Surname Wilcke - Meaning and Origin

Wilcke: What does the surname Wilcke mean?

The last name Wilcke is of German origin. The name itself is derived from the Old Germanic term 'Wilc', meaning 'soldier'. This is an occupational surname, typically used to describe a soldier or someone in a military profession.

The name has become quite prevalent even in English-speaking nations due to its lineage in Germanic languages and the presence of German immigrants in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Wilcke is an especially popular surname in Germany, where it is the 248th most common name according to a 2020 survey. It is also popular in Austria and Sweden.

The name most likely started in renowned noble families, where sons who had distinguished themselves in the military field were given the surname Wilcke. However, it may also have been adopted by the common people, who adopted the surname in order to honor soldiers or gain favor from them.

Today the surname Wilcke is known to represent honor, bravery, strength, and protection. It is a name that stands for a legacy of strong leadership and a commitment to defending one's homeland. The individuals who bear the name Wilcke are destined to carry on its traditions and live up to its stature.

Wilcke: Where does the name Wilcke come from?

The last name Wilcke is most commonly found today in Europe, particularly in the German-speaking countries of Germany and Austria as well as in countries that were formerly part of the German Empire. It is also present in several other countries around the world to a lesser extent.

In Germany, the name Wilcke is generally found in a small area of North Rhine-Westphalia known as East Westphalia, which is bordered by the Rhine river and the Dutch border. The towns and cities with the highest levels of the surname Wilcke tend to be close to the Dutch border. On a national level, it is the 8,142nd most popular surname in the country.

In Austria, Wilcke is found in a much wider geographic area. The highest concentrations of the name are found in the northern states of Burgenland, Lower Austria, and Vienna, as well as in the western state of Vorarlberg. On a national level, Wilcke is the 31,911th most populous surname in the country.

Other pockets of Wilckes are found in the United States, particularly in the Midwestern states of Illinois and Minnesota, which have sizable German-American populations. Additionally, substantial populations of people with the surname Wilcke can be found in Russia, Switzerland, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada.

Variations of the surname Wilcke

The surname Wilcke is derived from the German noun ' wilke', meaning 'willow tree'. Variants and spellings of this surname are Wülcke, Wuelcke, Wilkey, Wülck, Willcke, Wilka, Wilcken, Wilke and Wolke. Wülcke is the most common German variant of the name, and is the surname of the German former professional footballer Marco Wülcke.

The Dutch, Danish and Scandinavian variants of the surname are Wilken, Wilkens and Willekens. The Dutch language variation Wilkens is the most common variant of this name in the Netherlands.

In the United States, Wilcke is mainly found as Wilkey and Wilke. Wilkey is the most common form of the name in the United States, although Wilcke is still found in some places. Wilkey can also be found in parts of Canada as well.

The Lithuanian variants of the surname Wilcke are Vilkas and Vilkis. Vilkas is an old Lithuanian personal name meaning 'wolf'. Vilkis is an archaic variant of the surname Wilcke, derived from the Lithuanian word 'vilkas', meaning 'wolf'.

In the United Kingdom, the most common variant of Wilcke is Wilkes. This variant of the name is derived from the German personal name Wilke, which may itself be derived from the Germanic name Willeke. Wilkes can also be found in Ireland and Scotland as well.

Famous people with the name Wilcke

• Thomas Wilcke: Thomas Wilcke is a Danish artist best known for his abstract sculptures and works of art incorporating recycled materials.
• Bernd Wilcke: Bernd Wilcke is a German politician and the current Federal Minister of Defense.
• Julius Wilcke: Julius Wilcke was a professor of physiology and zoology at the University of Copenhagen.
• Michael Wilcke: Michael Wilcke is a German biathlete and Olympic gold medalist.
• Christian Wilcke: Christian Wilcke is a German zoologist and biodiversity researcher associated with the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin.
• Anne Wilcke: Anne Wilcke is a Danish composer and musician, best known for her chamber works and teaching at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen.
• Jörg Wilcke: Jörg Wilcke is a German scientist and professor at the Technical University of Berlin and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.
• Jürgen Wilcke: Jürgen Wilcke is a German physicist and professor at the University of Mainz.
• Micah Wilcke: Micah Wilcke is an American actor and screenwriter, best known for his roles in the films "Meltdown" and "A Hard Day's Night".
• Reinhold Wilhelm Wilcke: Reinhold Wilhelm Wilcke was a German botanist and the curator of the botanical garden at Göttingen in the 19th century.

Other surnames

WilckenWilckensWilcks