Surname Wilkenloh - Meaning and Origin
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Wilkenloh: What does the surname Wilkenloh mean?
The last name Wilkenloh is of Germanic origin and is derived from the elements “wil”, meaning “determination, will” and “kenloh”, meaning “light of the kin, descendants”.
The Wilkenloh family is originally from the area of Lüneburg, a region once part of the German Saxony. It was at this time that the Wilkenlohs, as a family, established themselves and began to spread throughout the region.
The family has a long tradition of being a part of German culture and history. Throughout the years, their descendants have been involved with politics, the military, the church, and many other areas of life, in an effort to find success and a better life.
The Wilkenloh name is a very honorable name in Germany. It carries with it a sense of strength and determination, as well as a respect for one’s family and ancestors. The family has held strong ties to many causes over the centuries, and has been a part of a long-standing legacy.
The Wilkenlohs have seen many changes throughout the years, but they have stood firm in their belief in family and their purpose in life. They are an admirable and respected family in Germany and beyond, and to bear the Wilkenloh name is to be a part of a long and proud family heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisWilkenloh: Where does the name Wilkenloh come from?
The last name Wilkenloh is primarily found in Germany today. Wilkenloh is an ancient German surname, derived from the Old German word "wilcen" which means a wild boar. The name started out as an occupational name for a hunter of wild boars. The earliest record of the name was of one Waltger Wilkenlohe and his brother, Goichelm Wilkenlohe, both of whom were mentioned in a 12th century charter from the city of Xanten in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Wilkenloh is still a popular surname in Germany. It is most concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Bavaria, and Berlin. It is also found in smaller numbers in the ancient Bavarian provinces of Schleswig-Holstein and Hesse. The name also appears in small numbers in Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands, but is most common in its native Germany.
Research into Wilkenloh family history reveals many different lineages of the same surname. For example, the Wilkenloh family of Großenich (Lower Saxony) can be traced back to the 13th century, while the Wilkenloh family of Höxter (North Rhine-Westphalia), which is particularly well-known as the original settlers of the Casteller Spitze estate, can be traced back to the 17th century.
In more recent times, the Wilkenloh surname has been widely used in Germany, with notables such as Johannes Wilkenloh, a German arms manufacturer, and Heinz Wilkenloh, an educator and school superintendent.
Overall, the last name Wilkenloh still remains primarily rooted in its German origins and is still a popular surname in modern-day Germany.
Variations of the surname Wilkenloh
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Wilkenloh are Wilkens, Wilkensen, Wilkensohn, Wilcken, Wilken, Wilke, Wilkenberg, Wilkenshau, Wilkenson, Wilkens, Wilkenstein, Wilkersen.
Wilkenloh is a German name, derived from the Middle High German words "wilche" meaning ‘willow’ and "loh", a clearing in the woods. The literal translation of the name is ‘clearing in the willow woods’, and is thought to describe a specific geographical locality. The name was likely used to refer to an area where the willow trees were prominent.
The Wilkenloh surname is found in Germany, but can be found in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, or the Netherlands. It is also found in the United States, where immigrants from these regions settled.
As for the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, the most common form is Wilkens, which is a contraction of the original Wilkenloh. The other variations of spellings, such as Wilkensen, Wilkensohn, Wilcken, Wilken, Wilke, Wilkenberg, Wilkenshau, Wilkenson, Wilkens, Wilkenstein, and Wilkersen, tend to originate from various changes to the spelling over the years.
Although the name is found sporadically across the world, the highest frequency of people with this surname is found in Lower Saxony. It is believed to be the primary origin of the Wilkenloh name, as well as many of its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Wilkenloh
- Theresa Wilkenloh, German singer and songwriter
- Andreas Wilkenloh, former German soccer player
- Joachim Wilkenloh, former German ice hockey goaltender
- Jan Wilkenloh, German opera singer
- Lukas Wilkenloh, German entrepreneur and film producer
- Barbara Wilkenloh, German artist
- Arnold Wilkenloh, German businessman and steel industry pioneer
- Isabel Wilkenloh, German fashion model
- Herbert Wilkenloh, German architect
- Udo Wilkenloh, German musician and conductor