Surname Wilka - Meaning and Origin
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Wilka: What does the surname Wilka mean?
The origin of the last name Wilka is believed to be German. The name dates back to the medieval period in Europe and is derived from the term 'Wilke' which translates to mean ‘a furrier.’ The term 'furrier' is used to describe someone who makes or sells furs and furry fabrics and trimmings.
It is believed that the name became established in Germany, in locations such as North Rhineland and Holstein, in the 15th and 16th centuries. These areas of the country have been historically associated with the fur trade. The name likely spread to the Baltic region and onward to Eastern Europe during the 19th century, likely through immigration.
The Wilka spelling can also be seen in Russia, Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe. It is possible that the name was adopted, or changed, by those who moved as part of the large-scale immigration of the 19th century. Today the last name Wilka is found in many countries around the world, some of these include Germany, Russia, Poland, Austria, Luxembourg and the United States.
At present, there is no definitive conclusion to the meaning of the surname Wilka. It is likely that it was adopted from the origin of furriers, however there is no concrete evidence to back this up. Nevertheless, the name is likely to remain connected to the fur trade, given its association with the industry in Germany throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWilka: Where does the name Wilka come from?
The last name Wilka is particularly common in eastern Europe, primarily in Poland, where it is currently ranked as the 394th most popular surname. It is also found in Germany, Lithuania, Latvia and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
Wilka is thought to be of Polish origin, derived from the word 'wilk' which means 'wolf' in Polish. It may have started as a nickname for a person who either liked or was likened to a wolf, or perhaps it was once a heraldic symbol associated with the family. Other interpretations suggest it might also denote a connection with wild game hunting.
The surname Wilka is now quite widespread and can be found in almost all major cities across Europe, Canada, and the United States. It is most prevalent in Poland, where it is estimated that there are around 24,000 people bearing that name. In Germany, it is most common in Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria.
The surname Wilka is quite uncommon in the United Kingdom; officially, it is ranked as the 27,910th most popular surname in England and the 16,109th most popular surname in Scotland.
Although Wilka is not a particularly common surname, its presence is global. People bearing the name Wilka are scattered around the globe, from North America to Israel, New Zealand, and Russia.
Variations of the surname Wilka
The surname Wilka has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These can be found in different parts of the world and across different cultures. In the English-speaking world, surname Wilka might appear as Wilkes, Wilks, Wilkins and Willkome.
In Poland, the surname Wilka can be spelled with two l's (for example Wilkka). In other European nations such as Austria and Lithuania, variants of Wilka can be found such as Wilk, Wilcken and Wilke.
The Scandinavian and Dutch forms of Wilka also exist, for example Vilka (Sweden) and Wilke (the Netherlands).
On the far side of the world, in South Africa, Wilka can become Willka or Willick. In the United States, the surname can be found spelled as Wilkey and Wilkea, and also appears as Wilkie.
The same root of the surname Wilka can be seen in other surnames such as Wilken, Wilqer, Welker and Wilkeson.
To conclude, the surname Wilka has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin found across different parts of the world and cultures. These range from Wilkes in English-speaking nations, Wilkka in Poland, Vilka in Sweden, Willka in South Africa to Wilken in the United States.
Famous people with the name Wilka
- K. C. Wilka: an actress known for her performances in Battlestar Galactica, Death Race 2050 and ChilleramaTV.
- David Wilka: a Polish professional basketball player who was a member of the Polish junior national basketball team.
- Gary Wilka: a professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL for the New York Islanders and the Winnipeg Jets.
- Howard Wilka: an American politician who served as the Mayor of Sioux Falls during the mid-1980s.
- Marcin Wilka: a former Polish volleyball coach who led the Polish national team to their first Olympic gold medal in 1976.
- Robert Wilka: a Polish cinematographer who was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category for his work on the film The Promised Land.
- Ryan Wilka: an American sprinter who competes primarily in the 200-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay.
- Woody Wilka: an American baseball pitcher who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1978 to 1983.
- Zach Wilka: an American YouTuber known for producing educational videos on science and technology.