Surname Wöbke - Meaning and Origin
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Wöbke: What does the surname Wöbke mean?
The last name Wöbke is a German name, derived from the Middle High German word "wobke," which means "the curved one" or "bending one." The name is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone with an unusually curved body or unusual gait. It was likely used to describe someone who appeared strange or not quite normal.
In later centuries, due to the importance of surnames in establishing family identity, Wöbke was adopted as a hereditary family name by those originating in Germany. The name may have been derived from one's profession or craft, and the first person to adopt the name was likely a craftsman or metalworker who had a habit of bending metal objects.
Today, the surname Wöbke is considered rare and is not among the most common in Germany, but can occasionally be found throughout the country. Those bearing the name are likely descended from members of the original German lineages, though the meaning of the name today is largely forgotten by those who bear it.
Overall, the last name Wöbke is of German origin, likely derived from an old nickname or craft, and is relatively rare today. Despite its long history, the original meaning of the name has become lost in time.
Order DNA origin analysisWöbke: Where does the name Wöbke come from?
The last name Wöbke is primarily a German surname originating from the Lower Rhine area. It is most common today in Germany, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Significant numbers of individuals with the surname can also be found in both Austria and Switzerland.
In Germany, the surname has tended to be localized in specific regions. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for instance, it is most frequently found in the cities of Geldern, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, and Nordrhein-Westfalen. In Lower Saxony, the highest numbers of individuals with the surname Wöbke have been noted in the cities of Bielefeld, Braunschweig, Göttingen, Hanover, and Wolfsburg.
The surname has been particularly common in the region of Oldenburg in Lower Saxony, where records indicate that as many as three percent of the population carry this name. This figure is significantly higher than the average for Lower Saxony as a whole, which stands at just 0.024 percent of the population.
Outside Germany, the surname is found as Woebke, with the highest frequencies in Austria and Switzerland. According to Austrian census data, the highest numbers of individuals with the surname Woebke are located in the region of Vorarlberg, where as much as 0.0023 percent of the local population carries this name. In Switzerland, on the other hand, the surname tends to be most common in the northern municipalities of Canton Ticino.
Overall, the surname Wöbke is well-distributed throughout Germany and its neighbouring countries, although it is more concentrated in certain areas such as Oldenburg in Lower Saxony and Vorarlberg in Austria.
Variations of the surname Wöbke
The surname Wöbke has different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. One of the most common variants is 'Woebke', which is the German spelling of the name. In addition, the name may also be spelled 'Wobke', 'Wobki', 'Wobky', or 'Woebke'.
In addition to the spelling variations, the name Wöbke also has other surnames with the same origin. These include Wöbbing, Wöbbke, Wöbker, Wöbey, Wöbstein, Wöbsting, Wöbend, Wöber, Wöbkrüger, Wöbner, Wöbgke, and Wöbkeave.
The variations in the surname Wöbke trace back to Germany, where the name was thought to be derived from a combination of the old German words 'woh' and 'feog'/'fog', meaning ' valor' and 'protection', respectively. It is believed that the name originated as a reference to one's courage and guard.
These variations in spellings and surnames of the same origin have since spread to other countries, with many adopting the same variations in their own native language. These include variations in French as Wöbké, in Danish as Wöbke, in Polish as Wobka, and in Italian as Wobbone.
Regardless of the spelling variations or surnames with the same origin, it is believed that all forms of the Wöbke surname have the same origin, referencing an ancient profession of courage and protection.
Famous people with the name Wöbke
- Dirk Wöbke: a German actor, best known for his work in the 1994 television movie Das Stacheltier.
- Isabel Wöbke: a German archer who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Michael Wöbke: a German academic and politician who was the mayor of Bad Honnef from 1992 to 2016.
- Heinz Wöbke: a German painter, draftsman and printmaker, associated with the Sachsen-Anhalt School of Art of the later part of the 20th century.
- Johann Wöbke: a German seminarian and historian who wrote ‘Chronicles of the Cistercian Monasteries of Lippoldsberg’.
- Luis Wöbke: a German football player who currently plays for FC Magdeburg in the 3. Liga.
- Silke Wöbke: a German show jumping rider who has represented her country in numerous international competitions.
- Volker Wöbke: a German professor of medicine and medical director of the University of Heidelberg Eye Clinic.
- Ulrike Wöbke: a German cellist and academic who was principal cello in the Heidelberger Sinfoniker and served as professor of music at the University of Heidelberg.
- Christian Wöbke: a German biologist and professor of plant physiology at Greifswald University.