Surname Willmering - Meaning and Origin
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Willmering: What does the surname Willmering mean?
The last name Willmering is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is thought to have been derived from the personal name 'Willm' or 'William'. Variations of the surname include Willmer, Wilmerson, Wilmers and Willmor.
The 'ing' suffix indicates the name was once used for an estate or hamlet belonging to a man called William. The surname Willmering also likely belonged to someone from Angmering in West Sussex, England, though it is equally likely that the name originated in other locations in Europe, due to the prevalence of William as a personal name.
Throughout history, the Willmering family name has been associated with many professional occupations. Records indicate that the family name in the 1600s and 1700s was tied to merchants, apprentices, labourers, bakers and agricultural workers. By the 19th century, Willmerings were commonly found in Sutherland, Scotland and London, England.
In addition to its use as a surname, this name has been used as a first name in the United States and Europe. In Scotland, the Willmerson spelling was used as a given name in the late 1700s. In the late 1800s, the Willmor spelling was used for both genders, and in the early 1900s, the Willmer spelling became popular for use as a Christian name.
Today, the Willmering last name is still found all over the world, with many of its original variations still in use. It is a reminder of the Anglo-Saxon heritage and those who first bore it.
Order DNA origin analysisWillmering: Where does the name Willmering come from?
The last name Willmering is common today mainly throughout Europe, with the highest concentration found in Germany. This is largely due to the name's origin in the Low German language, which has its roots in Northern Germany. The name is thought to have originated in Hamburg, where records exist as far back as the 16th century. In modern times, Willmerings are mostly concentrated in Germany, with smaller populations throughout Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
Within Germany and Austria, Willmerings are found throughout the four-country borders of Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. It is quite common in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Köln, Frankfurt, and Heidelberg. Other cities in which Willmerings live include Berlin, Dresden, Hannover, Krefeld, Mainz, Ulm, Aachen, and Düsseldorf. Last name Willmering is also used, in a lesser known degree, in other parts of Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland, Slovenia, and Croatia.
Genealogical research into the Willmering surname shows a rich and diverse history. It is a name associated with skilled tradespeople, including shoemakers, joiners, butchers, tailors, and leatherworkers. Records also tell us that residents of cities of the time often used the last name Willmering when they traveled, as it was more universal than their local surnames.
Today, the last name Willmering is still found throughout Europe, most notably in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Although not as common as it used to be, it is still a recognizable name, often inherited from previous generations.
Variations of the surname Willmering
Willmering is a rare family name, found mostly in Germany and the Netherlands. Variants of the name Willmering include Wilmering, Wilmarring, Wilmesring, Willmesring, and Wilmer. It is also sometimes written with two l's as in Willemering.
In terms of their origins, all of these variations of the Willmering name have the same origin. The name is derived from the old Germanic personal names Wilmar or Wilemer, which is composed of the elements 'wil' meaning ‘desire’ or ‘will’, and 'mar' or 'mer' meaning ‘famous'. Thus, the name refers to someone who is renowned for their determination.
The origin of the Willmering surname can be traced back to a place called Willmering which is located in the southern German region of Bavaria. This place name is composed of two elements; the prefix 'Will-' which comes from an old Germanic personal name Willmar (as mentioned earlier) and the suffix '-ering' which is derived from the old Germanic term ‘bering’ meaning ‘encirclement’. Thus, the place name in German translates to ‘Willmar’s encirclement’ or ‘Willmer’s encirclement’, most likely referring to an area of land that was owned or encircled by someone with the name Willmar or Willmer.
The Willmering name has perished over the centuries, and is not commonly found in modern times. However, some variations of the name can still be found in various locations, including the United States of America, where Wilmar is mostly used as a surname.
Famous people with the name Willmering
- Joe Willmering, USA professional football player
- Ralph D. Willmering, a German painter
- Anna Willmering, an American television presenter
- Rob Willmering, an American composer
- Steve Willmering, an English singer-songwriter
- Jan Willmering, a Dutch sculptor and wood carver
- Dirk Willmering, a Dutch aviator and aeromodeller
- Stefanie Willmering, a German photographer
- Tom Willmering, an American theatre director
- Katherine Willmering, an American film director