Surname Willhousen - Meaning and Origin

Willhousen: What does the surname Willhousen mean?

The surname Willhousen is a Germanic name with origins in the Palatinate area of Germany. The surname was likely derived from the personal surname Willo, which was derived from a given name of Germanic origin, most likely Willehard, made up of the elements wil, meaning "will," and hard, meaning "brave" or "strong."

The name likely began as a patronym, and was eventually adapted into a family name by the eleventh century. By the 1700s, the surname had spread to various parts of Germany and the Palatinate, and eventually to other parts of Europe, and even to North America.

Today, the surname Willhousen can still be found in many parts of Germany. It is encountered most often in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg regions. It is still relatively rare in the United States, although it can occasionally be encountered in many places, especially amongst the German-American population.

The surname Willhousen can be found with various spellings, such as Willhause, Willausser, Willishosen, Willhosener, and Willhausen. It is a proud German name, signifying strength and bravery, and is a great reminder of the proud German heritage of those who bear it.

Willhousen: Where does the name Willhousen come from?

The last name Willhousen is most commonly found in the Northeastern United States, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The name is of German origin, and was originally spelled with a double "L" (Willehousen). The earliest known record of this family name is from 1596, when Maria Willhousen was born in Gudensberg, Germany.

Immigration records show that members of this family arrived in the United States beginning in the 1700s, and they were mostly from the area of Hesse-Kassel, Germany. Many are believed to have originally settled in Pennsylvania, as well as other parts of the Northeastern United States.

Today, Willhousen is a relatively uncommon name. According to the US Census Bureau, there were 521 people with this surname in 2000, making it the 5,506th most common last name in the United States. Most of these individuals live in New York (256), Pennsylvania (139), Massachusetts (76), and Ohio (23).

Outside of the United States, the Willhousen name can also be found in Germany, where it is still fairly common. There are over 10,000 people with this surname living there, primarily in the Mittelelbe-Region, a former Saxon-Saxon duchy. Over 14 percent of all Willhousens living in Germany are located in Brandenburg, another province in the region.

Regardless of where it is found, the Willhousen name is certainly steeped in history, reflecting the immigrant experience of many families who have made the United States their home.

Variations of the surname Willhousen

The surname Willhousen is an uncommon German name, originating from the old German personal name Wilheam, consisting of two elements wil (will/desire, protection) and helm (protection). Variants of this name includes Wilham, Wilhame, and Wilhamus, as well as spellings such as Wilhousen, Wilhohsen, Willhohsen, Wilhosen, Wilhousin, Willhohsin, Villhowsen, Vilhohsen, Willowsen, Willohsen, Wulhausen and Wulhuhsen.

Surnames of the same origin include Wilhm, Wilhsmart, Wilhem, Wilhemi, Wilhemina, Wilhme, Wilms, Wilmes, Wilmer, Willhaupt, Willhaus, Wilharn, Wilharns, Wilhemina, Willhiden, Willhide, Willhidey, Willhite, Wilhitte, Willhoite, Wilhite, Willhour, Wilhower, Wilhoft, Wilholtz, Willhutz, Willims and Willitts.

The variations and spellings of the surname Willhousen are primarily attributed to mistakes by government officials and religious clerks recording information from church documents, census records and other written materials. This lead to the spelling of the surname evolving over time.

Famous people with the name Willhousen

• Ralf Willhousen: German amateur football manager, currently the head coach for SC Preußen Münster.
• Paul Willhousen: American football coach and former player, currently the head coach for University of the Pacific.
• Tim Willhousen: American reality television personality, one of the participants of "The Amazing Race: All-stars".
• Daniel Willhousen: German tennis player, professional in 2019, with a career-high ATP singles ranking of 482 achieved on 28 October 2019.
• T.J. Willhousen: American artist and sculptor, known for his sculptures depicting the history of the steel industry.
• Justin Willhousen: British Paralympic swimmer, participated in the London 2012, and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
• J. Bruce Willhousen: American writer and graphic designer, working for Massey Knakal Realty Services, author of the book “The Illustrated History of Cyclocross”.
• Jessica Willhousen: American sociology professor, chair of the department of sociology and anthropology at Armstrong State University.
• Benjamin Willhousen: Canadian Paralympic swimmer, competed in two events in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympics.
• Natalia Willhousen: Argentine actress, best known for her work in 2016's "The Fits" and 2019's "Gloria Mundi".

Other surnames

WillhousWillhouse