Surname Woitkuhn - Meaning and Origin

Woitkuhn: What does the surname Woitkuhn mean?

The origin of the last name Woitkuhn is German, and deriving from the Middle Ages it is a topographic name for someone who lived near a lime tree grove. It is composed of the two elements Woyd, which translates to ‘wood’ or ‘timber’, and Kuhn which also means ‘wood’ but more specifically a grove of lime trees.

In the modern day, the spelling variations of the surname Woitkuhn include Woydkuhn, Woidkuhn, Woidkon, Woydkon and Woydkowski. Historically, the last name was found in east and central Germany as early as the 14th Century.

The surname Woitkuhn has spread across Germany over the centuries, as people of the same surname migrated to other provinces in search of work or a better future. During the earliest stages of research, records show that the surname is associated with the medieval period and has become popular amongst different regions and branches of the family.

Today, the surname is most commonly found throughout Germany and Austria, however due to the country’s perpetual political changes, the distribution of the name is not precise. The name Woitkuhn continues to be found in many records, however there appears to be a change in the spelling of the name in its modern form.

Woitkuhn: Where does the name Woitkuhn come from?

The last name Woitkuhn is thought to be of German origin, stemming from the German given name “Woldek” which means “wolf-like”. It is believed to have first appeared in the 16th century in Protestant regions of Germany, and though the name has since expanded worldwide, it still retains a particularly strong presence in Germany.

In 2020, Woitkuhn is particularly common in the states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, and Saxony-Anhalt. According to genealogy website Geneanet, Lower Saxony alone has over 10,000 people with the last name Woitkuhn, with thousands of additional entries in the other two states. Geneanet also lists Woitkuhn as found in other German states, as well as in the US, United Kingdom, and France.

In Germany, the Woitkuhn family is thought to be mostly concentrated in the village of Bruckberg, near the Bavarian town of Bad Wörishofen. A number of businesses, including a medical practice, are registered with the Woitkuhn family of this area.

The Woitkuhn family also can be traced to places outside of Germany. In the US, Woitkuhn is most commonly found in the state of Wisconsin. Per the US Census 2000, 3 people had the name Woitkuhn in that state. The family is also borne by people in Brazil, as evidenced by a Woitkuhn family that lived in the city of Timbó in the 1950s. In Australia, two Woitkuhn families can be found in the town of Leatherbelt, Queensland.

Given the origins of the name and its current spread, the Woitkuhn family is clearly a large and far-reaching family. The presence of so many Woitkuhns in Germany and other countries today speaks to both the longevity and strength of the family and the bonds of shared ancestry and tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Variations of the surname Woitkuhn

The Woitkuhn surname is an old Germanic family name with many variations of spellings and surnames of the same origin. In some cases, the spelling has changed over time to fit the language and culture of a particular region, while in other cases, it has remained the same.

The most common variants of Woitkuhn are Whetkuhn, Weitkuhn, Weytecke, Woytek, and Weetken. These spellings are particularly common in Germany, Austria and other German-speaking countries.

In the United States, the Woitkuhn surname has been Americanized to Whatkuhn, Whattuck, Werthkuhn, Wurtka, Wurts, and Werthke.

Variant spellings and surnames in other countries include Whaitekuhn in Poland, Weykuhn in Denmark, Veitkun in Latvia, and Yvitkuhn in Russia.

The variations of the Woitkuhn surname occur primarily because of different spelling conventions and language transitions. For example, in Germany the 'K' became the 'F' to facilitate the pronunciation of the name for some native German speakers. Similarly, when many German immigrants moved to the United States, they changed the spelling of the name to the Americanized version of Whatkuhn.

Regardless of spelling differences, all of these surnames derive from the same origin. Whether one spells it Woitkuhn, Whatkuhn or Yvitkuhn, they all share a common ancestry from a long line of Germanic ancestors.

Famous people with the name Woitkuhn

• Karl Woitkuhn: a noted German jurist, Karl Woitkuhn was a law professor at the University of Freiburg, Germany's oldest university. As a defender of civil rights, he served as the chairperson of the German Bar Association's executive board until his death in 2012, and was secretary-general of the European Federation of Bar Associations from 2006 to 2012.
• Christopher Woitkuhn: Christopher Woitkuhn is an artist and educator based in Houston, TX. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Printmaking at the University of Houston and has exhibited his works in multiple galleries across the US. His work has been subject to numerous awards, including helping him to win a residency at the Kala Art Institute in 2014.
• Hans-Peter Woitkuhn: a German-born defensive midfielder, Hans-Peter Woitkuhn played for Eintracht Frankfurt from 1990 to 1998 and then Arminia Bielefeld from 1998-2002. Though his playing career ended early due to injury, his experience made him a qualified coach, and he has since managed at Arminia Bielefeld and Hertha BSC Berlin.
• Peter Woitkuhn: Peter Woitkuhn was a key figure in post-war Germany's reconstruction efforts. As Chancellor of Germany from 1969-1974, he introduced federal reforms, currency reform and pioneered social policies such as the German Social Security system. His other major achievements include the formation of the European Economic Community.
• Pavol Woitkuhn: Pavol Woitkuhn is a Slovak footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for SK Kaplice. He has had the privilege of playing in the highest tier of football in Slovakia, the Fortuna League, for several seasons. He has also represented his country at the U-21 international level.

Other surnames

Woitkus