Surname Welhof - Meaning and Origin
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Welhof: What does the surname Welhof mean?
The last name Welhof is of German origin and has several possible meanings depending on the geographical and historical context. The name is derived from the German words "wel" ("well") and "hof" ("court"). The most common translation of the name Welhof is “well court” or “fountain court”, which suggests a location with water as an important feature. The welhof could have been part of a historical manor or estate belonging to a noble family. It could have been a defended area around a well that provided vital water sources. Alternatively, the name could suggest the use of a well to serve as a court of justice. In these places, disputes or punishments could be settled by a gathering around a well or water source.
Welhof is also found in non-German language contexts, indicating its use by immigrants from Germany, those of German descent, or people with links to German culture or language. As such, the name Welhof could be considered a surname of German origin, widely adopted by those of Germanic descent.
The Welhof surname is rare, and is documented mainly in areas where German-speaking communities have been established over the centuries. For example, Welhof is documented in several places in what is now the Czech Republic from the sixteenth century, and the name is also associated with Jewish families in Ukraine and Romania.
Order DNA origin analysisWelhof: Where does the name Welhof come from?
The last name Welhof is a German and Dutch name that is found throughout Europe, as well as in countries which have been colonised by Europeans such as the United States, South Africa and parts of the Caribbean.
In Germany, the last name Welhof is particularly common in the northern parts of the country, including Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also found in small but significant numbers within Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria.
In the Netherlands the last name Welhof is relatively uncommon, but is found in the northern and eastern provinces of the country such as Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. According to the Netherlands' Central Bureau of Statistics, there were only 393 people with the last name Welhof living in the Netherlands in 2007.
The last name Welhof is also found in the United States, particularly in the states of Michigan and New York. The United States' Census Bureau lists that only 895 people with the last name Welhof lived in the United States in 2017.
In South Africa, the last name Welhof is found throughout the country, with the highest levels of occurrence in the provinces of Western Cape and Gauteng. The South African census from 2011 also noted that only 343 people with the last name Welhof living in the country at the time.
Overall, the last name Welhof is most common in Germany, followed by the United States, South Africa and the Netherlands. Although it is not particularly common in any of these countries, its presence in multiple countries shows its global spread across Europe and the rest of the world.
Variations of the surname Welhof
The surname Welhof is of German origin, meaning it comes from the country which shares its name. The spelling most commonly used is Welhof, but there are many variants and spellings which can be used to denote the same origin. Some of the variants include Welhöf, Welhoof, Welhöff, Welhoff, Welhoef, Waelhoff, Waelhöff, Walhoff, Walhöff, and Walhoef.
Surnames of the same origin may be slightly different, but are essentially the same as the one mentioned above. Common examples of such surnames include Welf, Welp, Whelf, Welap, Welope, Welduhn, Welken, Welpe, Walpe, Walpp, Wusername, Welpke, Welcker, Weller, Welhaus, Wulff, and Welvan.
Another variant of the surname is Welche. This name is of German, Latin, and Belgian origin and may refer to a congregation of people. It is also believed to come from an Old German word, meaning "hunting".
In some cases, Welhof may refer to someone who lives in a certain type of house. This would be "huus", which means "house" in Dutch. Another instance where the meaning may vary is the name "Weltenberg", which may indicate a place or area of hills in Germany.
Finally, other variations of the surname Welhof include Walhaus, Wahlhoef, Welskow, Walso, Wulhoff, Walhöf, Wyehlhof, Wiehhoff, Welphoff, and Weltoff. All of these names may indicate a person or family who has the same Germanic roots as the name Welhof.
Famous people with the name Welhof
- Carina Welhoelter: German actress
- Germaine Welhoelter: French politician
- Rebecca Welhof: German author and theologian
- Robert Welhof, Jr.: American lawyer
- Walt Welhof: American computer programmer
- Amalia Welhoffer: Italian artist
- Andrew Welhoff: British civil engineer
- Hans Welhoff: Danish painter
- John Welhoff: American missionary
- Klaus Welhoff: German entrepreneur 11. Peter Welhof: Swiss composer
- Philippe Welhof: French economist
- Wolfgang Welhoelter: German politician
- Uwe Welhof: German soccer player
- Deborah Welhof: Gambian human rights activist