Surname Wilkeit - Meaning and Origin
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Wilkeit: What does the surname Wilkeit mean?
The meaning of the last name Wilkeit is of German origin. It is thought to have derived from the name Wilke, which in turn derived from the Low German given name Willike. The Willike name itself is thought to originate from a diminutive form of Wilhelm (William in English). Wilkeit translates to an occupation of 'will-maker', meaning a person who wrote legal documents or wills.
The first recorded instance of the last name Wilkeit was back in the 14th century when it belonged to a man named Ricze Wilkeit who lived in the city of Branau. From this time onwards, the Wilkeit family has spread all over Europe, with its strongest presence being in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
In Germany, the Wilkeit name has been associated with nobility and wealthy families throughout history. Many of the Wilkeit's who migrated out of Germany during the period of industrialisation achieved great success in business and commerce, forging a path for their descendants to carry on the legacy of hard work and prosperity.
Today, there are many Wilkeit’s in countries all over the world, and while the last name may have lost its original meaning of 'will-maker', it has gained a new sense of family, pride and achievement over the years.
Order DNA origin analysisWilkeit: Where does the name Wilkeit come from?
The last name Wilkeit is most commonly found in Germany. Its various spellings, such as Wilkeit, Wilkheit, Wilkit, and Wilkeite, indicate a Germanic heritage.
It's believed to have originated from the name Wilke, which is the German equivalent of the English name William. The name has been included in documents and records as far back as the 15th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Germanic elements of "wil," meaning "will, will-to-power," and "kæth," meaning "bold, strong."
Today, the last name Wilkeit is especially common in northern and central Germany. It's found in many cities and is especially prevalent in the states of Thuringia, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt. It's also increasingly found in other parts of the world, where it has been taken up as an immigrant surname.
The German pronunciation of this name "Wil-kite" is common to all the variants, and is still found among those of German heritage who have emigrated to other countries. In addition, there are various other spellings of the name Wilke which are common, such as Wilcken, Wilcke, Wilckert, Wilckman, Wilkin, and Wilckmann.
Variations of the surname Wilkeit
The surname Wilkeit is a German family name that is a patronymic surnames derived from the given name Wilhelm. Variant spellings of this surname would include Wilkeet, Wilkeit, Wilkeutt, Wilkett, Wilkeait, Wilkeet, Wilkeatt, Wilkeutt, Wilkett, Wilkeot, Wilkealt, Wilkeatt, and Wilkehart.
The surname Wilkeit can have many different sources of origin. Wilhelm has been used as a first name in many cases, but it can also be derived from another name origin. In typical German tradition, patronymic surnames were created from any and all given names. So the surname Wilkeit can be derived from the German words ‘Will’, ‘Wil’, ‘Willi’, or ‘Wilhelm.’ Other sources of origin could include a variety of family surnames that were changed by immigration officials or simply by the owners of the surname itself.
The surname Wilkeit has a variety of different regional variants across Europe. In some countries, the surname is spelled as Wilkeett or Wilkett. Wilkealt is another form of the name which is seen mostly in Netherlands. In Denmark, the surname is seen as Wilkait or Wilkeatt. In the Czech Republic, the surname is seen as Wilkehart. In Lithuania, the surname is spelled Wilkeot.
Finally, Wilkeit can also be combined with other common German surnames, such as Schmied, Bausch, Dox, and Stanitz to form double surnames. For example, a person's full name could be Wilkeit Schmied. In some cases, some of these double surnames could have been acquired by marriage or other family related events.
Overall, since Wilkeit is a German family name, there are many different variant spellings, regional variants, and surname combinations that can be derived from it. In many cases, the variants are created through common German traditions, immigrants changing their names, or simply by the owners of the surname itself.
Famous people with the name Wilkeit
- Alexander Wilkeit: German actor and producer
- Leon Wilkeit: American author, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy at McMaster University
- Dettmar Wilkeit: German football coach
- Kurt Wilkeit: German photographer
- Werner Wilkeit: Austrian artist
- Eberhard Wilkeit: German singer, actor, songwriter, and producer
- Gerhard Wilkeit: German former footballer
- Gerd Wilkeit: German former cyclist
- Vasco Wilkeit: German actor
- Ingrid Wilkeit: German costume designer
- Florian Wilkeit: German left wing political author, activist and environmental educator
- Peter Wilkeit: German painter, sculptor, and graphic artist
- Kristin Wilkeit: German composer
- Alexandra Wilkeit: Austrian actress
- Georgina Wilkeit: German stage and film actress
- Uwe Wilkeit: former German football player
- Wolfgang Wilkeit: German organist
- Horst Wilkeit: German Prof. Pharm. D.
- Joachim Wilkeit: German general manager
- Jochen Wilkeit: German business professor