Surname Wollersen - Meaning and Origin

Wollersen: What does the surname Wollersen mean?

The last name Wollersen is of German origin. It is derived from the combination of two German words, Wal and Heer. Wal is an element meaning "ruler" or "leader", while Heer is an element meaning "army". Together, these elements form a name meaning "ruler of the army" or "leader of the army", potentially referring to a military leader or someone of noble rank.

The Wollersen surname may have been adopted by a family of soldiers who served their local rulers in the medieval age. The family name may also have originated from a nobleman who achieved important rank in the army and was subsequently gifted landed property by their liege lord. Alternatively, it may have been bestowed on someone who had served the king with distinction.

With that said, the Wollersen surname can also be seen as an occupational surname derived from the Middle Low German word 'wollersman', indicating a vassal who held a 'Wal' or 'Heer'. The 'Wal' would be the local ruler over a certain area, while 'Heer' would refer to the defence of the region by a military force.

In any case, the Wollersen surname has been in use for centuries and has been adopted in many countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada, Germany, and other European nations. As such, it has been part of families for a long time—some even in multiple generations. It is a reminder of the past and of a proud family legacy.

Wollersen: Where does the name Wollersen come from?

Today, the last name Wollersen is most likely to be found in Germany, where it is among the 1,000 most common surnames. However, Wollersen is also found in many other countries, mostly in Northern Europe. In Norway, it is the 530th most common surname, while it is the 881st most common surname in Denmark. In the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland, it is also found but is less common.

In the United States, the last name Wollersen is less widely spread but still present in some states. According to the US Census Bureau, it is the 18,049th most common name in the country, with slightly over 3,100 people having that name. The states with the highest concentrations of Wollersens are California, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, followed by other states such as Oregon, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

The Wollersen family name has its origins in northern Germany, where the name derived from an ancient Danish and German term “Waller,” meaning “protection” or “fortification.” Over time, Wollersen evolved and spread across Europe, which explains why the surname can still be found in many Northern European countries today.

Variations of the surname Wollersen

The surname Wollersen is of Germanic origin suggesting it was firstly used as an occupational name for a person associated with the production of wool. Variants of the surname include Wallersen, Walleresen, Wallareson, Wollersheim, and Wollerheim, These spellings are often the result of transcription errors made by English speaking clerks.

Surnames of similar origin also include Waller, Wallerich, Weller, Wellerlanders and Wellrahs. The surnames Waller and Weller also have a slight variation in spelling and pronunciation such as Wallers, Waler, Wallersohn, Welchler, Wolers and Wollersman. Other surnames include Walhman, Wolthausen, and Walrusen.

The derivation of Wollersen is from Waller, which is derived from the German word welle, meaning ‘stream’, plus erus, meaning ‘worker’. Variations in spelling could result from regional dialectical differences, as well as misspellings due to lack of standardized spelling rules and phonetic spelling.

The surnames Waller, Weller and Wollersen can all be traced to the Germanic root denoting a ‘well’, suggesting the original bearer of the surname dwelt beside a well or stream. Its spelling variations derived from different regions of the German language which tend to use different spellings for the same pronunciation. Thus, figures bearing these surnames often changed the spelling of their name upon migration to other regions.

Famous people with the name Wollersen

• Eric Wollersen: Danish Poker Pro and Winner of 2018 World Series of Poker Europe
• Andreas Wollersen: German Organist, Conductor, and Composer
• Harald Wollersen: Norwegian Gymnast, who won a Gold Medal in the 2018 Olympics
• Lars Wollersen: Norwegian Soccer Player, who played for the National Norwegian Team from 1996 to 2008
• Christian Wollersen: Danish Artist and Painter
• Julie Wollersen: Norwegian Oboist, who has performed in International Orchestras since 2006
• Kirsten Wollersen: Danish Actress best known for her roles in 1980s television shows
• Eivind Wollersen: Norwegian Desk Tennis Champion, who won the Gold Medal in the 2020 Olympics
• Marzena Wollersen: Polish Opera Singer, who has performed in International Operas since 2009
• Kenneth Wollersen: Swedish Dancer, who was a part of the Royal Ballet in Stockholm from 2004 to 2018

Other surnames

WollersWollersheim