Surname Willmar - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Willmar: What does the surname Willmar mean?
The surname Willmar is believed to be of Germanic, English, and/or Dutch origin. It is thought to be derived from the Old Germanic root "Will", which means "desire" or "will", combined with "mar," meaning "famous". The full name likely means to be "famous/distinguished in will/desire," suggesting a person with ambition and strong goals.
The first recorded instance of the surname is believed to be from 1500s Germany, in the form of Wilmar de Carbin, suggesting it may have been used as a name for someone from Carbin, a small town in northern Germany. With the mass migration of Europeans to North America in the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname was brought to the United States and Canada.
In the United States, Willmar is extremely rare, having been recorded on only 149 individuals in records from the 1900 United States Census. Throughout the states in which it has documented instances it is almost exclusively found in small rural or farming communities, indicating the original immigrant holders of the surname likely took up such work.
Willmar is an uncommon surname, but it carries with it a sense of ambition, strong will, and a passion for a hard day’s work. Its Germanic roots make it a reminder of the contributions of European immigrants throughout North America.
Order DNA origin analysisWillmar: Where does the name Willmar come from?
Willmar is a relatively uncommon surname in today's world, but it is known to have been established as an independent last name in various countries throughout history.
Today, the most common places where individuals with the surname Willmar can be found is predominately in Latin America, particularly in the countries of Nicaragua and Columbia. In Nicaragua, the surname is particularly common in the cities of Managua and Granada, while in Columbia it is most common around the capital, Bogota.
In addition to Latin America, a few traces of the Willmar family can be found in the United States of America, particularly in the southern states such as South Carolina and Georgia. It appears to be uncommon in other areas of the United States.
The surname is also known to have connections in various countries in Europe, predominantly in Germany and France. There are some records of families with this surname in the United Kingdom, but records from family tree websites suggest this was adopted by members of the merchant class who travelled from the continent in the 18th century.
This suggests that the surname is much less common in Europe today, although it is still found in a few places. On the whole, it appears to be a more common last name in Latin America than it is anywhere else today.
Variations of the surname Willmar
Willmar is a surname of German origin that is derived from the given name Wilmar. The variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin include Wilmar, Willmarth, Willmarr, Wemarr, Willmare, Wilmore, Wilmer, Wylmer, Wilmarth, Wilmart, Wilmard, Wilmarts, Wilmartien, and Wilmartin.
The name has various spellings depending on its geographic origin. In Germany, it is often written as Willmar, Willmarr, or Wilmar; while in England the spelling is Willmare, Wilmore, or Wilmarth. Other variations include Wylmer, Wilmard, Wilmarts, and Wilmartien.
The surname is common in the United States of America, with the highest concentrations in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It is also found in many other countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia.
Willmar has been adopted by some people as their main given name, most commonly in the form of Wilmar. This name is derived from the German phrase “wilken marth”, which means “strong sea”. It can also be found in the surname variants Wilmard, Wilmarts, Wilmartin, and Wilmartien.
The surname Willmar is associated with the family of an immigrant Hermann Willmar who came to the United States from Germany in the 19th century. In his honor, the settlement of Willmar in Minnesota was named.
Famous people with the name Willmar
- Anna Fredrika Wilhelmina Willmar: A Swedish theater and opera singer.
- Andreas Willmar: A Swiss composer, violinist, and diplomat.
- Peter Willmar: A German composer and conductor.
- Niklas Willmar: A Swedish professional ice hockey player.
- Jacob Willmar: A German medical doctor and author.
- Elin Willmar: A Swedish professional figure skating coach.
- Carl Fredrik Willmar: A Swedish professor of philosophy.
- Albert Willmar: A Danish painter and lithographer.
- Fredrik Willmar: A Swedish engineer and inventor.
- Bernd Willmar: A German electrical engineer and computer scientist.