Surname Witlake - Meaning and Origin
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Witlake: What does the surname Witlake mean?
The surname "Witlake" likely originates from a location in Westphalia, Germany. It is a combination of the words "wit" meaning white, and "lake" meaning lake. It is thought that the Witlake location was most likely named after either a white lake, or a lake surrounded by white cliffs.
It is believed that the original settlers of the Witlake area were Germanic and migrated from the south, somewhere near the Rhine River, during the 7th to 8th century. So, the surname is likely associated with the original settlers of that region.
Throughout history, the Witlake name has spread in various directions. In Germany, there are still residents carrying on the name and there are those who have migrated to parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
In more recent times, the Witlake name has spread to areas of North America. The majority of those bearing this name in the United States and Canada are of German descent.
This surname, like all names, carries a lot of history and background. The Witlake name is a unique and interesting name of which people should be proud to bear.
Order DNA origin analysisWitlake: Where does the name Witlake come from?
The last name Witlake is not a particularly common name today, but it can be found all over the world. It is most common in England and Wales, but can also be found in the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The name likely originated as a toponym (place name) in England and referred to a marshy area near water. This could refer either to the River Whitle, or a nearby shallow lake. The name was likely used by those who lived near or around that area as a hereditary surname. Over time, it spread throughout England and the British Isles, and eventually overseas to other parts of the world.
Today, the name is not particularly common, but still recognizable. It is particularly frequent in England and Wales, as well as in the United States, where it has been distributed since at least the turn of the twentieth century. While it is less common in other English-speaking countries, it can still be found scattered throughout them as well.
Variations of the surname Witlake
Witlake is an uncommon English surname. In its spelling and variants, it appears to be based on an Old English combination of words- wit, meaning 'knowledge, wisdom, understanding'; and lacu or lacce, meaning 'play, sport, or game'. Therefore, the name is a metaphor for 'one given to playing the game of life with wisdom and knowledge.'
Variants of the surname include Witlak, Witleake, Whitleak, Wittlake, Wytlac, and Wytlake. It may also appear as Wytleak, Wuthlac, Whuttlake, and Witlayke.
In its corrupted spellings, it can be found as Whattlake, Whutlake, Whattleak, and Wattleake.
Variants of the surname from other countries include Wytlack (German), Vitlak (Hungarian), Vytlalka (Slavic), Vittlack (Scandinavian), Witteler (Flemish), and Vitlaque (Vietnamese).
Different spellings also represent different branches of the same family. For example, Witleaker is a variant commonly found in the United Kingdom, while Wiphlak and Wytlac are common surnames in Germany.
Overall, the spelling of Witlake and its variants can vary greatly depending on the country and family branch in which it is found. However, all variants reflect a common source, 'one given to playing the game of life with wisdom and knowledge.'
Famous people with the name Witlake
- William Witlake: American photographer best known for his works in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
- Nicholas Witlake: British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
- Christian Witlake: American painter and printmaker
- Janna Witlake: Polish actress and singer
- Joachim Witlake: German musician and composer
- Klaus Witlake: German mountaineer, adventurer and photographer
- Jake Witlake: American professional baseball pitcher
- Lorna Witlake: Canadian lawyer, legal consultant and academic
- Dieter Witlake: German engineer and inventor
- Albert Witlake: Austrian composer and songwriter