Surname Wilhelmy - Meaning and Origin
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Wilhelmy: What does the surname Wilhelmy mean?
The last name Wilhelmy is of German origin and denotes a topographical surname. People with this last name most likely originate from a place named Wilhelmy, which is believed to be derived from the German words ''Wilh'' meaning ‘will’ and ‘helm’ meaning ‘helmet’. Thus, Wilhelmy could come from the Old German personal name Wilhelme, meaning ‘passionate protector/defender’.
The earliest recorded spelling of this surname emerged during the early part of the 14th century, in the region of Bavaria. It is assumed to have been first used by a family who owned land beside a rolling plain or hill. This family was most likely noble or of high social standing, as the linguistic structure of the name implies a powerful family.
The Wilhelmy family spread to the Ammer Valley of Bavaria, and later numerous branches relocated to other nearby German regions and countries such as Swabia, Northwestern Africa and the United States of America.
Today, the Wilhelmy family has settled in many countries around the world, including Germany, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, France, Sweden, Russia, and Slovenia. Its roots are still evidenced in many of these places, and the name is still highly regarded by those associated with it.
Order DNA origin analysisWilhelmy: Where does the name Wilhelmy come from?
The last name Wilhelmy is most common in areas like Germany, Belgium, and parts of France and the Netherlands. The name is believed to be of Germanic origin, and it may have originated from the Old Germanic personal name “Willamira,” which was composed of two elements: “wil” meaning “will or desire” and “helm” meaning “helmet or protection.” Wilhelmy is also a variation of the Germanic name “Wilhelm,” which means “protector.”
Today Wilhelmy is most common in Germany, where it is 9th most common. In Belgium, it is 59th most common, while in Austria it is 77th most common. Wilhelmy is also quite common in Luxembourg and in Liechtenstein, with virtually every village having at least one family by that surname. It is also commonly found in parts of the Netherlands, including the city of Utrecht, which has hundreds of people bearing the Wilhelmy name.
In the United States, Wilhelmy is much less common but still disproportionately overrepresented when compared to the country’s overall population. The name is found predominantly in the Midwest and Western states, though it is also present all over the country. In the 2010 US Census, Wilhelmy was the 5,623rd most common last name in the entire country, with over 1,360 individuals bearing the surname.
Variations of the surname Wilhelmy
The surname Wilhelmy has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common are Wilhelmi, Wilhaume, Willhelm, Wilhelm, Welhelmy, Wilhlemi, Wilhn, Wilhlme, Wilhlemy, Vilhelm, Vilmill, Wilhelem, Wilhiem, Williham, Wilhliam, Wilhelmie, Willem, Vilhem, Villem, Villom, Willim, Vilm, Weilhelmi, Weinhelmi, Wilem, Wilemi, Wililmi, Wilimmi, Willemy, Willim, Wileme, Willeme, Wilheme, Wilhlem, Willm, Wilhelme, Wilhen, Wilhemey, Willemee, Wilhelmee and Wilhlmey.
These variant spellings can be found in countries across Europe, from the Netherlands to Austria, as a result of migration over hundreds of years. The Wilhelmi name is most often associated with Germany, where it originated, and the Netherlands, where the surname is particularly common.
Wilhelmy is also a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from the given name Wilhelm. Common surnames that share the same origin include Wilhelms, Wilhelmins, Wilhelmes, Willemse, Willemin, Wilmes, and Wilm.
Variants of this surname can still be found across the continent today, with its popularity having increased significantly over the past few decades.
Famous people with the name Wilhelmy
- Max Wilhelmy: German actor and director.
- Marianne Wilhelmy: Austrian actress and violinist.
- Arthur Wilhelmy: German-Italian actor and director.
- Albert Wilhelmy: German actor and director.
- Hans Wilhelmy: German cinematographer and director.
- Ed Wilhelmy: American actor, director, and writer.
- Isidor Wilhelmy: German physicist.
- Johannes Wilhelmy: Austrian politician and jurist.
- Karl Wilhelmy: German actor and director.
- Ludwig Wilhelmy: German ophthalmologist.
- Max Wilhelmy: German architect.
- Reinhard Wilhelmy: German actor.
- Hugo Wilhelmy: German engineer, and mountaineer.
- Eric Wilhelmy: American actor.
- Anna Wilhelmy: German athlete.
- Amelie Wilhelmy: German actress.
- Alexander Wilhelmy: German entrepreneur, businessman, and politician.
- Adelaide Wilhelmy: German opera singer.
- Arne Wilhelmy: German-American actor and writer.
- Axel Wilhelmy: German actor.