Surname Willink - Meaning and Origin
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Willink: What does the surname Willink mean?
The surname Willink is derived from a Dutch toponymic name meaning ‘from the Willow Meadow’. The Dutch word "wilg" translates to ‘willow’ and "linc" is an archaic name for a meadow or pasture. Willink is a fairly common Dutch surname due to the large number of rural towns in the Netherlands in which it is centered.
Willink is a patronymic surname, which means it is based on the first name of the father. It was adopted by smaller, rural villages in the Netherlands and the people who lived there. Over time, the name spread to other settlements and eventually extended to the rest of Europe, including the United Kingdom and North America.
The Willink surname is associated with Dutch ancestry, owing to its origin in the Netherlands. Those with the surname Willink may be descendants of the original Dutch residents of the Florisjans and Wilhelmina villages, alongside any settlers who later adopted it.
Although this surname is prevalent in Dutch and Flemish-speaking areas, such as Belgium, Canada and the United States, it is also found in other countries, suggesting many people from different parts of the world have adopted the name. The Willink name is associated with traditions of faith, loyalty and hard work and has been passed down over generations.
Order DNA origin analysisWillink: Where does the name Willink come from?
The last name Willink is most commonly found today in the Netherlands, specifically in the cities of Friesland, Drenth, and Gronnigen. Not only is it found in its native country, but small pockets of Willink families are found in other parts of Europe, especially in countries like Germany and France.
In the United States, the last name Willink has an even smaller presence. It is primarily found in the Midwest due to the wave of Dutch immigrants that settled in the area during the 1800s. There are also a few Willink families in Texas, California, and the East Coast.
According to Zillow, the highest concentrations of Willink families are in Drenth, Freisland, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In Massachusetts, there are approximately 33 families living in towns like Boston, Roxbury, and Cambridge. In Wisconsin, there are a total of 3 families residing in Fond du Lac, Port Washington, and Germantown.
Whether in the Netherlands or abroad, the Willink family name is likely to live on for a long time. The Willink heritage has a strong presence, both in their native country and the countries of which they have been transplanted.
Variations of the surname Willink
The surname Willink is a habitational surname that originated from the Willink House in Oudewater, Utrecht, Netherlands. The name can be spelled in multiple ways, including Willinck, Willing, Willink, Willincks, Willecke, Willecke, Willete, Williet, and Willeth.
The variants “Willyng” and “Willink” are bartronymic surnames, which originated from the personal name Willo, derived from the Old German Wilhelm, meaning “ndesire” or “with the will”. The surname Wilte is an orthographic deviation of Wilte, derived from the same source.
The surnames Willecke, Willecke, and Willette are diminutive forms of William, altered for ease of pronunciation. The surname Williet is a Dutch form of Willet and Willeth is a dialectal variant of Willite.
The variants of Willink may have appeared in numerous places in Europe, but primarily in Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Because of immigration and emigration, these surnames became more widespread and are now found in Europe, South Africa, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In summary, all of the variants of the surname Willink stem from the Old German Wilhelm, meaning desire or with the will and the Willink House in Oudewater, Utrecht, Netherlands. The surname can be seen in numerous places across the world, including Europe, South Africa, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Willink
- Jocko Willink: retired U.S. Navy Seal Commander, partner at Echelon Front, best-selling author of multiple books including "Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win" and "Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10."
- Jake Willink: the brother of Jocko Willink, former Navy Seal Officer and a partner at Echelon Front as well.
- Dave Willink: a professional soccer player who has played for Dutch clubs such as AZ Alkmaar, Willem II, and FC Volendam.
- Robert Willink: Dutch former professional road bicycle racer who participated in the Giro d'Italia.
- Trijntje Willink: a Dutch film, stage, and television actress who won the prestigious Gouden Kalf award for Best Supporting Actress.
- Jon Willink: former Army Ranger turned data scientist who has worked with companies such as Microsoft and IBM.
- Amy Willink: a former professional basketball player who played for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA.
- Willie Willink: a Dutch jazz musician and composer.
- Dick Willink: a Dutch former politician who served in the House of Representatives for 26 years.
- Hanna Willink: a Dutch actress who is best known for her work in the series "SpangaS".