Submitted Surnames Starting with W

usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Wilcoxson English
Patronymic form of Wilcox which is derived from a diminutive of the given name William
Wilczek Polish
Diminutive form of Wilk, which means "wolf" in Polish.
Wildblood English
From a medieval nickname for a rakish or hot-headed person.
Wildfong German
An Americanized form of German Wildfang. A nickname from Middle High German Wiltvanc "Wildman Stranger", denoting a person who was not a member of the community.
Wildin English
The former placename is composed of the Olde English pre 7th Century words "wilg", willow, and "denu", a valley; while the latter place in Worcestershire is derived from the Olde English personal name "Winela", plus the Olde English "dun", a hill or mountain.
Wildrick English
From German Wildreich, a medieval personal name, from Old High German wildi "wild".
Wildsmith English
Probably means "maker of wheels, wheelwright".
Wile Hungarian
no particular meaning. the word wile means to trick though.
Wilén Swedish, Finland Swedish, Finnish
Variant of Vilén or Willén (meanings uncertain, they might be variants of the same name).
Wiles English
Occupational name for a trapper or hunter, from Middle English wile "trap, snare". It could also be a nickname for a devious person.
Wilewski Polish
This indicates familial origin within the Masovian village of Wilewo.
Wilgar Irish
An ancient surname of Olde English and Scottish origins. It is usually occupational for a textile fuller, deriving from the pre 7th century word wealcere, meaning to walk or tread.
Wilhelm German
From the given name Wilhelm.
Wilhelmsson Swedish
Means "son of Wilhelm".
Wilkes English, Frisian
English: patronymic from Wilk.... [more]
Wilkings English
It means Will to the king
Wilkosz Polish
Derivative of Wilk.
Wilkowska f Polish
Feminine form of Wilkowski.
Wilkowski Polish
Habitational name for someone from Wilkowo or Wilków, derived from Polish wilk meaning "wolf".
Wilks English
Variant of Wilkes.
Will Scottish, English, German
Scottish and northern English from the medieval personal name Will, a short form of William, or from some other medieval personal names with this first element, for example Wilbert or Willard... [more]
Wille German
From a short form of any of the Germanic personal names beginning Willi-, as for example, Willibrant, Willihart.
Willert German
German cognate and variant of Willard. from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements wil "will, desire" and hard "hardy, brave, strong".
Willett English
From a pet form of Will, or an Americanized form of French Ouellette.
Willing English
Patronymic from the Old English personal name Willa.
Willingham English
Habitational name from a place named Willingham, notably one in Cambridgeshire and one in Suffolk. The first is recorded in Domesday Book as Wivelingham "homestead (Old English hām) of the people of a man called Wifel".
Willman English
Occupational name for someone who was the servant of a man called Will.
Willock English
From the medieval male personal name Willoc, a pet-form based on the first syllable of any of a range of Old English compound names beginning with willa "will, desire".
Willow English
topographic name from Middle English wilwe wilghe willowe "willow" (Old English wilig welig) for a person who lived at or near a willow tree or in an area where willow trees grew... [more]
Willows English (British)
This is an English residential or perhaps occupational surname. It may originate from one of the various places in England called 'The Willows', or even a place such as Newton le Willows in Lancashire, or it may describe a supplier of willow.
Wills English
Patronymic from Will.
Wills German
Patronymic from any of the Germanic personal names beginning with wil "will, desire".
Wiltshire English
Habitational name from the county of Wiltshire in England.
Wimalarathna Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala විමලරත්න (see Wimalaratne).
Wimalarathne Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala විමලරත්න (see Wimalaratne).
Wimalaratna Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala විමලරත්න (see Wimalaratne).
Wimalaratne Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit विमल (vimala) meaning "clean, pure" and रत्न (ratna) meaning "jewel, treasure".
Wimalasena Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit विमल (vimala) meaning "clean, pure" and सेना (sena) meaning "army".
Wimalasiri Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit विमल (vimala) meaning "clean, pure" and श्री (shri) meaning "diffusing light, radiance, splendour, beauty".
Wimalasooriya Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala විමලසූරිය (see Wimalasuriya).
Wimalasuriya Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit विमल (vimala) meaning "clean, pure" and सूर्य (surya) meaning "sun".
