Surname Wollesack - Meaning and Origin
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Wollesack: What does the surname Wollesack mean?
The surname Wollesack is derived from the Germanic personal name Willetherec, originating from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Willethere, composed of two elements, the first being "wille" meaning "will" or "desire", and the second being "theru, tharu, therue, therma, or thurme" which means "bold, brave or strength" or "people or tribe". This surname is more commonly found in Germany and Austria but is also known in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. It is believed to have been used as a form of boasting about an individual's strength and bravery. Historically, it was very popular as a naming practice among Germanic nobles and royalty.
In modern times, the surname Wollesack is still found throughout Germany and some other parts of Europe, although it is now far less common. Generally speaking, the Wollesack surname is associated with a long and proud tradition, referring to an individual's inner strength and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisWollesack: Where does the name Wollesack come from?
The last name Wollesack is most commonly found in the United States today. The name may have come from German immigrants in the early 19th century who settled in the Midwest. It's believed that the name means "wolf sack" in German. The name is most often identified with the states of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas.
In Iowa, Wollesacks are concentrated in the counties of Dubuque, Johnson, Linn, and Polk. In Illinois, the largest concentration of Wollesacks is in the Peoria and Peoria Heights communities. Wisconsin also has a strong presence of Wollesacks in the towns of St. Croix Falls, Hudson, and Stillwater.
In Minnesota, Wollesacks from both Germany and Denmark have settled in the state, and significant numbers are found in the counties of Mower, Rice, Olmsted, Goodhue, and Freeborn. In Missouri, the majority of Wollesacks are found in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Similarly, in Texas, the surname is found in the major cities of Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas.
Overseas, the last name primarily persists in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and Denmark. However, family lineages have been found in Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, China, and Russia as well. The name has stayed remarkably consistent, with the spelling of “Wollesack” being used across the board.
Variations of the surname Wollesack
The surname Wollesack is mainly found in the regions of Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is also found in some parts of the United States.
The variants of the name Wollesack include Wallesack, Walasack, Wollasack, Wallazack, Wollazack, Wallazak, and Wolasack. There are also some spellings which are specific to certain regions such as Wollesak in Germany, Waallesack in the Netherlands, Wollazek in Austria, and Walasak in the USA.
The surnames which are of the same origin as Wollesack include Willesack, Willesak, Willasak, Wilasak, Wollesac, Wollesak, Wallesack, Wallesak, Walasack, Walasak, Wollasack, Wollasak, Wollazack, Wollazak, Wallazack, Wallazak, Wolasack, and Wolasak.
These surnames are believed to be derived from the old German first name Wilehelm, or the medieval German term ‘Walasack’, which was used to define a knife made of iron.
We can also assume that the name Wollesack originated from the regions where it is now most commonly found, as it was used before the name became more widely spread in the 1600s. Wollesack was a popular Dutch name at the time, and it is still quite prominent in the Netherlands.
Although the name is quite old, it is still fairly popular in some parts of Europe and the United States. You may even find that there are more variations and surnames related to it than what is listed above.
Famous people with the name Wollesack
- Arizona Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford
- German biologist, psychiatrist and eugenicist Alfred Wollesack
- British civil servant and soldier Major General Edward Wollesack
- American historical film director Charles Wollesack
- German tennis coach and author Jörg Wollesack
- Argentine football goalkeeper Leandro Wollesack
- American ice hockey player Kurt Wollesack
- German field hockey player Marinus Wollesack
- American armored cavalry officer Ronald Wollesack
- Australian filmmaker and sculptor Peter Wollesack