Surname Westerholt - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Westerholt: What does the surname Westerholt mean?
The last name Westerholt is of German origin and is a locational surname, meaning “western wood” or “western grove.” It likely derives from the combination of the two German words “wester” meaning “western,” and “holt” meaning “wood” or “grove.” The name likely comes from a hamlet or a piece of land that was named in the Middle Ages following this combination of words. It is likely that the founders of the Westerholt name lived near a grove located in the western part of a certain region or village.
Today, the surname Westerholt is most common in Germany, but can also be found in the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States. It has many variations including Westerholdt, Westerhalt, Westerhoudt, Westerel, and Weesterholt.
The symbolism behind the surname is one that celebrates nature and the beauty of the outdoors. It is a reminder of the transparent connection between humans and the beauty of nature, a connection which has been celebrated for centuries all across the world. Westerholt is a connection to that past and a reminder of how important respecting and protecting the natural environment is today.
Order DNA origin analysisWesterholt: Where does the name Westerholt come from?
The last name Westerholt is common in the Netherlands, particularly in Friesland and Zeeland, as well as in northern Germany, especially in Westfalen and Hanover. It is also found as a regular name in Belgian Limburg near towns like Maastricht, Genk, and Brussels.
In other parts of the world, it is also found in Canada, the United States, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. People with the last name Westerholt can trace their roots to Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium.
The first known record of the last name is from the 1599 census in Amersfoort, located in Utrecht, Netherlands. The census lists spelt the Westerholt surname “Westhertmoud”, and the people with this name came from Germany. Since then, the Westerholt name has been part of Dutch and German ancestry, and is still regarded as a fairly common Dutch name today.
In the United States, the highest concentration of people with the last name Westerholt can be found in Illinois, Michigan, California, and New Jersey. The name is also found in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario in Canada. In South Africa, it is mostly present in Johannesburg and other cities in Gauteng.
The last name Westerholt is commonly associated with the Dutch origin, but it has spread to many other countries nowadays, including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Due to the spread of international travel and migrations, the last name Westerholt has become a multicultural and global name.
Variations of the surname Westerholt
The name Westerholt is a German surname which originates from the Dutch and German word "Westeren" which means western. There are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Westerholt, such as Westerhold, Westra, Westerhaard, Westerhoud, Westring, Westrick, Westeuvel, Westershausen, Westerhaus, Westemeier, Westemeijer, Westthol, Westhollen, Westhold, Westhölter, Westhoven, Westhoffen, Vestenhuis, Westhoeff, Westrich, Westhagen, Westhövel, Westhauser, Westhofer, Westhofen, Westhues, Westenburger, Westphal, Westhausen, Wethol, Wethauser, Wethafer, Wettehol, Westensee, Westenthaler, and Westendorf.
The spelling of the surname Westerholt can also often be found as Westera, Weester, Weestra, and Westers. Many of these surnames describe the geographical location of a family (e.g. Westermayer, Westphal, Westhausen) or the trade they practiced (e.g. Westhauser, Weestra).
Westerholt is a mostly German surname, however variations can also be found in Dutch and English versions (Westing, Westerman, Westrem). As a result of immigration in the early 20th century, variations of the name can also be found in countries such as the United States, where Dutch settlers changed the spelling to Westervelt, or the United Kingdom, where the English variation Westerman is common.
Overall, the surname Westerholt is most often associated with the geographical location of West Germany, and is a variant of the German term "westeren" which means western, and the German suffix "-holt" which indicates a type of estate or field. Variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin span the Germanic language areas and other countries, and often describe a geographical location or an area of trade or craft.
Famous people with the name Westerholt
- Guus Westerholt– Dutch guitarist, vocalist, composer and music producer.
- Till Westerholt: German football coach and former player, current head coach for Eintracht Norderstedt.
- Henk Westerholt: Dutch former footballer who played for clubs including Sparta Rotterdam and AZ Alkmaar.
- Albano Westerholt: Brazilian footballer who plays as a right back for Electronic Securities Mohammedan.
- Arend Westerholt: Dutch actor and singer.
- Jeffrey Westerholt: Dutch Olympic swimmer who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
- Jorinde Westerholt: Dutch singer, vocal coach, song writer, and talent manager.
- Paul Westerholt: Dutch keyboardist and composer, best known as a member of the Dutch metal band, Within Temptation.
- Frank Westerholt: German football defender who last played for FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt.
- Jan-Hendrik Westerholt: German footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for SV Meppen.