Surname Wöhlecke - Meaning and Origin
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Wöhlecke: What does the surname Wöhlecke mean?
The last name Wöhlecke is of German origin and is derived from two old German words – “woh” and “ecke.” The use of “woh” meant “clearing” or an area of land in the midst of a forest, while “ecke” gave an idea of a corner or location. So, the literal meaning of Wöhlecke as a topographical name is a clearing that is within a corner or a place in the middle of a wooded area.
The name Wöhlecke can be found as the name of several places in Lower Saxony and Bavaria in Germany. These places could have been named after a person who lived there and came to be known as Wöhlecke. It is also possible that the name came to be used to name a location at some point in history when a family called Wöhlecke could have migrated to or settled in the area.
The Wöhlecke family is believed to have been living in Germany since at least the Middle Ages. They were mostly farmers and landowners who lived in the villages of Germany during their day. The coat of arms of the Wöhlecke clan features a brown eagle on a yellow background. This signifies the courage, dignity and protection of the family.
In modern times, the Wöhlecke name is still found in Germany and beyond, indicating the survival of the family name through centuries of documented history. The Wöhlecke name is a reminder of an ancestral lineage and a proud connection to a part of German history.
Order DNA origin analysisWöhlecke: Where does the name Wöhlecke come from?
The last name Wöhlecke is most common today in Germany, especially in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. According to ancestry information, Wöhlecke family branches have been residing in Germany since well before the 1800s, with the oldest known record of the surname dating back to the year 1490.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Wöhlecke name is especially common in the city of Greifswald, where there are quite a few distinct neighborhoods that are almost entirely populated by members of the same Wöhlecke family. This could help explain why the name is so common in the city, as members of the same family are known to carry surnames down through multiple generations.
At the same time, Wöhlecke is also quite common in the city of Berlin. According to a recent survey, around 28% of people living in the city can trace their ancestry back to the Wöhlecke family, making it one of the most prominent last names in the German capital.
Overall, it is clear that the Wöhlecke name is more common in Germany than in any other country, with specific concentrations in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. Its long-standing history in the country is what makes it common in modern day Germany.
Variations of the surname Wöhlecke
The surname Wöhlecke can be written in many different ways, including Woelcke, Woelcken, and Woelken. It is a German surname derived from the Old German language and is commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and countries of German heritage in North America.
Woelcke is usually the simplest surname spelling, derived from the Old German word "wilken," meaning woodlot or clearing. Woelcken is the slightly longer form of Woelcke, and fits into the naming pattern of some surnames in Germany. Woelken is a Dutch variant of the surname, and was likely created for identification and classification purposes by Dutch officials.
In Germany, the surname is pronounced "VUR-leck-ah," and is also commonly known by the nickname "Völkchen." In some cases, the surname is still found in its most archaic form—as "Woelcke"—with the letter ö (ö after the letter W) still in use.
Some alternate surnames derived from Wöhlecke include Wollecke, Wolecke, and Wollcke. There are other less common variants like Warnecke and Wolke, but they are not as prevalent. Like other German surnames, some variants may be regionalized, and still found in certain areas of Germany in the 21st century.
Overall, the surname Wöhlecke is quite versatile and can be spelt in many different ways. The origin of the surname was likely derived from the Old German word "wilken" for woodlot or clearing, and while the spelling and pronunciation may differ, the meaning remains the same.
Famous people with the name Wöhlecke
- Henri Wöhlecke, German politician
- Joseph Wöhlecke, German American printer and newspaper publisher
- Henry von Wöhlecke, German General
- Alexander Wöhlecke, German chess master
- David Wöhlecke, German artist
- Christian Wöhlecke, German surgeon.
- Wilfried Wöhlecke, German author and former East German dissident
- Aimo Wöhlecke, German photographer
- Max Wöhlecke, German aircraft engineer
- Uwe Wöhlecke, German olympic swimmer