Surname Woehlke - Meaning and Origin
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Woehlke: What does the surname Woehlke mean?
The last name Woehlke is a German patronymic surname. It is derived from the personal name Wielke or Wilke, which is a shortened version of Wilhelm, the German form of William. It is believed to originate from the old German elements wil, meaning "will, desire", and helm, meaning "helmet, protection".
The surname Woehlke first appears in German records dating back to the 13th century, and was likely given to a descendant of Wilhelm I of Germany, the first of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
Historically, the Woehlke branch of the Hohenzollern family was commonly associated with royalty, power, wealth, and status. Woehlke is a common surname in Germany and can be found in virtually every region of the country.
Today, people with the Woehlke surname may still find it to be a sign of nobility. It is especially meaningful to those of German descent whose last names have been passed down from generation to generation. However, the surname also serves to remind its current bearers of the many hardships their ancestors had to overcome in order to fight for their freedom, survival, and dignity.
Order DNA origin analysisWoehlke: Where does the name Woehlke come from?
The last name Woehlke is most commonly found in Germany. It's a variant of the name Wöhlke, which was once a location-based name, derived from the place Wöhlke in the small German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It has been documented in the region at least as far back as the 17th century. Today, most people with that name live in the northern German states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Berlin, which reflects the spread of the name from its original sources in the area. Outside of Germany, it can be found in the United States, Scandinavia, and Germany's former colonies in Latin America. No matter where the name is found, it is often associated with large families and traditions of hard work and family values.
Variations of the surname Woehlke
The surname Woehlke is of German origin that was likely derived from the personal name Wohlicho. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Woehlke include Wöhlke, Wehlke, Wohlke, Wohlck, Wöhlck, Wehlck, Whelke, Whelck, Wuhlke, Wuhlck, Wehling, Woehling, Wuhling, and Wahling.
Wöhlke is one of the spellings of the name that has its origin in its historical forebear, which was likely an evolution of the name Wuhl, a variant of Wolh or Wulh, a German name for an owl. Wöhlke may also derive from the Old German pre-7th-century personal name Wulc, which means 'wolf'.
Woehlke is also connected to the Low German dative form of Wahl/Wul, a term for the protective, self-sacrificing preference given to someone or something. This German term was transformed in other language areas as Wall. It was adapted in France as Wahl, Waill, Waal, and Woll. The same spelling has been retained in several French dialects.
The most found variant of the Woehlke surname is Wohlke, which is the plural form of Wohl. Wohl has its roots in the old German phrase Wahl and Uolh, which meant "choosing courage" or "choosing strength". Wohlke may also have its roots in the Old German element wolh, meaning "protection".
The Woehlke surname can also be found in various forms with different prefixes, such as Wehlke or Wuhlke. Wehlke is derived from the Middle Low German word Wehle, which meant 'valley or a landscape between two mountains'. Wuhlke is another form of the Woehlke surname, which is derived from the Old High German personal name Wulches, meaning 'warrior'.
Overall, the surname Woehlke is found in many forms and variants, spellings and surnames. These spellings and variations are rooted in the Old German and Low German languages. Woehlke may also mean 'protection', 'choosing courage' or 'choosing strength' and have its origins in the Old High German personal name Wulches, meaning 'warrior'.
Famous people with the name Woehlke
- Johannes Woelhlke: former football player for FC Schalke 04.
- Sebastian Woehlke: German politician for the Social Democratic Party.
- Julian Woehlke: Becksmith Orchestra band leader and musical director.
- Daniel Woehlke: former German ice hockey player for Krefeld Pinguine.
- Christian Woehlke: German actor and screenwriter.
- David Woehlke: Co-Founder of Wildchain.
- Dr. Guenther Woehlke: Veterinarian, former member of the European Animal Health Organization.
- Isolde Woehlke-Lux: award-winning German author.
- Richard Woehlke: Author and slavist with a focus on early philosophical Slavism and its influence on modern Belarusian literature.
- Ingeborg Woehlke: Painter and graphic artist who won the prestigious Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.