Surname Woestefeld - Meaning and Origin
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Woestefeld: What does the surname Woestefeld mean?
The last name Woestefeld is of Dutch (Dutch-Flemish) origin. It is derived from the Old Dutch phrase "woudeste veld", which translates to "haunted field". The name was likely given to someone living near such a field, or else to describe someone frequently found in such places.
In Dutch-Flemish culture, "veld" was used to describe an open, rural area such as a meadow, pasture, or marsh. That area might be haunted, either because of supernatural forces or because of the presence of bandits or other criminals who hid out there. Thus, the name "Woestefeld" likely originated as a sort of nickname for someone often associated with danger or mystery.
It would not be uncommon to find other names starting with the same prefix, such as Woestefat, Woestehage, and Woestevlei, all of which also have meanings related to the original phrase "woudeste veld". These variations might have been used to indicate different locations, or the same location but with different personal experiences.
Today, the name Woestefeld is still found in Dutch-speaking regions, although it is usually part of a larger surname. It is a relatively uncommon name, although there are some bearers of it outside of the Netherlands, as a result of Dutch migration and emigration throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWoestefeld: Where does the name Woestefeld come from?
The surname Woestefeld is most often found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is derived from the Old German word "wuost" meaning "forest" and "veld" meaning "field".
In the United States, the Woestefeld surname is found throughout the country, but is most commonly concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. It was among the most common surnames in each of the states during the late 1800s, according to U.S. Census data.
In Canada, the name can be found in every Canadian province or territory, with the highest concentration being in Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia. The name has been included in the First World War Spirit of the Naming ceremony, which was designed to honour the country's war dead.
In Europe, the last name Woestefeld is most heavily concentrated in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. According to the Austria Population Census, the name can be found in the Styria, Lower Austria, Vienna, and Vienna suburbs. In Germany, the name is mainly found in the western part of the country, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony. In Switzerland, the name is fairly evenly distributed across the country, according to the Swiss surname database.
Overall, the last name Woestefeld is both old and new, and can be found throughout the world, although the greatest concentrations appear to remain in Europe and in the United States.
Variations of the surname Woestefeld
The surname Woestefeld is derived from the medieval Dutch woestenveld, meaning ‘rough field’ or ‘wilderness’. Depending on region and time period, the spelling of the name may vary slightly. Common variants include Woeste, Westvelt, Wostfelt, Westfeld, Westfield, Westveld and Vostvelt.
In Germany, the name is spelled as Wustefeld or Wustfeld. In the Netherlands, derivatives of the name include Westveld, Westvelt and Vostvelt. In France, the surname is often spelled Ouestefeld or Ouestevoel. In Scandinavia, the name’s variant spellings include Westfelt and Væstfelt.
Several surname derivatives are also based on the Woestefeld original. In Germany, a diminutive of the surname is Veste. A patronymic variant is De Woestefel, with the diminutive variant De Veste. In Holland, a patronymic form is de Westvelt, with the diminutive form de Westveld.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly spelled Westfield or Westfeld. Additionally, spellings of the surname with German orthography, such as Wostfeld or Vostfelt, were used by migration from Europe.
The Woestefeld surname has been found in records dating as far back as 1637 in Germany. Today, the surname is most common in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.
Famous people with the name Woestefeld
- Peter Woestefeld: Formerly one of the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees.
- Vere Woestefeld: Dutch Ambassador to Hungary.
- Willem Woestefeld: Former Commandant of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
- Bas Woestefeld: Businessman, philanthropist, and chairman of the Netherlands-based KPN Group.
- Johan Woestefeld: Dutch reality TV celebrity, best known for appearing on De Coppers.
- Astrid Woestefeld: Dutch former model turned entrepreneur, currently running a fashion business.
- Giovanni Woestefeld: Dutch comic book artist and illustrator.
- Mark Woestefeld: Dutch filmmaker, originally from Rotterdam.
- Anne-Marie Woestefeld: Dutch political journalist.
- Jeroen Woestefeld: Dutch artist who works with paintings, illustrations and murals.