Surname Woelhalf - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Woelhalf: What does the surname Woelhalf mean?
The surname Woelhalf is believed to be of Dutch origin. The term “Woel” comes from the Dutch word “Woelen” which means to agitate or stir up. This could refer to the original holder of the surname being someone who was incredibly ambitious or restless in nature. The suffix “Half”, which is derived from the Dutch term “halven”, simply means “half”. This could be interpreted as either a sign of a commoner’s half status or a patronymic indicator of half blood. It also could be used to denote the hereditary surname of a particular family line.
Overall, the surname Woelhalf appears to have a combination of origins related to the individual’s ambition, restlessness, and status. Those who have the surname today may have a wide variety of distinct stories related to how the surname was established in their family. It is common for those who have the surname to have Dutch and/or Germanic roots due to the origins being linked to the Dutch language. Each person who carries the surname today has their own unique family history related to the name, and it is fascinating to have the opportunity to trace the roots of the surname all the way back to its origin.
Order DNA origin analysisWoelhalf: Where does the name Woelhalf come from?
The last name Woelhalf is a common German surname which also appears across parts of central Europe. It is most likely derived from an Old German personal name, "Wolhalt" or "Valhal" and is believed to mean "rule of courage". Today, the name Woelhalf is prevalent mainly in Germany, particularly in the northern and western regions. It can be found in Saxony, Lower Saxony, Hesse, and even as far east as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The name also appears in quite a few places in Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
In addition, there has been some migration to the United States by families bearing the Woelhalf name. Some of these families settled in Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the name has been used in Canada with a family also settling in Toronto.
In terms of population numbers, Woelhalf is quite common, particularly in areas of Germany. In 2014, there were approximately 15,000 people listing Woelhalf as their last name in the German telephone directory and 8,500 in the Belgian directory. It is also quite popular in the Netherlands with more than 5,000 people carrying the surname. Interestingly, Woelhalf also appears in India both in Kerala and Karnataka.
All in all, the last name Woelhalf is relatively widespread and can be seen across Germany, Europe, and North America.
Variations of the surname Woelhalf
The surname Woelhalf is most commonly spelled Wölhaf, Wolhaf, Weuhlhaf, Wühlhaf, Wöhlhaf, and Woelhaf. Variations on the spelling of the name that have been found in genealogy records include Woelhalf, Wöelhaf, Wöelhaff, Wohelhaf, Wöhelhaf, Weuhlhaf, Wühlhaf, and Wöhlhaf.
The German surname Wölhaf originated as a toponymic (location-based) surname with the term “Wöl” meaning “woods” in Middle High German. Historians have speculated that the particular woods from which the family originates is located near the hamlet of Zöblitz in Thuringia, Germany, but no definitive records have been unearthed to support this hypothesis.
Variations of the surname Woelhalf have been found in both Prussian and East Prussian genealogy records, as well as in records from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, where many German immigrants went in the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to the many variations in spelling, the surname is sometimes found with short forms such as Wöl, Wühl, and Wöh.
The popularity of the surname Wölhaf and its variants has been slowly declining since the end of World War II and the dispersal of many Europeans from their homelands; however, there is still a population of individuals bearing the name in both Germany and North America.
Famous people with the name Woelhalf
- Gustaf Wölhaf: Swedish diplomat
- Claes Wöhlhaf: Swedish Politician
- Daniel Wölhaf: Swiss painter, sculptor, and graphic artist
- Björn Wöhlhaf: Swedish figurative sculptor
- Olof Wöhlhaf: Swedish Sports journalist
- Ulla Wöhlhaf: Swedish figure skating coach
- Ingrid Wölhaf: Swedish musician
- RL Wöhlhaf: German Poet
- Hubertus Wölhaf: German Olympic decathlete
- Johann Wölhaf: Austrian medalist at the 1895 Men's World Gymnastics Championships