Surname Witthaar - Meaning and Origin

Witthaar: What does the surname Witthaar mean?

The last name Witthaar is of German origin and is derived from the combination of two words – wit meaning white, and thar meaning hare, specifically the Alpine marmot. This name likely originated in the medieval Germany, where it was used to mean someone red-haired and fair skinned, or someone who was born near a white-furred marmot.

The Witthaar family can trace its lineage back to German settlers who emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century. As with many of these German names, the spelling and pronunciation can vary, with some common variations including Whitehair, Wythaar, Witaar, and Wethair.

The Witthaar family is still found in a variety of locations throughout the United States, as well as in other countries such as Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland. Those with this surname could potentially be connected through DNA testing, as in recent years there have been numerous attempts made to link those with the same last name.

The Witthaar name serves as a reminder of all those who left their original homeland in search of a better life, and their legacy is an example of determination, courage, and strength. It is a name that resonates strongly with members of this family, and is a source of pride and identity.

Witthaar: Where does the name Witthaar come from?

The last name Witthaar is most commonly found today in the Netherlands - particularly in the eastern regions of Overijssel and Gelderland.

According to the Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics, as of January 2020, the Netherlands has approximately 17,000 citizens who carry the last name Witthaar. This is just a fraction of the total population - the current population of the country is nearly 17 million - but it still makes the name relatively common in the region.

The name is derived from a southern Germanic nickname meaning 'forest hunter' and is thought to have originated by the Dutch populace during the Middle Ages as a family name. Given this history, locations near forests likely had higher concentrations of the family name, although today anyone, regardless of their proximity to forests, can claim the name.

Witthaar is likely an occupational name as many members of this clan were reportedly hunters and trappers in the Middle Ages. This is evidenced by surrounding, similar sounding names such as Witshaa, Witshaar, and Wijtshaar, which have a similar meaning, suggesting that many of these families were involved in the same trade.

Although the name can be found in other European countries - most notably France, Germany, and Belgium - the greatest concentration of the Witthaar family is found in the Netherlands. This is likely because the Netherlands has traditionally had a high concentration of the last name, and over time it has managed to stay within the country's borders.

Variations of the surname Witthaar

The surname Witthaar has Germanic origins, deriving from the Middle High German terms "wit" meaning white, and "haar" meaning hair or face. It is commonly spelled Witthar, Wittehaar, Wisdom, and Wisdomar, and is also found in variants such as Wittaar, Witehaar, Wittahar, Witthuhr, Witteharr, and Wittar. Several surnames of the same origin can be found throughout Germanic speaking countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria, as well as in other regions of Europe with a significant Germanic influence.

The Germanic form ‘Witthar’ is likely derived from German ‘witz-haar’ meaning ‘white-haired’, as wit is the German word for white. Many people bearing this surname likely had some form of white hair, such as gray, blonde, or even light-colored brown hair. The derivative spelling of ‘Wittehaar’ is also an indication of this origin, having the same meaning as ‘witz-haar’, while the spelling ‘wisdom’ or ‘wisdomar’ is likely related to Middle High German ‘wissen-haar’ meaning wise-haired.

Other distinct spelling variations of the same surname include Wittaar, Witehaar, Wittahar, Wittuhr, Witteharr, and Wittar. These spelling variants are found in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and other regions of Europe with a significant Germanic influence, indicating that the Witthaar surname originated in a German-speaking area. These spelling variants of Witthaar have also been Anglicized in America leading to the modern louko ‘Whittaker’. The Witthaar surname remains in use in many countries throughout Europe and beyond, each of these variations indicating an origin from the same term ‘witz-haar’ meaning ‘white-haired’.

Famous people with the name Witthaar

• Nicolette Witthaar: an American professional tennis player who was a semifinalist at the 1988 French Open junior event.
• Chris Witthar: a German actor best known for playing Silvio in the series Tatort.
• Mark Witthaar: a Dutch kick boxer who won a gold medal at the 1994 European Kickboxing Championships.
• Nathan Witthar: a Canadian racing cyclist who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the road race.
• James Witthaar: an American professional surfer who won the Hawaii's most elite surfing competition, Pioneer of Surf in 2019.
• Ralph Witthaar: an Austrian film producer known for his work on films such as The Devil's Mountain (1997), Greed (1973) and What I Did for Love (1968).
• Yvonne Witthar: a Dutch footballer who has featured in both the women's Dutch National Team and various clubs throughout her career.
• Dennis Witthaar: a German podcaster and YouTuber best known for his channels “The Witthaar Society” and “YouTuber Talk.”
• Jessica Witthar: an American model and actress who has been featured in various magazines and ad campaigns including Wizard of Oz (1998), Elle (2015) and Dazed and Confused (2017).
• Justin Witthaar: an American professional skateboarder and stunt performer who has appeared in the films National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) and We Are X (2017).

Other surnames

WitthansWitthaupt