Surname Wöhlkens - Meaning and Origin

Wöhlkens: What does the surname Wöhlkens mean?

The last name Wöhlkens is of German origin and it is an occupational name for a coppersmith. The surname originates from the Middle High German and Low German words 'wöhle' and 'wöhlke', both meaning coppersmith. It is believed that the surname first appeared in Germany in the 12th century, when metalwork was a prominent trade for many craftsmen. Through time, the last name has variously been spelled as Wöhl, Wöhlken, Wöhls, Wehlke, Wöhlk, Wöhlke, Wöhlkies, and Wöhlkens.

The surname Wöhlkens has spread across Europe and was found near the North Sea in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It has also been found in Prussia (now part of Poland) since the 13th century. In modern times, the last name is amongst the most common surnames in Germany with almost 35,000 individuals having the surname as of 2019.

In other German speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the surname is less common but still found in many locations. The surname has also become popular across the world and is found in places such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the south-eastern states such as Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Thus, the last name Wöhlkens is a unique and interesting surname that has a long history and has now spread across the world in many different forms and versions. It is a small testament to the many tradesman and artisans that made up the fabric of society in medieval times.

Wöhlkens: Where does the name Wöhlkens come from?

The last name Wöhlkens is most commonly found in Germany today. Records show the surname was first found in the early fifteenth century in areas of the Lower Rhine, including Osnabrück and Nordhastedt.

By the late 1800s, the Wöhlken family had immigrated to North America, primarily settling in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and later the Midwest. Today, many Wöhlkens can still be found in Germany as well as in the Midwest United States.

There are also a few instances of the surname Wöhlkens in England, mainly through emigrants who settled there from Germany in the early twentieth century. The surname was sometimes anglicized to Whalkin or Walker.

Though records exist of families of the surname Wöhlkens in many countries, most indications suggest that the majority of people currently bearing the last name live in Germany, the United States, and occasionally the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Wöhlkens

The surname Wöhlkens has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These names include Wohlenkens, Wohlers, Wohlersdorf, Wohlbauer, and Wuhlken.

Wohlenkens is the most common variant of the surname. It is a derivative of the Old German name Woelke, which is the root of the Wöhlkens name. There are various spellings of this variant, such as Wohlkennes, Wohlenkes, Woehlkenes, Wohlkenes, Wehlenken, Wehlinken, and Wehlenkenk.

The next most common variant is Wohlers. This is also derived from the Old German name Woelke, and is a combination of two words: wohler, meaning “to flee” and s meaning “with”, creating the meaning “one who flees with”. Variations of this variant include Wohlerdorf, Wohlbauer, and Wohlersdorf.

The variant Wuhlken is derived from the Old German name Wuhlke, and is also a combination of two words. The first is wohl, meaning “well” and the second is ken, meaning “person”—creating the meaning “a well-rounded person”. Variations of this variant include Wuhleken, Wohleken, Woleken, and Wuhlke.

Overall, the surname Wöhlkens has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. All of these variants can be traced back to the Old German name Woelke, and variations of this root name have been used to create different forms of Wöhlkens throughout history.

Famous people with the name Wöhlkens

• Benjamin Wöhlkens: German professional footballer
• Alexander Wöhlkens: German boxed
• Anton Wöhlkens: German skeleton racer and Olympic gold medalist
• Julia Wöhlkens: German women's hockey player
• Carsten Wöhlkens: German professional golfer
• David Wöhlkens: German swimmer
• Sven Wöhlkens: German professional footballer
• Martin Wöhlkens: German water skier
• Jan-Moritz Wöhlkens: German triathlete
• Marcel Wöhlkens: German canoeist
• Simon Wöhlkens: German Zeus Cup winner
• Robert Wöhlkens- German figure skater
• Lou Wöhlkens: German paralympic swimmer
• Theodor Wöhlkens: German sprinter
• Astrid Wöhlkens: German Alpine skier
• Steffen Wöhlkens: German canoeist
• Marlen Wöhlkens: German beach volleyball player
• Dennis Wöhlkens: German skeleton racer
• Christian Wöhlkens: German slalom canoeist
• Christiane Wöhlkens: German Highland Games athlete

Other surnames

Wöhlken