Surname Woydke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Woydke: What does the surname Woydke mean?
The last name Woydke is a German patronymic last name, originating from Northern Germany. It is derived from the first name "Woyt", which is a variant of the medieval given name "Walter" meaning "ruler of the army". Woydke is a derivative of the German word "woytk" and can be additionally traced back to the Middle High German word "wohte".
The name Woydke is most commonly associated with the city of Rostock, where it originated in the 15th century. Initially, the Woydke family served as merchants in the city and were recognized for their financial success and philanthropy. Several members of the family contributed significantly to the development of the town of Rostock.
The Woydke family name has been found to have spread further throughout Germany, eventually making its way to the United States. Today there are numerous Woydkes in the United States, with family members of the original German ancestors known to still exist in Rostock.
The Woydkes are widely known to be hardworking, highly ambitious individuals who are driven to succeed and make a difference in their community. Those with the last name Woydke are said to be caring and generous people who bring honor and respect to their name.
Order DNA origin analysisWoydke: Where does the name Woydke come from?
The last name Woydke is a fairly rare name, especially in the English-speaking world. It is commonly found in the areas of Germany, Poland, and Slovakia, and in several other countries in Eastern Europe, although its prevalence in these countries is also somewhat low when compared to other surnames. In Germany, the surname Woydke is most commonly found in the northern portion of the country, particularly in the states of Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This could be due to the fact that many Woydke families have moved from Eastern Europe to Germany since the mid-1800s, when millions of Eastern Europeans, including Jews, migrated to Germany in search of a better life.
In the United States, the surname Woydke has been recorded in public records since the early 1900s. It is much less common, however, than some of the other surnames from Eastern Europe that were brought by immigrants during this same time. The Woydke name is recorded mostly in the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
Finally, in Canada and Australia, the name Woydke is uncommon, but its presence is still measurable. It is found mostly in pockets of the western provinces in Canada and in the larger cities of Australia.
Overall, the surname Woydke is rather rare, though it is most common in the areas of Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and in migration centers of the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Woydke
The surname Woydke can be spelled in various ways, including Woydcke, Woidke, Whoidke, Wojdke, Woydtke, Woodke, Woehdke, Woedtke, Woodtke, Wojtke, Woydeke, Woydke, Wojdik, Woydik, Woedik, Woydeik, and Woydik.
The surname Woydke has multiple variants that are also derived from the same name. Variants of the name include Woidlke, Woidtelke, Woidenke, Woedlke, Woedelke, Woodlke, Woidlik, Woedlik, Woydlik, and Woodlik.
Woydke is a common German surname, and in Germany it may also be spelled Woidke or Woidcke. German-speakers living in the United States may spell it differently and even anglicize it, e.g. Whoidke or even Woodke. In some cases, it is spelled with a "t" such as Woydtke and Woydeke.
The surname Woydke is also found among Dutch immigrants to the United States; there, it is often anglicized to Wojdke. Other Dutch variants of this name include Woydik, Wojdik, Woedik, and Woydeik.
Variants of the name Woydke are found in other countries as well, especially with immigrants to the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the surname is spelled differently—Woodke, Woedtke, and Wojtke—or anglicized versions such as Woodtke.
In France, the variants of the name are Woidtelke and Woidenke.
Overall, Woydke is a quite versatile and common surname, with numerous related spellings and variants showing its wide distribution throughout Europe and America.
Famous people with the name Woydke
- Natalia Woydke: Polish singer and songwriter.
- Błażej Woydke: Polish visual artist, art handler and curator.
- Beata Woydke: Polish sculptor dancer, performance artist and choreographer.
- Patryk Woydke: Professional footballer from Poland.
- Jan Woydke: Professional footballer and coach from Poland.
- Emmanuel Woydke: 19th-century German composer and organist.
- Jörg Woydke: German association football player.
- Lars Woydke: German-born artist.
- Gunnar M. Woydke: Norwegian radio presenter and news anchor.
- Hildur Woydke: Icelandic chess master.
- Enzo Woydke: Professional footballer from Argentina.
- Markus Woydke: Austrian violist and composer.
- Paul Woydke: German ice hockey player.
- Janice Woydke: American author of books for children.
- Joe Woydke: American basketball player.