Surname Willhoite - Meaning and Origin

Willhoite: What does the surname Willhoite mean?

The surname Willhoite is of English origin and is derived from a place name, likely referring to a town or village with the same name. It is believed that the name comes from the Old English "wilig/wilighe", meaning "willow tree" and "hoh/hohite", meaning "clearing".

This Anglo-Saxon surname was first found in Somerset, where the earliest records of the Willhoite family dates back to the 13th century. During the Middle Ages, the family gained influence and added their name to a number of towns in the area, including one in the south of the county. The name was also found in Devon, where the Willhoites are still present today.

The Willhoite family was part of a larger trend of migration from Britain to America during the 1600s. During this time many of the immigrants had the same surname, and the Willhoite family dispersed across the East Coast of the United States. As a result, the surname can be found in multiple states from Massachusetts all the way to Virginia.

Those with the Willhoite surname are descendants of a long line of English nobility, and the origin and meaning of the surname ensures this is reflected in the way they live and carry their name.

Willhoite: Where does the name Willhoite come from?

The last name Willhoite is most commonly found in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 1,200 individuals with the last name Willhoite lived in the United States in the year 2017. The vast majority of Willhoites live in the Midwest region of the United States, with larger numbers in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. There is a smaller presence in other states such as Michigan, Ohio, and New York.

In Wisconsin, the last name Willhoite is most common in the region of Door County, which is located in northeastern Wisconsin near the Green Bay metropolitan area. In Illinois, Willhoites mainly live in the Chicago metropolitan area, the surrounding Cook County, and towns near the Illinois-Wisconsin border. In Minnesota, Willhoites are mainly found in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

The Willhoite name can also be found in countries outside of the United States, albeit in much smaller numbers. According to the World Names Public Profiler, individuals with the surname Willhoite reside in Canada, England, New Zealand, Germany, the Philippines, and South Africa. This suggests that this name travels, but remains a mainly midwestern American surname.

Overall, the last name Willhoite is most commonly found in the United States, with the majority of family members living in the midwestern states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, especially near the Chicago metropolitan area. The Willhoite family name is also present in other countries, but in much smaller numbers.

Variations of the surname Willhoite

The surname Willhoite is believed to have originated in the British Isles, particularly England and Scotland, although there are also references to individuals bearing this surname in early records from the Netherlands, Germany and France.

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Willhoite include: Wilhoit, Wilhite, Wylie, Wylhoite, Wilheid, Wilheide, Wilhoyt, Wilheit, Wilhoit, Wilhott, Wilhotte, Wilhoite, Wilhight, Wilhite, Wilhieth, Wilhoat, Wilhoet, Wilhoyd, Wilhoytt, and Wilhuyt.

The most common variant of the Willhoite surname is Wilhoit, which appears to have originated in Lancashire, England, in the late 1300s. Wilhite appears to be the next most common variant, followed closely by the surname Wylie.

The surname Wilhoite is relatively rare in the modern era, and is associated today especially with the United States, Australia, and Germany. Recordings of the surnames Wilhoite, Wilhoit, Wilheit and Wilhite in the US can be found from the early 1700s.

The surname Wilhoite is believed to have been derived from the Old English personal name Willa. This personal name could have been a short form of Willelm, the Norman form of William. Surnames derived from this personal name would have meant ‘son of Willa’.

It is likely that the surname Willhoite was originally a patronymic, and was used as the surname of the descendants of the original bearer of the personal name Willa. Other surnames of the same origin would have been inherited depending on the variant of the original name.

Famous people with the name Willhoite

• Rob Willhoite: Actor, casting director, and former director of multi-media entertainment software.
• Ed Willhoite: Cartoonist who created the popular "Mystic Mojo" comic strip.
• Bob Willhoite: American composer, arranger, and songwriter who wrote music for commercials, television shows, and feature films.
• Lori Willhoite: American child actress best known for her role as Alice on the television show 'Alice'.
• Grayson Willhoite: American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1979-1990.
• Kendall Willhoite: Former professional golfer who won the US Open Championships in 1987.
• Rush Willhoite: Professional race car driver who competed at the NASCAR, IMSA, ARCA, and USAC levels.
• Rebecca Willhoite: American country music singer and songwriter who had a successful career in the 1980s and 90s.
• Tyler Willhoite: American jazz musician and composer who has released several albums.
• Lyle Willhoite: Award-winning portrait, commercial, and landscape photographer who has been featured in National Geographic and Sports Illustrated.

Other surnames

Willhoit