Surname Helliwig - Meaning and Origin
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Helliwig: What does the surname Helliwig mean?
The last name Helliwig is thought to be of Germanic origin, and is related to the old Germanic name, Hillwig, which is composed of the words “hill” and “wig”. Hill translates to “high” or “prominence”, while wig translates to “war” or “battle”. Therefore, Helliwig could be translated to mean “leading in war” or “high warrior.”
Within Germany, the family name Helliwig is often associated with the aristocracy and large estates, and its historical meaning and origin suggest that the original members of the Helliwig family were fighters and took part in many wars across Europe. This is supported by records dating back to the 13th century which show a Helliwig knight fighting alongside the powerful Hanseatic League in their campaigns against England.
The name Helliwig may have then spread to other parts of Europe through travelers, merchants and mercenaries, and today there are many branches of the Helliwig family which can be found in Britain, Germany, Holland and the United States.
The Helliwig family name still retains its sense of strength and power today, and those who bear this name can find a sense of pride in its rich history and significance.
Order DNA origin analysisHelliwig: Where does the name Helliwig come from?
The last name Helliwig appears to be of Germanic origin, likely derived from the personal name Helwig, which means “joyful strife”. This surname is still relatively common in Germany today, particularly in the northern German states such as Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Hamburg. It's also relatively common in neighboring countries like Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In the United States, the last name Helliwig is not particularly common. In the 2000 U.S. census, the surname appeared a total of 92 times. Of those incidents, the majority occurred in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. In the more recent 2019 census, the surname still appears only sporadically throughout the United States, with the highest concentrations in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
It is unknown exactly when the surname arrived in the U.S., however the earliest known Helliwig in the United States appears to be Johann Herman Helliwig, who immigrated to New Jersey around 1750, and then later moved to Ohio in the 1800s.
Given its rarity outside of Germany and German-speaking countries, Helliwig is likely a relatively uncommon surname.
Variations of the surname Helliwig
Helliwig is a surname that originates from the German language. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Helliwig vary across different countries.
In Germany, Helliwig is spelled as Helmwig or Hilwig, while in the Netherlands, the spelling for this surname is Helwig. In some countries, this surname is spelt as Helwig, Hellwig, or Hillwig.
Other names of a similar origin to Helliwig include Halwig, Hellwig, Holdwig, Helewig, Helleg, Hilleg, Hillewig, Hellick, and Heling. Some variations of these surnames are Hildebrandt, Hellman, Hellmann, and Hiller.
In Sweden, this surname is spelt as Halwig, Hallwig, Helwig, Höllwig, or Hillwing. In Austria, the last name is spelt as Hellig or Helig, as well as Helick and Hillig.
In Russia, Helliwig is occasionally spelt as Galwig, Gulwig, or Halwig, while in Anglo-Saxon countries, this name has become known as Halverson, Helghaus, Hellvig or Hillwig. In the United States, this name can sometimes be spelt as Hillweg, Helwig, Hillegass, or Helvig.
In the United Kingdom, this surname is sometimes spelt as Hellwig, Helwig, or Hillegas. In Finland, the name is spelt as Helwig or Helvig, as well as Hellman or Hillman.
In France, the last name is spelt as Halwig, Helwig, or Hellwig, as well as Hilg and Hille. In South Africa, it is written as Hellwig, Halwig, or Helwig, as well as Hillwig and Halweg.
No matter what language or country this surname is spelt in, all the variants and surnames of the same origin can be traced back to the original family name of Hellwig.
Famous people with the name Helliwig
- Bill Helliwig: Former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), appointed by President Obama in 2013.
- Stephen Helliwig: Former President and CEO of Dayton International Airport, 2007 to 2016.
- John Helliwig: American composer and multi-instrumentalist who produces and performs on a variety of instruments, including guitar, bass and drum kit with his own bands as well as with artists including Mark Hoppus, Butch Walker, Laura Marling and Primus.
- Oliver Helliwig: German writer and poet. He is the author of several collections, including the novels Wolf and As Time Goes By.
- Jennifer Helliwig: American artist, filmmaker and photographer known for her portraiture and documentary work.
- Maria Helliwig: German lawyer who is the current spokesperson of the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
- Helga Helliwig: Former professional volleyball player who competed for Germany in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Amy Helliwig: Canadian actress and singer best known for her roles in the television shows The L Word and Battlestar Galactica.
- Philip Helliwig: CEO of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, one of the largest trade associations in the United States.
- Robert Helliwig: Aerospace engineer and former board member of NASA, who is now an advisor to several Washington-based aeronautics firms.