Surname Woeller - Meaning and Origin
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Woeller: What does the surname Woeller mean?
The last name Woeller is a German Surname which can be translated to mean “shepherd” or “shepherd boy”. This name is indicative of someone who had strong ties to tending livestock as their former profession. This also implies a traditional upbringing with a rural or agricultural background.
Originally, in the late 13th century, Woeller was an occupation-based surname which was most commonly found in the Gelre area of the Netherlands. As families began to migrate out of this region, Woeller became a German surname and is now mostly found in Germany and the US.
Woeller is also a common surname in Ukraine and Russia, where its meaning is slightly different. In these cultures, the name is derived from the Slavic word “vylazh” meaning “defender”. This indicates that someone with the Woeller surname may have been the leader of a small village or town.
Woeller was always an honorary name but eventually began to be associated with a higher social status due to its “shepherd” origin. This is why many families with the surname Woeller have links to the history of nobility and have a reputation as being honorable people. Today, Woeller is still a popular surname in many parts of Europe and America, and is also part of many surname-based family trees.
Order DNA origin analysisWoeller: Where does the name Woeller come from?
The last name Woeller is most commonly found today in Germany, where it is one of the most common surnames in the country. According to the Social Security Administration, Woeller is the 882nd most common surname in the United States, located in all fifty states.
The geographic origin of the Woeller name is German. It is believed to come from a nickname for someone with residence near a spring or well in Germany known as a 'wohle'. Spelling variations of the name include Woeller, Weller, Wohler, Woehler, Wiler, and Wahler, as surnames tend to change through time and migration.
Today several notable people share the Woeller surname. These include Professor Dr. Horst Woeller, a prominent physicist from Germany. Another is German former footballer Dieter Woeller, who played for three different teams over his career.
The Woeller surname is quite common throughout its home continent of Europe, and is quickly establishing a presence in the United States. American sources indicate that Woeller is about as common as the name Gardner or Leader, but not as common Stewart or Taylor.
Variations of the surname Woeller
Woeller is a surname of German origin. Variants of this surname include Waller, Woeler, Waeller, Weller, Weiller, Waeler, Woehler, Wehler, and Wiler. All of these surname variants are likely derived from the old German personal name Welhart, which consists of two elements: “wel” meaning “well”, and “hart” meaning “hard”.
Woeller may also be spelled differently depending on the country or region. In some areas of Germany, the spelling is commonly seen as Wöller. In Switzerland, the spelling is usually Wölle, and in Austria, it is often seen as Wölzer. In the United States, some individuals may spell the name as Woolever, Woelver, Waalver, Walever, or Wolever.
The various spellings may be accompanied by different surnames. Individuals wearing the Woeller surname may also have their surname spelled with various suffixes. These suffixes may include -er, -ing, -erin, -loff, -ke or -hoff. Examples of related surnames include Wöllinger, Wöllersheimer, Wöllering, Wöllerke, and Wöllerhoff.
In other cases, Woeller may be translated into other languages such as Latin or French. The surname then may become Vullere, Vauler, or Walerius. Other terms sometimes associated with Woeller include related names such as Wodyll, Woldt, Wolter, Woltman, and Wolschke.
Famous people with the name Woeller
- Tim Woeller: German ski jumping champion.
- Nicola Woeller: German alpine ski racer.
- Wolfgang Woeller: French opera singer.
- Ryan Woeller: Musician, member of the popular band Live.
- Wilhelm Woeller: German paleontologist.
- Fritz Woeller: Swiss sprint canoeist.
- Maria Woeller: East German speedskater.
- Stephen Woeller: German media executive.
- Michael Woeller: German inventor.
- Edgar Woeller: German mathematician.
- Edward Woeller: French psychologist.
- Paul Woeller: German chemist.
- Dirk Woeller: Dutch hurdler.
- Karl Woeller: Austrian footballer.
- Ulrich Woeller: German artist.
- Ludwig Woeller: German painter.