Wimalaweera Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit विमल (vimala) meaning "clean, pure" and वीर (vira) meaning "hero, man, brave".
Wimmer German
Occupational last name, meaning "wine maker," using a derivation of the element Wein (meaning "wine") and likely another derivation from -macher (meaning "maker"). It's possible as well that it is derived from Weimann.
Wimp English
The surname has at least two origins. The first is occupational and describes a maker of 'wimplels', an Old English veil later much associated with nuns. Second, it may also be locational from the village of Whimple in Devonshire, or Wimpole in Cambridge.
Wimpey English
Perhaps a deliberate alteration of Impey. It is borne by George Wimpey, a British construction company, founded in Hammersmith, London in 1880 by George Wimpey (1855-1913)... [more]
Win Dutch, English
Dutch: variant of Winne. ... [more]
Winchel English
from Old English wencel ‘child’, perhaps used to distinguish a son from his father with the same forename or perhaps a nickname for a person with a baby face or childlike manner
Wind English, German, Danish
Nickname for a swift runner, from Middle English wind "wind", Middle High German wint "wind", also "greyhound".
Wind English
Topographic name for someone who lived near a pathway, alleyway, or road, Old English (ge)wind (from windan "to go").
Wind Swedish (Rare)
From Swedish vind "wind". It's either ornamental or a habitational name derived from a place named with this element.
Wind German
Variant of Wendt.
Windenburg German, Germanic
Means "Windy Castle" in German.
Windham English, Irish (Anglicized)
English habitational name from Wyndham in West Sussex, near West Grinstead, probably named from an unattested Old English personal name Winda + Old English hamm ‘water meadow’; or from Wymondham in Leicestershire and Norfolk, named from the Old English personal name Wigmund (see Wyman) + Old English ham ‘homestead’... [more]
Windmiller English
Name for a person that works at a windmill.
Windus English
Variant of the last name Wingers. The name is a metonymic occupational name for a textile worker or weaver, derived from the Middle English wyndhows ("winding house").
Winegar German
This German surname may belong to one whose ancestors worked in the food industry or in the production of vinegar. In German the letter “W” is pronounced as the letter “V” in English.
Winegardner English (American)
Anglicized form of the German occupational surname Weingartner. A known bearer of this surname is the American writer Mark Winegardner (b. 1961).
Winehouse Jewish, German
Anglicized variant of German and Yiddish 'Weinhaus'. From German wein, 'vine, grapevine' and haus 'house, building, home', likely indicating a house with a vineyard. ... [more]
Winford English
English location name meaning "from a white ford or water crossing" or "from a meadow ford".
Winfred English
From the given name Winfred.
Winfrey English
From the Old English personal name Winfrith, literally "friend-peace". A famous bearer of this surname is Oprah Winfrey (1954-), a US television talk-show presenter.
Winkel German, Jewish, Dutch, Belgian
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name for someone who lived on a corner of land in the country or a street corner in a town or city, from Middle High German winkel, German Winkel ‘corner’... [more]
Winkelmann German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name for someone who lived on a corner or kept a corner shop (see Winkel), with the addition of Middle High German man, German Mann ‘man’... [more]
Winkie English
For someone who came from Winkley.
Winkle English
it's said to originate from the village of Wincle, near the town of Macclesfield in the county of Cheshire.
Winks English
Variant of Winch
Winky English
For someone who came from Winkley.
Winne Dutch, English
Dutch: occupational name for an agricultural worker, Middle Low German winne ‘peasant’. ... [more]
Winney English
Derived from an unattested Old English given name, *Wyngeofu, composed of the elements wyn "joy" and geofu "battle".... [more]
Winnick English (Rare)
Habitational name for someone from a place called Winwick, for example in Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire, both of which are named from the Old English personal name Wina + wic 'outlying dairy farm or settlement'.
Winninger German
Probably denoted a person from the municipality of Winningen in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany.
Winnykamien Polish
It is the Polish version of Weinstein
Winsett English
From an English surname of unexplained origin, perhaps related to Winslow, Winston or Windsor.
Winsininski Polish (Anglicized)
Winsininski is an anglicized version of the name "Wisniewski", which is from multiple places in Poland called Wisniewo, Wisniew, and Wisniewa. These names all have "wisna" which means cherry, or cherry tree.... [more]
Winslet English
A notable bearer is the actress Kate Winslet.
