Surname Willhite - Meaning and Origin
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Willhite: What does the surname Willhite mean?
The last name Willhite is of English origin and is thought to have first emerged in the northern part of the country during the Middle Ages. It's believed that the name is a variation of Wilkite, which was derived from the Old English given name "Wilcga."
The Willhite surname is most commonly associated with the geographical areas of Norfolk, Cumbria and the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border region. In each of these areas, a Willhite family can be found in the early 1700s.
The etymology of Willhite stems from the Old English word “wil”, which means “will” or “desire”, and “hite” which means “camaraderie” or “friendship”. The combination of these Old English days therefore would mean a family with a desire for friendship or camaraderie.
Willhites have also settled in the United States with early records found in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Today, they are present across the United States, though the highest concentrations are found in Ohio, Texas and Kentucky.
Further research has found that the Willhite surname is commonly associated with professions such as farming, carpenters or building contractors, and has even been known to be associated with copper and brass foundry work.
In conclusion, the Willhite family has a long and varied history, with origins in England and a measurable presence in North America. The name itself, when decomposing its Old English roots, has a pleasant meaning of “desire for camaraderie” and is associated with a variety of traditional professions.
Order DNA origin analysisWillhite: Where does the name Willhite come from?
The last name Willhite is believed to be of German or English origin. It is mainly found in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. In the United States, Willhite is most common in Oklahoma and is considered to be a top 1000 last name throughout the country. According to the most current US census, the surname Willhite is the 1344th most common last name in the nation.
Oklahoma has the highest population of Willhites, with smaller concentrations in both California and Texas. In Oklahoma, Willhite is the 521st most common last name. Other states in the US with concentrations of Willhites include Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and Missouri. Willhite is also found throughout various areas in Canada, particularly British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba.
The name Willhite is believed to have historically derived from the German-based surname Welte, which originally meant one who was living near a swamp or pool. In England, the last name Willhite has roots in the Anglo-Saxon name “wilhite”, which referred to someone from the marshy settlement. Overall, the surname Willhite is fairly common throughout various countries, particularly in the US and Canada.
Variations of the surname Willhite
The surname Willhite is derived from an Old German root word, willa, which means ‘will’. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was created from the given name of a father or ancestor of the bearer. There are several variants of the surname Willhite, including Wilhite, Whillhite, Wilhight, Willhight, Wilhigte, Wilhait, Wilehight, Wilehaite, Wilhet, Wilhette, Willhutte, Wilhutte, Willhotte, and Wilhott.
In some cases, the phonetic spelling Wilhofte has been used for Willhite. The German variant of Willhite is Wilhardt, and the Dutch variant is Wilhlte. In the United States, Willhite is also mistakenly reported as Willette, because of the combinations that often occur with E in the spelling of root words.
The surnames Willhite and Wilhite are also common in England and in Wales. In addition, Willhite is a variant of the surname Vollhoot, a European surname derived from Middle High German volht, which means 'halves'. Vollhoot is most commonly found in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The surname Willhite is also used as a given name, especially in the United States. People with the given name Willhite are often referred to as Will or William. In Scottish, Irish, and English lineage, Willhite is sometimes used as a surname, but is more commonly seen as a given name.
Despite its common use, Willhite is not a common surname. It is estimated that approximately 0.001% of the world population bears the surname Willhite.
Famous people with the name Willhite
- Dave Willhite: Former professional American football player in the National Football League.
- Doug Willhite: Former professional American football player in the National Football League.
- Ryan Willhite: Former professional Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League.
- Derek Willhite: American baseball coach and former professional player.
- Stephen Willhite: Businessman, philanthropist, and owner of the Bermuda Trotting Association.
- Bruce Willhite: American broadcaster and radio personality.
- Brian Willhite: Professional championship winning golfer.
- Christopher Willhite: American documentary filmmaker and cinematographer.
- John Willhite: American World War II prisoner of war.
- Paul Willhite: American actor best known for his role on the TV series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”