Surname Willme - Meaning and Origin
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Willme: What does the surname Willme mean?
The last name Willme is of German origin and is often found in the area of Hesse. It is thought to have derived from a Middle High German word, willme, which means "resolute". In its original form, the name would have been Willme or Willmes meaning "son of Willme".
The earliest recorded instance of Willme was in 1299 with Wilhelm Willmes of Munich, Bavaria. It appears again in records from 1301 with Heinricus Willme of Neitershausen, Hesse. By the 1500s, Willme had spread across Europe and was even found in the Spanish town of Leutau.
Today, the Willme surname is found in many countries including Germany, United States, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and France.
As a personal surname, Willme indicates a family of strong will, determination, and persistence. Those with the surname Willme can be proud of its historical and cultural heritage, and the qualities that the name implies.
Order DNA origin analysisWillme: Where does the name Willme come from?
The surname Willme is of German origin and is most commonly seen today in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. It is thought to have derived from a first name of some sort, though this is not known for sure. In Germany, Willme is most often found in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt. The peaks in these areas coincide with migration patterns from the areas that were formerly part of Germany's pre-WWII borders.
In the United States, Willme is also quite common in areas where German immigrants settled. The first record of a Willme in the US was in 1924, in Wisconsin. Since then, the name has been found most often in Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Interestingly, the Willme surname is also found in the French Caribbean island of Martinique, likely because the island was a base for German U-boats during World War II.
Authoritative sources such as the World Names PublicProfiler suggest that Willme is still most populous in Germany, followed by France, Austria, and the United States. There is a noticeable increase in popularity of the surname over time, although the current population of people with the Willme surname does not exceed more than a few thousands people worldwide.
Variations of the surname Willme
The surname Willme can have numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common spellings and variants include Willm, Wilm, Wilme, Wilmes, Wilsme, Wilsmes, Wilem, Wileme, Wilemes, Willmeson, Wilmeson, Wilsmeson and Wilmesson.
Other variants of the surname include Wilmont, Wilmond, Willmon, Wilmant, Willmott, Willom, Willam, Willey, Welle, Wille, Willem, Wilsen, Wilzen, Wiesen, Wierz, Wyzer, Weyer, Wyler, and Wieler.
Surnames of the same origin include Weller, Villers, Willard, Willey, Willette, Welty, Wise, Witzke, and Weitzel.
In German-speaking regions, the surname Willme originates from the Germanic name Willahelm, which is composed of two elements—”will” meaning ‘desire’, and “helm” meaning ‘helmet’ or ‘protection’.
In some cases, the surname Willme is a patronymic name derived from “Willm,” an old German personal name and nickname. It is also possible the surname originates from fold names such as William.
The various spellings and variants of the name can be found in records from the 16th century, mainly in German-speaking regions.
No matter the spelling, the surname Willme is a form of a nickname meaning ‘protection’ and has its roots in Germanic language and culture.
Famous people with the name Willme
- Moritz Willme: German Olympic volleyball player
- Max Willme: British skier, competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics
- Marie-Jacques Willme: French actress who has appeared in films such as “The Last Metro” and “Le Grand Chemin”
- Dorothea Willme: German landscape painter
- Eric Willme: French illustrator and comic artist, known for his work in many French publications
- Hanne Willme: Swiss TV presenter and designer
- Dirk Willme: German football player who has played in the German Bundesliga, and for other clubs
- Elmar Willme: German Olympic diver
- Philipp Willme: German TV actor seen on shows such as “Berlin Station” and “Berlin Babylon”
- Paul Willme: Belgian journalist and editor