Surname Wollenschleger - Meaning and Origin
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Wollenschleger: What does the surname Wollenschleger mean?
The German last name Wollenschleger is derived from two elements: the root name “Wolle” and the word “schleger,” which is an old variant of the more common “schlager.” Combined, the two mean “one who trades in wool.”
The earliest known use of the last name may have appeared in documents from the city of Rostock, Germany in the late 1300s. It is likely to have originated from the Middle High German word “wollenschalca,” which referred to a wool broker or cloth merchant.
Over time, the name became “Wollenschleger” as descendant families living in places like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland adopted the last name. It was likely a way for those families to show their trade connections and possibly their regional origin.
Today, the last nameWollenschleger is spread throughout Europe and beyond, although it is fairly unusual. It is very likely the name has lived on with multiple spellings, such as “Wollenschlaegar,” “Wollenschlager,” “Volenschlager,” and “Woolenschlaegar.”
For those with the last name, it is a testament to their family’s past accomplishments in the wool trade, when such a profession was necessary to make clothing and blankets for a growing Europe. It is also a reminder of a time when hard work and merchandise went hand-in-hand to provide for families.
Order DNA origin analysisWollenschleger: Where does the name Wollenschleger come from?
The last name Wollenschleger is an uncommon family name found mostly in the United States today. The surname itself is believed to be of German origin, and derives from the words Woll (“wool”) plus enschleger (meaning seller or trader in wool). This suggests that the earliest Wollenschlegers likely made their living as wool merchants or traders.
Today, the Wollenschleger family can be found living in most states throughout the United States. Many of the Wollenschleger family members with the surname living today are descendants of the original family to come to the U.S. in the 19th century.
The surname can also be found in other countries around the world, although the numbers are generally quite small. The Wollenschleger family has been documented in German, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Romania, Brazil, and other countries on nearly every continent.
In the United States, Wollenschleger’s are primarily concentrated in the Midwestern and Northeastern states. A search of the U.S. census data reveals that there are more Wollenschlegers living today in Wisconsin than any other state. Pennsylvania is also home to a large population of the surname.
Given the origin of the surname, it is not surprising that Germany remains the country with the highest concentration of the Wollenschleger name. According to a 2020 census, approximately 50 people in Germany carry the last name.
In summary, the Wollenschleger surname is a rare one, found mostly in the United States and Germany. It is likely that most people who carry the name are direct descendants of the original 19th century family to arrive in the United States.
Variations of the surname Wollenschleger
The Wollenschleger surname is a variation of the German compound surname Wollenschlegel usually found in the U.S. and Canada. It is derived from the Middle High German Wollenschlagel (or Wallschlagel) the combined form of the words “wool” and “shackle,” derived from the old Germanic Waldschlagel, meaning a tool used for wool production.
Variants of the name found in the United States often include Wollenschlager/Wollenschlager, Wollenschlegel, Wollenslegel, and Wallenschlagel. The extended variant Wollenschlegelin is also found.
In Canada, the variants of the name are Wollenschleger, Wollenschlager, Wollenschlegel, Wollenslegel, Wallenschlagel, Wallschlagel, and Wallschlegel.
In Germany, the original spelling of the name is usually Wollenschlagel, with additional spellings such as Wollenschleger, Wollenschlager, and Wollenslegel.
Surnames which bear a similar origin include Walgenbach, Walgenbachin, Walgenbacher, Walgensberger, Wollenberg, Wollenbergas, Wollenberger, and Wollenbergen.
In short, the surname Wollenschleger is a German compound name derived from the Middle High German word Wollenschlagel and is found in both the U.S. and Canada, with variant spellings and extended surnames available. In Germany, the original spelling is usually Wollenschlagel, with additional options.
Famous people with the name Wollenschleger
- Charles Wollenschleger: a German track and field athlete and javelin thrower who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
- Gordon Wollenschleger: an American politician and retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves, who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2008 until 2021.
- Kateri Wollenschleger: an American figure skater who competed in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics.
- Bret Wollenschleger: a former Major League baseball pitcher who played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2005 to 2008.
- Mollie Wollenschleger: an American country singer and songwriter, known for her song “Train 45,” which was featured on the soundtrack for the movie The Big Lebowski.
- Paul Wollenschleger: a former NFL offensive lineman who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1986 to 1994.
- Jessica Wollenschleger: a professional figure skater who has been a member of the International Skating Union and World Skating Council since 2000.
- Brett Wollenschleger: a former US Chess Champion, who has also represented the United States in international tournaments since 1991.
- Erik Wollenschleger: an American professional snowboarder who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
- David Wollenschleger: a German chess grandmaster, who represented Germany in the European Team Chess Championship in 2012 and the Chess Olympiads from 1990 to 1996.