Winstanley English
Means "person from Winstanley", Lancashire ("Wynnstān's glade", Wynnstān being an Old English male personal name, literally "joy-stone"; cf. Winston)... [more]
Winstead English
Perhaps derived from the town of Wanstead in Greater London, England (recorded in the Domesday Book as Wenesteda), named with Old English wænn meaning "wagon" and stede meaning "place, site", but it is more likely derived from the village of Winestead in East Yorkshire, England, named from Old English wefa meaning "wife" and hamstede meaning "homestead"... [more]
Winterberg German
Habitational name from any of several places named with Middle High German winter "winter" and berg "mountain".
Winterbourn English
A variant spelling of the surname Winterbourne, means "winter stream", a stream or river that is dry through the summer months.
Winterbourne English (British)
Probably meaning "winter stream". A large village in Gloucestershire, From the Thomas Hardy novel "The Woodlanders".
Winterburn English
habitational name from any of various places called with Old English winter "winter" and burna "stream" meaning "winter stream" for a stream which only flows or flows at a faster rate during the winter and more or less dries up in summer such as Winterburn in Gargrave (Yorkshire) Winterbourne (Berkshire Gloucestershire) Winterbourne Bassett (Wiltshire) or one of thirteen parishes named Winterborne in Dorset including Winterborne Abbas Winterborne Monkton and Winterborne Zelstone... [more]
Winterfield English
Meaning "winter field".
Winters English, German
Patronymic form of Winter.
Winterson English
Patronymic form of Winter.
Wiosna Polish
Derived from Polish wiosna "spring".
Wiredu Akan
Meaning unknown.
Wirkola Kven
Norwegian Variant of Virkkula.
Wirsig German
Means "happy" in German.
Wirta Finnish
From virta ‘stream’, used as a topographic name, also as a soldier’s name in the 17th century. Also adopted as an ornamental name, especially in western and southern Finland.
Wirtz German
One who acted as host in a tavern or inn.
Wirz German
Variant of Wirtz.
Wise English
Nickname for a wise or learned person, or in some cases a nickname for someone suspected of being acquainted with the occult arts, from Middle English wise "wise" (Old English wis). This name has also absorbed Dutch Wijs, a nickname meaning "wise", and possibly cognates in other languages.
Wiseau English (American, Rare)
Meaning unknown, believed to be derived from French oiseau, meaning bird. As a surname, it is born by American Director Tommy Wiseau.
Wish English
Topographic name for someone who lived by a water meadow or marsh, Middle English wyshe (Old English wisc). Americanized spelling of Wisch.
Wisneski Polish
A derivate of Wisniewski, which is said to mean "The Little Cherry Tree"
Wiśniewska f Polish
Feminine form of Wiśniewski.
Wisp English
The surname of the author of Quidditch Through The Ages in the Harry Potter Universe, Kennilworthy Whisp. Probably referring to the wind, or a family of people who usually were nearly bald.
Wissmach German
I think it is German
Wit Dutch
From Dutch meaning "white".
Witek Polish, English (Rare)
from the personal name Wit, a short form of Witold, a derivative of Lithuanian Vytautas, a compound of vyti 'to guide' + tauta 'the people'... [more]
Withall English
"Withall" comes from the village of "Cornwall" called "Withiel." There is also a connection to an aristocratic level, in the 15th at Henry VII court a noble man and knight went under the family name "Wit-hall"... [more]
Witham English
habitational name from any of various places so called particularly those in Essex Lincolnshire and Somerset though most often from Essex. The Essex placename may derive from Old English wiht "curve bend" and ham "village homestead"... [more]
Withycombe English
Willow Valley. ... [more]
Witkowski Polish
Name for someone from any of various places called Witkowo, Witków or Witkowice, all derived from the given name Witek.
Witly English
Variant of Whitley, a habitational name from any of various places named with Old English hwit ‘white’ + leah ‘wood’, ‘clearing’.
Witt English
Variant of White.
Witt German
Either from the given name Wittigo or from Middle Low German witte "white", a nickname for a pale person or someone with white hair.
Witte Dutch
Nickname for someone with white or blonde hair or an unusually pale complexion, from Middle Dutch witte "white".
