Surname Withaar - Meaning and Origin
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Withaar: What does the surname Withaar mean?
The surname Withaar is found mostly in the Netherlands and Denmark, and is derived from the Dutch word 'witte', meaning 'white'. It is thought to have originally been given to a person with white characterized by pale skin, hair, or clothing. The name has also been found as Wijthar, Wittar, Withatt, Witham, Witthauer, and Wickthor.
The Withaar name is often associated with a trade or profession, and was likely first used to indicate someone in the trade of whitening fabrics. The name could also refer to someone in the weaving or spinning industry or a similar role such as a cloth-dyer or fabric-maker, for which they were likely trained in the 17th century.
Since its origins in the Middle Ages, the Withaar name has since spread to nations such as Germany, Belgium, and the United States, and has evolved to take on different spellings.
Despite its prevalence, the meaning of the name remains largely a mystery today. What we do know is that it was most likely a name used to signify someone in a professional capacity, and could mean someone who was particularly skilled at whitening items, be it fabric, paper, or food.
Order DNA origin analysisWithaar: Where does the name Withaar come from?
The last name Withaar is most concentrated in the Netherlands today. It is quite a rare name in general and is not particularly common in other countries. According to current statistics, there are roughly 2,000 people worldwide with this name.
The Netherlands bears the brunt of this concentration, with approximatley 1, IIOO people living with the name Withaar. Most of these are located in the northern, western, or central parts of the country. This demonstrates the region's traditional domination of this surname.
Bordering countries like Belgium and Germany have a small presence of Withaar, with just a few hundred recorded citizens bearing this last name. That said, there are smaller numbers of people living in the US, Canada, England, and Scotland with the same name.
At the moment, it is difficult to identify the origins of this name. There is no consensus on the origin of the name, though some have suggested links to Dutch words related to the sea or river.
In general, the name Withaar is quite rare and is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. That said, it does have a presence in other parts of the world, albeit in much smaller numbers.
Variations of the surname Withaar
The surname Withaar is a patronymic name derived from "wit", which is an Old English word meaning “wide” or “wood”.
Variants of the surname Withaar include:
- Witthar
- Wither
- Withers
- Witchard
- Witchell
- Wyther
- Wythers
The spelling of the surname Withaar can also vary depending on the language and region. Spellings of the surname include:
- Wijthar (Dutch)
- Widar (Scandinavian)
- Weitze (German)
- Wiedar (Polish and German)
There are also several surnames of the same origin as Withaar, including:
- Witcomb
- Widder
- Witham
- Whitmore
- Whitcombe
- Witherington
- Witherspoon
- Widdowson
- Widdup.
These surnames are all derived from the same Old English root word and can also be spelled differently depending on the language or region.
Famous people with the name Withaar
- Mark Withaar, Dutch comedian and film director
- Everett Withaar, Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Bernardo Withaar, Brazilian actor
- Tyler Withaar, Canadian-American animator and character designer
- Bev Withaar, Canadian singer-songwriter
- Shannon Withaar, Canadian award-winning writer
- Steven Withaar, Dutch painting teacher and artist
- Donna Withaar, Canadian stage actor and theatre director
- Nettie Withaar, Canadian abstract painter
- Bernice Withaar, Canadian graphic designer and illustrator