Surname Wellems - Meaning and Origin

Wellems: What does the surname Wellems mean?

The surname Wellems is of Dutch origin and dates back to the early 16th century. It is believed to have been derived from the personal name Willem, which was popular in medieval Holland. The name itself means "will protector" or "protec-tor of strength".

The Wellems family can trace their roots back to the province of South Holland, where the family was granted the right to bear their name and rights to a coat of arms by the Dutch government in 1539. This right was granted to sons of a certain Willem Jans, likely the root of the surname. Since that time, the Wellems family has spread throughout Europe and, more recently, the United States.

The Wellems surname is now most commonly seen as a patronymic form of William. This surname is very localized, with a large concentration of Wellems families located in the Netherlands. Most of these families can trace their lineage back to the village of Oud-Beijerland in the Netherlands.

The Wellems surname is a reminder of the family's hard work and accomplishments throughout European history. It's a testament to the strength of their family, and the importance that was placed on hard work and loyalty to one's principles. Today, the family is scattered throughout the world, yet remain loyal to the values and heritage that their ancestors instilled within them.

Wellems: Where does the name Wellems come from?

The last name Wellems is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium today. In the Netherlands, the name is most concentrated in the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg in the south of the country. Within North Brabant it can be found in the villages of Oeffelt, Beers and Veldhoven and in Limburg in the towns of Weert, Kerkrade and Simpelveld. Smaller clusters of the name can be found in other parts of the Netherlands, particularly in the more rural and traditionally Dutch-speaking areas.

Belgium is the second most popular place for the name Wellems. It is mainly found in the Flemish part of the country, although there are also scattered families in French-speaking regions. The provinces of Limburg and Antwerp have the greatest concentration of the name, however it does appear in other parts of the country as well including Liège, Hainaut and Namur.

Outside of the Netherlands and Belgium, the surname Wellems is much rarer, however there are small pockets of families in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States. The U.S. has families with the name mainly in the states along the Eastern Seaboard, however the name is also scattered in other parts of the country.

Variations of the surname Wellems

The surname Wellems is derived from the Germanic personal name Willeminaz, composed from two elements: wil meaning “will” or “desire”, and minaz meaning “power” or “strength.” The variants below have similar spelling but also different spellings of the same name.

Variants of Wellems:

Walemens, Willems, Wells, Will, Williams, Wilmes, Wilimos, Wilems, Wolims, Willims, Welims and Wilimann.

Surnames of similar origin:

Wellmans, Willmanns, Wieland, Wilken, Wilkins, Gellmann, Wüllmann, Wilhelms, Wullmann, Willmann, Welker, Wilbur, Willens, Willians, Wilber and Wilkin.

Famous people with the name Wellems

• Rich Wellems: Emmy-nominated television producer and writer best known for his work on The Office, Parks and Recreation and The Mindy Project.
• Dan Wellems: Olympic Fencer who has won medals in the Pan-American Games.
• Jens Wellems: Actor who has appeared in French films.
• Natasja Wellems: Dutch singer who won the national talent show 'The Voice of Holland.'
• Paul Wellems: Former professional baseball player, who played for the Chicago Cubs from 1940 to 1945.
• Eric Wellems: Artist who produces paintings and photography and has exhibited in several international galleries.
• Claire Wellems: Founding partner of global consultancy firm PwC, and one of the first female partners at an international Big Four company.
• Hilde Wellems: Professor of physics at the KU Leuven in Belgium, and has conducted groundbreaking research on quantum science.
• Michele Wellems: Fashion designer who has designed collections for luxury brands such as Prada and Dior.
• Rien Wellems: Chef who has been featured in many major Dutch culinary magazines.

Other surnames

WellegehausenWellegehusenWelleiusWellejusWellekoetterWellekötterWellemWellemsenWellenbringWellenbrinkWellenbrockWellenbroeckWellenkampWellenkötterWellerWellerhausenWellershausWellershausenWelles