Surname Wittlake - Meaning and Origin
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Wittlake: What does the surname Wittlake mean?
The last name Wittlake is derived from a Germanic origin and is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. The literal translation of the name is “willow lake” and this in itself can give us some clues as to the original meaning behind the surname. In German folklore, the willow tree had a spiritual and religious significance, as it was believed to possess magical and healing properties. It was thought to be a symbol of protection and renewal, representing the cycle of life and the timelessness of nature. As a result, the name Wittlake may have come to represent someone who was in some way connected to this spiritual undercurrent, whether through their profession or ancestry. It could have also been adopted as a surname to acknowledge a prominent ancestor or to honor someone who held special religious or spiritual significance. Another possibility is that the original bearer of the name was associated with a body of water, particularly one surrounded by willow trees.
In any case, the name Wittlake is an interesting reminder of our collective ancestry and the beliefs that have carried through the generations. Its traditional meaning is a bridge between the natural, spiritual world and our present-day lives, offering us a sense of resilience and hope in difficult times
Order DNA origin analysisWittlake: Where does the name Wittlake come from?
The last name Wittlake is a fairly uncommon name, and is thought to have originated from a Germanic root. It is believed to be a locational name, with the first recorded version of the name being found in the Old German "wituileke", which literally means "little white meadow".
Today, the last name Wittlake can mainly be found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also sometimes seen in parts of northern France and the Netherlands. Some people with this name have emigrated over time to other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, people with the last name Wittlake mainly live in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Oregon. The name can also be found in some other states including Michigan, Ohio, and Texas.
Overall, the last name Wittlake is currently a rare name, with only a few hundred mentions in the White Pages listing in the United States. That said, there are a few Wittlakes in the world today, with the name spread across a few countries.
Variations of the surname Wittlake
The Wittlake surname has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common of these include Wattleke, Wetterlake, Vaticanke, Wettelegge and Wittnagel. All of these surname variants originate from the same origin, which is the German name Wudelac or Vudelac. This name was most likely derived from the German word "Wut" meaning "anger" or "wrath".
The surname Wittlake can also be found in other spellings and surnames that have the same origin. These include Wetterlüke, Vittelack, Vudelück, Wittlegge, Wudelach and Wudgelach. Other variants of this surname include Wetterleck, Vudeloch, Vittenagel, Wettelak, Wudeluke and Vettelack.
In addition to the various spellings and surnames of the same origin, the Wittlake surname can also be found in patronymic forms such as Wittleke or Wuttelke. These patronymic forms are derived from the original Wittlake surname by taking the first letter of the name and adding -elke to the end of it. For example, if the original surname was Allan, the patronymic form would be All-elke.
All of these various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin can be found in German records dating back as far as the 16th century. These records show that the surname Wittlake had spread to various other countries across Europe, such as Sweden, Denmark and England. The Wittlake surname can still be found in these countries today, as well as other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Wittlake
- Jennifer Wittlake: American diver who represented the United States in international competitions including the 2009 World Championships in Rome.
- David Wittlake: Former mayor of Osage who served from 1980 to 1984.
- Christopher Wittlake: British Royal Artillery soldier who fought in the Battle of Waterloo.
- Robin Wittlake: Deceased American Ophthalmologist and Otolaryngologist who served on the staff of Presbyterian Hospital in Texas.
- Gabe Wittlake: American beach volleyball player who won the bronze medal in the 2014 AVP Paso Robles Beach Volleyball Championships.
- Andrew Wittlake: British-American documentary filmmaker and journalist who directed the award-winning 2017 documentary, "The Opposite Game".
- Tasha Wittlake: Canadian professional ice hockey player who serves as the head coach of the Montreal Tornado Women's Hockey Team.
- Michelle Wittlake: American contemporary artist and sculptor who has had her work featured in galleries around the world.
- Mike Wittlake: Retired professional baseball player who last played for the Minnesota Twins in 2003.
- Laura Wittlake: German circus performer and trapeze artist who has performed worldwide.