Surname Wilmink - Meaning and Origin

Wilmink: What does the surname Wilmink mean?

The last name Wilmink is of Germanic origin and is a toponymic surname derived from the ancient city of Wilmingen in Lower Saxony in Germany. It was likely a habitation surname referring to anyone who had ancestral ties to the city. Wilmingen was likely established during the early Middle Ages. The name of the city may be derived from the German 'welin' which translates to 'well' or 'spring' and 'inga' meaning 'belonging to', suggesting that it was a locality where there was a spring.

The family name Wilmink is more commonly found in the Netherlands today, especially in the Dutch provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel. During the Middle Ages it became widespread in the Netherlands, and its variation in spelling is common among Dutch surnames. It can be spelt Wilmink, Wilmenk, Wilmig, Wilminck, Wilmine, Wilminke, and occasionally Wilmincka.

The name Wilmink likely derived from a place name and was likely associated with ancestral ties to a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It has been a popular surname in many Dutch provinces and has had different variations in spelling over the years.

Wilmink: Where does the name Wilmink come from?

The last name Wilmink is not a very common surname today, but it does still exist in certain areas throughout the world. It is most heavily concentrated in the Netherlands where there are over 1,200 individuals registered with the name. The Netherlands also has the highest concentration of Wilmink families in the world, likely due to its close proximity to Germany (where the name is thought to have originally come from).

Smaller concentrations can also be found in other European countries such as Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and France. In North America, the name can be found in smaller numbers in both The United States and Canada, probably as immigrants and descendants of Euro-peans who emigrated from other countries. Furthermore, The United Kingdom records show a minor number of individuals with the Wilmink surname, likely indicating recent immigration as the UK has a large immigrant population.

Overall, the name Wilmink is not overly common, but its actual prevalence depends on the region. In certain places in the Netherlands and Europe, this last name is quite prevalent, while in other countries it is harder to track down. Those wanting to trace their Wilmink heritage may want to look into local family records or consult records from the countries mentioned for research.

Variations of the surname Wilmink

The Wilmink surname has several variations, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. Wilmink derives from the personal name ‘Willahelm’ which is a variation on the German name ‘Willehelm’, meaning ‘protector of the will’.

The most common variant of Wilmink is Wilminken. Wilminken is sometimes also spelled as Wilmenken, Willminken, Wylminken, and Wilminken. Other variants are Wilmerink, Wilmeerink, Wilmerigs, Wilmers, Wilmeers, and Willmeer. Wilmineck is another variation, as well as Wilminek and Wilmanek.

People from the Netherlands sometimes added the ‘de’ prefix to Wilmink, which resulted in the surname spelling of De Wilmink. Alternately, the ‘van’ prefix can be added to create Van Wilmink.

In some cases, Wilmink became anglicized into the surnames Wilmoth, Willmouth, Willmot, Willmouth, Wilmot, and Willmotts.

Some other surnames of similar origins are Wilminks, Wilmichs, Wilmesh, Wilmish, Wilmechs, and Wilmecks. Wilming is a Frisian surname which is related to Wilmink.

In general, the Wilmink surname is considered to be a patronymic surname which comes from the personal name Wilhelmin, Wilhelm, Wilm, Willm, Wilehmin, and Wilem.

Famous people with the name Wilmink

• Stef Wilmink: Dutch songwriter who wrote songs for Dutch artists such as André Hazes and Marco Borsato.
• Jacco Wilmink: Former Dutch field hockey player, who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
• Annemarie Wilmink: Dutch author who has written poetry, children’s literature and fiction.
• André Wilmink: Former Dutch cyclist who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Jules Wilmink: Dutch film producer and screenwriter who is best known for his work on the film ‘Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo’.
• Tom Wilmink: Dutch drama instructor and stage director.
• Robin Wilmink: Former Dutch politician and teacher.
• Dick Wilmink: Dutch visual artist who has exhibited his work in the Netherlands and also abroad.
• Ivo Wilmink: Former Dutch swimmer who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
• Wouter Wilmink: Dutch orchestral and wind ensemble conductor.

Other surnames

Wilming