Witten Low German
North German patronymic from Witte.
Wittenberg Low German
Habitational name for someone from a place called Wittenberg, Wittenberge, or Wittenbergen.
Wittenborn Low German
Habitational name from any of several places so named, for example near Bad Segeberg and near Neubrandenburg.
Witter German
From a Germanic personal name, composed of the elements widu "wood" and hari "army".
Wittgenstein German, Jewish
Denoted one who came from the Wittgenstein castle in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, derived from Old High German witt meaning "white" and stein meaning "stone"... [more]
Wittlin Jewish
Eastern Ashkenazic, from the Yiddish female personal name Vitle, a pet form of Vite combined with the eastern Slavic suffix -in
Wittman German
Wittman was first found in the Palatinate in the Rhineland valley. The surname Wittman was given to someone who lived in the area that was referred to as widem which was originally derived from the German word denoting church property.
Witz German, Jewish
From the medieval personal name Witzo, a short form of any of several Germanic compound names beginning with wig ‘battle’... [more]
Witzel German
The German surname is of patronymic origin, deriving from the name of the father of the original bearer.
Witzig German
German: nickname from Middle High German witzic ‘clever’, ‘prudent’, ‘knowing’.
Władysław Polish
four polish kings names
Wlodawski Jewish
Habitual surname from Włodawa, Poland. First seen in a 1806 revision list of the city Kobryn (Grodno Guberniya), now Kobryn Belarus. ... [more]
Włoszczowski Polish
This indicates familial origin within either of 2 Lesser Polish localities: the town of Włoszczowa or the village of Włoszczowice.
Wodda Indian, Tamil
Another form of Odda.
Wodehouse English
The name "de Wodehouse" is attested as early as in the 11th century, of one Bertram, of Wodehouse-tower, Yorkshire, who lived at the time of the Norman conquest.... [more]
Wodziński Polish
Habitational name for someone from Wodzin in Piotrków voivodeship, named with Polish woda meaning "water".
Woehrle Gothic
Origin from Ohio Known for Farmers, less common occupation was Baker Farmer, Gardener and Bag Maker were the top 3 reported jobs.
Woelk German
German variant spelling of Wölk (see Wolk).
Woelke German
German variant spelling of Wölke, itself a variant of Wolk.
Wogan Irish
From the Old Welsh personal name Gwgan or Gwgon, originally probably a nickname meaning literally "little scowler". (Cf. the second element in Cadogan.) This surname is borne by Irish radio and television presenter Terry Wogan (1938-).
Wohl German, Yiddish
Meaning "pleasant" in both Middle German and Ashkenazic Yiddish
Wójcicki Polish
Habitational name for a person originally from a place called Wójcice.
Wojciechowska Polish
Habitational name for someone from any of several places called Wojciechowo or Wojciechów, named with the personal name Wojciech.
Wójciński Polish
Habitational name for someone from any of the many places called Wójcin, or from Wójcina in Tarnów voivodeship, named with wójt meaning "village headman".
Wojick Polish
Pet form of the personal name Wojciech (see Voytek).
Wójt Medieval Polish
Occupational name and title from Medieval Polish meaning Lord Protector or Governor. Derived from Latin advocatus. German variant Vogt, Swedish variant Fogde... [more]
Wojtczak Polish
Polish: patronymic from Wojtek, a pet form of the personal name Wojciech ( see Voytek ).
Wolfenden English
derived from the place called Wolfenden in the parish of Newchurch-in-Rossendale, Lancashire. The placename means "Wulfhelm's valley", or "the valley of Wulfhelm" derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name Wulfhelm, composed of the elements wulf "wolf" and helm "helmet, protection" and denu "valley".
Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorffvoralternwarengewissenhaftschaferswesenchafew German (Rare)
Full name Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorffvoralternwarengewissenhaftschaferswesenchafewarenwholgepflegeundsorgfaltigkeitbeschutzenvonangereifenduchihrraubgiriigfeindewelchevorralternzwolftausendjahresvorandieerscheinenbanderersteerdeemmeshedrraumschiffgebrauchlichtalsseinursprungvonkraftgestartseinlangefahrthinzwischensternartigraumaufdersuchenachdiesternwelshegehabtbewohnbarplanetenkreisedrehensichundwohinderneurassevanverstandigmenshlichkeittkonntevortpflanzenundsicherfreunanlebenslamdlichfreudeundruhemitnichteinfurchtvorangreifenvonandererintlligentgeschopfsvonhinzwischensternartigraum... [more]
Wolfgang German
From the given name Wolfgang.
Wolfhard German, Jewish
This name derives from the Old High German name “Wolfhard”, composed of two elements: the “*-wulfaz” (wolf) plus “*harduz / *hardu-” (hard, strong, brave, valiant, powerful one). In turn the name means “the one who is strong like a wolf”.
Wolfhart Gothic
Means "Hard Wolf".
Wolfit English
From the medieval male personal name Wolfet or Wolfat (from Old English Wulfgēat, literally "wolf-Geat" (the name of a Germanic people)). This surname was borne by Sir Donald Wolfit (1902-1968), a British actor and manager.
Wolfmeyer German
From German wolf "wolf" and meyer "tenant farmer".
Wolford German
Means where the wolves cross the river/stream. Wolf meaning the animal and Ford meaning crossing a body of shallow water.... [more]
Wolfram English, German
From the given name Wolfram.
Wolfson English
Means "son of Wolf" in English.
Wolk German, American
Surname derived from a northern German short form of the given name Walter.
Wolken German
Surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Wolter, a Low German form of Walter.... [more]
Wolkers Dutch
Dutch from Walker.
Wollmann German
occupational name for a wool worker or wool trader Middle High German Middle Low German wollman derived from german wolle "wool" and man "man".
Wollschläger German
Occupational name for someone who prepared wool for spinning by washing and combing or carding it, from Middle High German wolle(n)slaher, -sleger, Middle Low German wullensleger (literally ‘wool beater’).
Wollstonecraft Anglo-Saxon
Wollstonecraft derived originally from the Saxon name of Wulfstan which later developed into Wol(f)stan. The name means wolf stone and is one of a number of names based on Wolf.... [more]
Wolowitz Jewish
This is the surname of the character Howard in the American television show "The Big Bang Theory".
Wolsey English
From the medieval male personal name Wulsi (from Old English Wulfsige, literally "wolf-victory"). A famous bearer of the surname was English churchman and statesman Thomas Wolsey (Cardinal Wolsey), ?1475-1530.
Wolstenholme English (British, Rare)
A famous bearer is Chris Wolstenholme, bassist and sometimes vocalist of British alternative rock band Muse.
Wolston English
From the Middle English personal name Wolfstan or Wolstan, Old English Wulfstan, composed of the elements wulf ‘wolf’ + stan stone or a habitational name from any of a large number of places called Woolston(e) or Wollston, all of which are named with Old English personal names containing the first element Wulf (Wulfheah, Wulfhelm, Wulfric, Wulfsige, and Wulfweard) + Old English tun ‘enclosure’, ‘settlement’.
Woltring Dutch
Derived from the German or Germanic name "Woltering".... [more]
Wolveridge English (British)
Derived from the personal name Wulfric.
Wonai Shona
It is a form of the Shona name Onai.
Wondergem Dutch
gem cutter or gem setter-jewler
Wong Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Wang.
Wongai Shona
It is a form of the Shona name Vongai
Wongchai Thai
From Thai วงศ์ (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty" and ไชย (chai) meaning "victory".
Wongkaeo Thai
From Thai วงศ์ or วงษ์ (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty" and แก้ว (kaeo) meaning "crystal, glass, diamond".
Wongkham Thai
From Thai วงศ์ (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty" and คำ (kham) meaning "gold".
Wongphakdi Thai
From Thai วง (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty" and ภักดี (phakdi) meaning "devotion, loyalty".
Wongsawat Thai
From Thai วงศ์ (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty" and สวัสดิ์ (sawat) meaning "happiness".
Wongsuwan Thai
From Thai วงศ์ (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty" and สุวรรณ (suwan) meaning "gold".
Wongyai Thai
From Thai วงศ์ (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty" and ใหญ่ (yai) meaning "big, large, great".
Wonka Popular Culture, Literature
Possibly a diminutive of Wonskolaser.
Wonskolaser Yiddish, Polish
An uncommon Yiddish surname currently known mostly as the basis for Wonka.