Surname Woehlcke - Meaning and Origin
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Woehlcke: What does the surname Woehlcke mean?
The last name Woehlcke is of German origin, and it is derived from the Old German personal name Wala, which is composed of the elements wal, meaning “foreign” or “strange,” and alh, meaning “thrall” or “servant.” The surname is a combination of the two parts, and was used to refer to a vassal, or someone held in allegiance to a higher master. It is believed to have first been introduced to Germany as a personal name during the Middle Ages, and is thought to have adopted in other countries by the mid to late 15th century, when German emigrants began to spread out from their homeland.
The name is believed to have first been borne by a family from the north-west region of Germany, near the Elbe River, and is now found dispersed throughout the country. It is particularly common in the areas of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. In addition to Germany, the name is also found in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States, among Micronesian islands, and as far as Colombia, South America.
Woehlcke is a relatively old and esteemed name, having been in use for centuries. It is an important part of many German families’ genealogical histories and a reminder of the long and interesting tradition of German immigration. For those families who carry the name today, it provides a sense of identity and roots.
Order DNA origin analysisWoehlcke: Where does the name Woehlcke come from?
The last name Woehlcke is most commonly found in parts of Germany and some other parts of Europe today. It can be especially found in some of the eastern states of the country although it is not very widespread everywhere.
In Germany, Woehlcke is most abundant in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly the Ruhr area. It is also found in smaller numbers in Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg and some other states.
Outside of Germany, the name is relatively spread throughout the rest of Europe. There have been numerous records of people with the surname in Austria, and it’s also present in parts of Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Although it has not been heavily researched, there have also been several Woehlcke families living in North America over the last two centuries. In particular, numerous German immigrants with the last name can be found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Overall, the last name Woehlcke is not a very common name but it can still be found in parts of Germany, Europe, and even North America.
Variations of the surname Woehlcke
The surname Woehlcke has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant is Wöhlcke and is the spelling most commonly used by German-speaking and Swiss-German populations. It can also be spelled “Woehlcke” or “Woelhlcke”.
The surname can also be spelled as Vehlcke, Veelcke, Velcke, Vehlke, Vöhlcke, Voehlcke or Vohlke. Also, the German “ö” can often be written as “oe/e” so spellings like Oehlcke and Ehlcke are also used.
Variations of Woehlcke can also be found in other countries such as the United States where it is spelled Woelke, Wahlke or Wahlcke.
In Poland, the spelling most commonly used is Wohlke and in the Netherlands, the spelling Woehlk is found.
Lastly, variants of the surname Woehlcke are often found in other languages such as Wolańczyk in Polish, Wöhlk in Dutch, Wohl in Hebrew and Wohlke in Russian.
In conclusion, the surname Woehlcke has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, varying by geography and language.
Famous people with the name Woehlcke
- Erwin Wöhlcke: German water-polo player and Olympic silver medalist
- Ernst Wöhlcke: German-born German naturalist and geographer
- Gerald Wöhlcke: German sculptor
- Richard Wöhlcke: German musician, pianist, organist, conductor, and composer
- Margot Wöhlcke: German film actress
- Alexander Wöhlcke: German opera singer
- Rudolf Wöhlcke: German zoologist
- Gerhard Wöhlcke: German entomologist and myrmecologist
- Uwe Wöhlcke: German linguist and historian
- Günter Wöhlcke: German art historian and professor of art history