Surname Woldert - Meaning and Origin
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Woldert: What does the surname Woldert mean?
The last name Woldert is a German name that is believed to have originated from the Middle High German word "waltâre," meaning "guardian" or "forester." It is believed to have been mainly used by people who lived in the forests of Germany and were employed as administrators or stewards of the forest and its resources. The surname could also be derived from the personal name Wolder, which was derived from the Old High German "waldhari," meaning "forest army" or "forest guard."
The surname Woldert is quite rare and most likely originates from Bavaria or West Prussia. It is assumed that the earliest recorded use of the surname Woldert was in Bavarian records from the late 14th century.
Today the surname Woldert is primarily concentrated in the United States and Germany, with a smaller population in the UK, Canada, and other countries. Additionally, Woldert can be found throughout Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, and France. Within the United States, the first instance of the name Woldert can be found in New York in the mid-1800s.
In its original German form, the surname Woldert is still used today by descendants of the original families who assumed the surname. Those descended from the same lineage also may sometimes possess the spelling variations Woldert or Waldert.
Order DNA origin analysisWoldert: Where does the name Woldert come from?
The last name Woldert is mainly found in Germany, where it is concentrated in some regions of the country, particularly in the former kingdoms of Hanover and Westphalia. It's also found in Austria and Switzerland in small numbers. In the United States the name is most prevalent in Texas.
The name is thought to have originated in Germany, and was an occupational name for a hunter or trapper. The Germans migrated to the United States from Germany , and the name was carried with them. In the 1900 United States Census, the last name Woldert was ranked as the 623rd most common in the country. Today, it is still relatively rare and tends to be concentrated in just a few states.
The most common place to find the name is in Texas, where it has been spelled a variety of ways, including Waldert, Woulder, Woldert, and Woltere. There is also an area outside of Houston, Texas, known as Woldert, which may have been named after a branch of the family. In addition to Texas, the last name Woldert can be found in New York, Florida, California, Ohio, and various other states.
The last name Woldert is not extremely common today, but it's still found in pockets around the United States and Europe. The name carries a sense of history with it, as it was brought to the New World by immigrants in the 19th century and has persisted through the generations.
Variations of the surname Woldert
The surname Woldert is a German surname generally coming from the region of Germany called Thuringia. It is believed to have originated from a region in the modern-day state of Saxony-Anhalt. Woldert is pronounced Valt-er, and therefore can be spelled a variety of ways. Variants of the name Woldert include Woldehr, Waldert, Weldert, Woldher, Valdert, Waldher, and Waldhet. Waldhaeuser and Wolda are two rare spellings of the surname Woldert.
Surnames that are of the same origin as Woldert include: Woldt, Walther, Wattier, Waldhart, and Waller. Woldt is the most common of the related surnames, derived from the Germanic personal name Wold. Walther, Wattier, and Waldhart descended from the same personal name which derives from the Old Germanic words walh meaning stranger and hari meaning warrior or army. Finally, Waller is a variant of Walter which originates from the same Germanic personal name Wold.
In addition, there are a few anglicized versions of the Woldert surname, such as Waldron, Waldrop, and Waldroff. Waldron tcomes from the Anglo-Scottish surnames Waldren and Walsham, while Waldrop comes from the English surname Wauldrop, and Waldroff is a newer version from the original German Waldhaufer.
All in all, the Germanic surname Woldert is quite versatile, and can have many different spellings and associated surnames. With its various spellings and variants, Woldert can be traced back to its Germanic origins throughout history.
Famous people with the name Woldert
- Wilbur O. Woldert: Wilbur O. Woldert was a historian, professor at The University of Texas at Austin, historian of early Texas, and founder of the Texas State Historical Association.
- Thor Woldert: Thor Woldert was a businessman, real estate baron, and former president of the Publix Corporation (later known as Westwood Corporation). He was also the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Post Properties.
- Kurt Woldert: Kurt Woldert is an American businessman and investor. He is the founder and current owner of Woldert Capital Management, a private investment firm.
- Jim Woldert: Jim Woldert is a former college football player who played for Northwestern University. He is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Marc Woldert: Marc Woldert is a Danish professional football player who plays for Danish club Lyngby Boldklub.
- Jeannette Woldert: Jeannette Woldert is an American actress, screenwriter, and film producer best known for her work in the television series The West Wing.
- Tupper Woldert: Tupper Woldert is an American professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the co-author of a book on psychological testing.
- Ernest Woldert: Ernest Woldert was an American aviator and pharmacist who served as a private in the United States Army during World War I.
- Eric Woldert: Eric Woldert is a former American football player and coach. He is best known for his time as a player for the Green Bay Packers and as the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders.