Surname Wilmking - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wilmking: What does the surname Wilmking mean?
The last name Wilmking is of German origin, most commonly associated with a family of that surname that hails from the Northern German region of Schleswig-Holstein. The name is composed of two elements; 'Wilm' derives from the given name Wilhelm, a German-language variant of William, meaning 'Protector' or 'Defender'. The second element 'king' is derived from the Olde English word 'cyning,' meaning 'King'. The full name, therefore, can be interpreted as 'Protector King' or 'Defender King'.
In modern history, the Wilmking family has been notable for their citizens' participation in politics and civil service. The German poet Johann Heinrich Wilmking was a sympatiser of the Prussian Union, a union movement during the mid-1800s for the unification of Germany, while Friedrich Wilmking, appointed president of the Senate in Schleswig-Holstein, was an influential figure in the Prussian Civil Reforms of 1850. Notable descendants of the Wilmking family include Toni Wilmking, a German politician and member of the Schleswig-Holstein Landtag.
The Wilmking family has continued to remain influential in German politics and civil service throughout the centuries. Despite the origin of the name, it is no longer exclusively associated with the Schleswig-Holstein region, but rather many other parts of Germany and even other countries in the world.
Order DNA origin analysisWilmking: Where does the name Wilmking come from?
The last name Wilmking is of German origin and is still found in Germany today, as well as other parts of Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, and Netherlands. It is also relatively common in North America, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The frequency of it varies by region, however, some studies have shown that it might be most common in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, where 6 out of every 1000 people share the last name Wilmking.
In terms of its literal origin, the name Wilmking is derived from a combination of German personal names Wilhelm (which itself comes from the Old German Willhelms) and Kinzig, which is a river name.
People who have the last name Wilmking, however, have a variety of ancestries and cultures. Some can trace their roots to Germany, while others originated from other parts of Europe, such as Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Hungary. Still others can trace their family roots to non-European countries such as Syria and Lebanon.
Regardless of its many origins, the last name Wilmking is still relatively common today, both in Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Wilmking
The surnames Wilmking, Wilmink, Wilming, Willming, Wilmink, Wilmsen, Wilmassen, Wilmsson, Wilmers, Wilmes, and Willersman all have the same origins.
The most common spelling of the Wilmking surname is Wilmking, which is derived from the German word "Willeming," which means "strong protector." This spelling is most frequently found in the United States.
The Wilmink variation of this surname is found mainly in the Netherlands, and is believed to have been changed from the original German spelling by Dutch immigrants.
Wilming is the most commonly used spelling in Germany, as well as other German speaking countries. The Willming variation is also common in Germany, and is usually seen as a more simplified spelling of the original German surname.
The Wilmink and Wilmsen spellings are the most common forms found in Scandinavia. The Wilmsen spelling is found mainly in Sweden and Norway, while the Wilmink spelling is found in Germany and the Netherlands.
The Wilmassen variation is found mainly in Germany, and is believed to be the result of an attempted Dutchification of the Wilmking surname.
The Wilmsson spelling is a Swedish variant that is derived from "Willeming," and has been altered to fit the Swedish language. Similarly, the Wilmers spelling is the Dutch version of the original German surname, while the Wilmes spelling is the Belgian variation.
Lastly, the Willersman spelling is an American form of the original German Wilmking surname which was introduced very early on by Dutch immigrants.
Famous people with the name Wilmking
- Karl Wilmking, a German architect.
- Siegward Wilmking, a German microbiologist and professor of the University of Greifswald.
- Jochen Wilmking, a German glaciologist and professor of geomorphology.
- Christian Wilmking, a German historian and professor of the University of Bremen.
- Kai Wilmking, a German football player for the 1. FC Union Berlin.
- Till Wilmking, a German mathematician and professor at the University of Göttingen.
- Dirk Wilmking, a German professional football player and co-founder of the Lienen Memorial Prize.
- Wilmking Eue, a German footballer for the Borussia Dortmund team.
- Johann Wilhelm Wilmking, a German physicist and professor at the University of Göttingen.
- Hans-Wilhelm Wilmking, a German director and screenwriter.
- Mathias Wilmking, a German journalist, producer, and musicologist.
- Gorden Wilmking, a German actor.
- Viktor Wilmking, a German television presenter and news anchor.
- Jakob Wilmking, a German musician and composer.
- Katja Wilmking, a German actress.
- Mark Wilmking, a German director and entrepreneur.
- Petra Wilmking, a German actress and director.