Surname Wahle - Meaning and Origin
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Wahle: What does the surname Wahle mean?
The last name Wahle is of Germanic origin and can be translated to mean 'of the whale', 'descendent of the whale', or 'whale hunter'. Historically, the name may have derived from an occupation, where those with the surname were professional whale hunters or traveled as a merchant dealing in whale products. Alternatively, the name may have simply served as an indication of geographic origin, indicating that the family was originally from a region that was associated with whales. During the Middle Ages, this could be an area near the coast that furnished opportunities for whaling expeditions.
Today, Wahle is a fairly uncommon surname. It is still mainly found in Germany and the German speaking alpine countries, but is also common in the U.S. and other parts of the world where people of Germanic descent have settled. The few people with this surname tend to share a common ancestry or descend from the same geographical region in Germany. It is also possible that some of them could be of Jewish origin, as Jews of German descent frequently adopted German surnames that were related to animal, places, or occupations.
Order DNA origin analysisWahle: Where does the name Wahle come from?
The last name Wahle is a German last name, derived from “Wahl”, meaning “chooser” or “selector”. Today, this surname is most common in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. A few other countries in Europe, such as Switzerland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, also report low numbers of people with this last name. It is also present in some parts of the United States, where German immigrants brought the name to the country.
In Germany, the name is still very common. Records show that people with this surname account for around 1 in every 1,500 people. In Austria, only one in 2,000 people have the surname Wahle, while in the Czech Republic, it is even fewer with only five people declared to have the name.
In the United States, it is most commonly found in two main areas. The first is the Midwest, comprising Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois, where the largest populations of Germans and German descendants are located. The second is in the southeastern states such as Georgia and Florida, which also have a large number of German-Americans.
Overall, the last name is not extremely common anywhere in the world, but those bearing it can still be found throughout Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Wahle
The Wahle surname has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants for the Wahle surname are Walle, Waal, Waller, Wall, Valles, Waaler, Whalen, Wehla, and Wehle.
In German, the name is spelled Wähle, Waal, Wehle, or Wehla depending on the region. In the Netherlands, the name is generally spelled Waal or Waals.
In the United States, the most common spelling is Waller, Walle, Whalen, or Wall. In Sweden, the name is spelled Wahl or Waal. In Ireland, the name is spelled Waal, Wall or Waller, and in Scotland the name is spelled Wahl, Walle, or Waal.
Variations of the Wahle surname are also found in England, including Waaler, Wendel, and Wahl.
In Danish, the name is spelled Wehla, Wehle, or Walle. In Jewish communities, the name is generally spelled Waller or Valles.
The surnames of Fayla, Fali, Fale, and Phalen are also derived from Wahle. Ultimately, these surnames all derive from the word “wall”, likely indicating an ancestor that lived near a wall.
Famous people with the name Wahle
- Kameron Wahle: Kameron is a professional American football player who made his NFL debut in 2007. His most notable stints have been with the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders.
- Steve Wahle: Steve is a former American football player who played at the guard positions with the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, and Seattle Seahawks.
- Dr. Shawn Wahle: Dr. Shawn is a physician and research scientist whose work focuses on the interactions between patient care and research in the field of genetics.
- Laura Wahle: Laura is an artist and entrepreneur who is interested in how art can impact people’s emotions and experiences. She is also the founder and director of the Unnamable Arts Institute.
- David Wahle: David is a former professional football player, most notably with the Indianapolis Colts, who went on to become a coach and motivational speaker.
- Jonathan Wahle: Jonathan is a British actor who has appeared in films such as Resident Evil and Red Tails.
- Eddie Wahle: Eddie is a former farmer from Ohio who became a carpenter and builder. He is best known for having designed and built the Toledo Speedway in 1914.
- Alec Wahle: Alec is an Australian singer-songwriter who released his debut EP in 2009. He has since gone on to release two more EPs and has toured extensively throughout Australia.