Surname Wöhlers - Meaning and Origin

Wöhlers: What does the surname Wöhlers mean?

The last name Wöhlers is of German origin and is likely derived from the German word "wöhler," which means smith. This suggests that the earliest Wöhlers were likely blacksmiths. Over time, the name may have been adopted by individuals who worked in other trades as well.

The name Wöhlers can be found in several German regions and may have moved around as families relocated. Today, it is a common surname in Germany and in parts of the United States where German immigrants settled.

There are numerous spellings of the last name, including Wöhlers, Wohlers, Wohllers, and Wohlles, all of which are variants of the main spelling. The Wöhlers spelling is the most common, and is also found in other countries like Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, likely due to the migration of German-speaking people.

Due to its German origin, the coat of arms associated with the Wöhlers family is the same as or similar to the coats of arms associated with other people of German descent. In most cases, these coats of arms feature symbols such as blacksmithing tools like an anvil and hammer.

As is typical of German last names, there may be multiple meanings associated with the Wöhlers name. For example, in some cases, the name may have referred to someone originally from a region named Wöhlers. In other cases, it may have referred to someone whose trade was, originally, blacksmithing. Overall, given its German origin and commonness today, the surname Wöhlers is fairly straightforward in meaning and deeply rooted in German tradition.

Wöhlers: Where does the name Wöhlers come from?

The surname Wöhlers is most common in Germany, such as Bavaria, Berlin, and Rheinland-Pfalz. It is not found in large numbers in other countries, though it has spread to Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United States.

In Germany, the surname Wöhlers is most frequent in the state of Bavaria, where an estimated 25,000 people are thought to be bearing the name. It is comparatively quite common also in Berlin (approx. 3000) and Rheinland-Pfalz (approx. 2000). Fewer people bear the name in other states, but there are still significant numbers present in Saxony, Thuringia, Baden-Württemberg, and Schleswig-Holstein. Additionally, thousands of Germans with the name Wöhlers may be found living abroad, mainly in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, there are significant numbers of people with the surname Wöhlers. In Denmark and Norway, however, the name is much less common. Despite the global spread of the name, its presence in other European countries can best be described as “sparse”, while in some countries (such as Italy and Spain) it is virtually non-existent.

The vast majority of people who bear the name Wöhlers today are directly descended from a common ancestor, a process commonly known as agnation. Agnation is a widespread phenomenon in Germany, and it is the main reason why the surname Wöhlers has persistently remained so concentrated in certain parts of the country.

Variations of the surname Wöhlers

The surname Wöhlers is a German surname of various spellings and variants. The various spellings include Wohler, Woeler, Woelers, Wöhler, Wühler, Wuehler, Wuehlers and Wühlers.

The origin of this surname is derived from the Proto-Germanic pagan personal name, Wilhari, which had different spellings, both in Old High German and Middle High German. In Old High German, the name was sometimes spelt as Wihari, Wiliher, Wilahar, Wilharius and Wileher; in Middle High German, the variants were Wilehar, Wileher and Wiliher. These variants suggest that the original root form of Wöhlers is Wilhari.

The surname Wöhlers is a patronymic, meaning that it came from the father’s given name. The surname was most likely created by appending the prefix Wöhle- to the father’s given name, Wilhari. The suffix -er was often added to patronymic surnames in Germany.

Variants of Wöhlers are found in different parts of Germany, mainly in North and East Germany, and the name can be found in records from the 13th century onwards, particularly from the area of Bavaria and Saxony. Other spellings of the name, including Wohler, Woeler and Wuehler, can also be found in present-day Germany and abroad, particularly in the USA and Canada.

Other names of the same origin as Wöhlers are Ulers, Ueler, Uhlars, Uhlher and Uhl. This suggests that the variants are interconnected and could originate from a common ancestor.

The various spellings and variants of the Wöhlers surname are evidence of how surnames can evolve over time, particularly after a migration event. The variants illustrate how the surname has evolved, with various spellings being adopted in different areas and countries over the centuries.

Famous people with the name Wöhlers

• Christian Friedrich Wöhler, a German-born architect and landscape designer who designed the Cuyahoga County courthouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
• August Wöhler, a German-American portrait painter.
• Fritz Wöhler, a German bacteriologist and discoverer of several bacteria species.
• Albrecht Wöhler, a German biologist and second president of the University of Kiel.
• Friedrich Wöhler, a German chemist who made the first synthesis of an organic compound from inorganic starting materials, thereby laying the foundations for the field of organic chemistry.
• Ferdinand Wöhler, a German anatomist and natural scientist.
• Gertrud Wöhler, a German chemist and Nobel Prize in Chemistry-winning researcher who worked primarily in the fields of fusion energy, nuclear physics, and quantum mechanics.
• Waldemar Wöhler, a German musicologist and professor of musicology.
• Hugo Wöhler, a German physicist and university professor who was the co-developer of the nuclear fission.
• Heide Wöhler, a German artist and illustrator specializing in painting and handicrafts.

Other surnames

WohlerWöhlerWöhlermann