Surname von Will - Meaning and Origin
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von Will: What does the surname von Will mean?
The last name von Will is a German derived name that means “from the will”. This denotes someone or their family who was derived from the will of a powerful person. It can also refer to someone from a powerful clan, where the will of ancestors is more important than any personal will.
The name von Will is also connected to nobility. It indicates someone who is from an aristocratic family, or someone granted the title of nobility through service or inheritance. Those bearing the von Will name would typically lead powerful families and often hold family secrets going back generations.
In addition to noble hierachy, von Will can also indicate a warrior class. This would typically point to someone who fought in wars to defend their lands, and especially someone who return from a decisive victory for their clan.
It’s clear to see why von Will is such a prestigious name in Germany. It speaks of immense power, privilege and honor to carry the name. Yet at its core, it conveys an important lineage, highlighting someone who is proud to remain true to the will of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Will: Where does the name von Will come from?
The last name von Will is most common in modern day Germany. This is a noble name primarily found in Prussia, a former German kingdom and state, and is believed to have been first used by the Lords of Wollin. The von Will family began as feudal overlords from the Wollin area in Poland, however at various points in time there have been branches of the family found across Germany.
Today, there are many people in Germany with the von Will name. For example, it is believed that the three main families of von Will are descended from the twelfth century German Lord Willbrand von Wollondorp. It is also thought that the European branch of the von Will family is descended from a Joost von Will of Geldern, who is said to have established himself in Wesel near the Netherlands border, during the sixteenth century.
More recently, Matthias von Will, born in 1964, is a German economist and football executive who is currently a member of the Executive Board for the German Football League. His son, Jochen von Will, is a professional footballer who currently plays for SV Waldhof Mannheim.
Overall, the von Will name is still commonly used in modern day Germany. It is a noble name that was first established many centuries ago by the Lords of Wollin, and continues to be a respected name today.
Variations of the surname von Will
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname von Will include Wille, Willey, Willi, Willies, Vill, Ville, Vil, Villes, Willesen, Willing, Villing, Vilans, Willison, Willin, Willer, Wills, Wiles, Viles, Vills, Willse, Willson, Willsen, Willemann, Villman, Villeman, and Willmann.
The origin of the surname von Will is Germanic, and it is extremely common across German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. From its Germanic roots, a number of variants derived in a variety of ways. Wille, for example, is a common form of the surname in Germany, while Willi and Willesen are two popular variants found in Denmark. Willason is another variant said to be of Scottish origin. Likewise, Willer is a German form of the original name, while Vill is found in France.
Villeman is a Dutch variant of the surname and Vilans is typically associated with Finland. Willing is common in England, while Willin and Willson are also popular in the United Kingdom. In the United States, Wills, Wiles, Viles, and Vills are among the more common spellings. All of these variants evolved from the original Germanic surname but have each developed unique variations over time.
Famous people with the name von Will
- Jürgen von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff: German classical philologist.
- Julius von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff: German philosopher.
- Alexander von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff: German soldier and politician.
- Max von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff: German statesman and diplomat
- August von Willich: German Prussian soldier of the early 19th century.
- Wilhelm von Willisch: German painter, sculptor and professor.
- Karl von Willkomm: German physician, physiologist and zoologist.
- Gustav von Willmarth: German chemist and industrialist.
- Henry von Wilmowsky: German diplomat and politician.
- Friedrich von Wilpert: German architect and sculptor.
- Robert von Willisegg-Götzen: German cavalry officer and military writer.
- Margarete von Willingshausen: German landscape and animal painter.
- Ludwig von Willleder: German painter and printmaker.
- Hans von Wiltgen: German general and recipient of the Iron Cross.
- Friedrich Wilhelm von Willotius: German sculptor and draughtsman.