazing Race in 2008.
- Dirk Willhause: German businessman, founder of an advertising agency.
- David Willhause: Musician, lead singer of the punk band Dead to Me.
- Robert Willhause: Award-winning German actor, known for the movies The Reader and The Pied Piper.