Surname TerWilligen - Meaning and Origin

TerWilligen: What does the surname TerWilligen mean?

The last name TerWilligen is of Dutch origin. It is derived from two parts: 'ter,' a preposition meaning 'at,' and 'Willigen,' a common place name. 'Willigen' is further derived from 'wilg,' which means 'willow.' Therefore, the surname TerWilligen could mean 'at the willow' or could refer to someone living at a location with significant willow trees. Surnames often served as an identifier in the Middle Ages, reflecting an individual's occupation, place of residence, or a significant characteristic. Therefore, a person with this surname might have been living near a place where willow trees were abundant or noticeable. Despite its origins, the surname TerWilligen is quite rare even in the Netherlands today.

TerWilligen: Where does the name TerWilligen come from?

The surname TerWilligen is most commonly found today in the Netherlands, particularly in the eastern province of Overijssel. In addition, there are a substantial number of TerWilligens in Germany, France, and Belgium. The name is also found in parts of the United States, particularly the Midwest and Appalachia.

The exact origin of the TerWilligen surname is not known for certain, but some believe it to be a toponymic or locational name, derived from the Dutch "Terschelling," referring to a small island off the coast of the Netherlands in the Wadden Sea. This suggests that the TerWilligens may have originally come from Terschelling or the nearby mainland.

It is likely that the family moved to other parts of the world, such as the United States, during waves of immigration in the early 20th century and later. Many TerWilligens can trace their genealogy back to various Dutch provinces as well as other European countries.

The TerWilligen surname is rare but not uncommon, and today there are many families still bearing the name around the world.

Variations of the surname TerWilligen

The surname TerWilligen has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling is Terwilliger. It is also spelled TerWillegar, TerWilligar, TerWilligen, Thereliggen, TherWilligar, Terelliggen and Terwilligar. All of these versions of the surname are related but have slightly different spellings.

The surnames Van Der Wille and Van Der Willigen are both derived from the same root as the Terwilligers. Van Der Wille is a Dutch form of the name, deriving from the Dutch word "wille" which means will or inclination. Similarly, Van Der Willigen is a Dutch form of the name coming from the words "wille" and "ig" meaning edge or boundary.

The surname Terwilligen also has several German variants. The most common ones being Terwillegen, Terwilllingen, Tharwlingen, Thwillingen, Twillingen and Terwillingen. These variants all come from the German word "willingen" meaning will or desire.

Another form of the Terwilligen surname is D'Arwilligen. This is a French version derived from the words "ar" and "willen" meaning public will or desire. Other related surnames are Derwille, Derwilliger, Duelliger and Durelligen.

Finally, the Italian version of the surname Terwilligen is Teresa, which is derived from the Latin word "teres" meaning smooth. The surname Teresa is also sometimes spelled as Teriza or Terzah.

In summary, the surname Terwilligen has many variants, each with slightly different spellings. These include Van Der Wille, Van Der Willigen, Terwillegan, Terwilllingen, D'Arwilligen, Derwille, Derwilligen, Duelliger, Durelligen, Teresa, Teriza and Terzah.

Famous people with the name TerWilligen

• Prince Rogers Nelson (Prince): the iconic singer, songwriter and musician is one of the most famous people to bear the TerWilligen name.
• Olivia Terwilliger: this American actress is best known for her roles in television series such as Psych and Saving Graces.
• Jace Terwilliger: this American voice actor is best known for his work in video games including Tales of Vesperia, Sonic Unleashed, and Pokemon X and Y.
• Max Terwilliger: this American soccer player currently plays for Major League Soccer's LAFC.
• Ariana Terwilliger: this American actress is best known for her roles in television series such as Freaks and Geeks and Veronica Mars.
• Rebecca Terwilliger: this American film producer and screenwriter is best known for her work on 2012's Iron Man 3.
• Janeane Terwilliger: this American theater producer and director is best known for her work on Broadway's Tony-winning production of Into the Woods.
• William Terwilliger: this American lawyer and professor served as a federal judge for the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 2006 to 2017.
• Georgia Terwilliger: a former professional tennis player who won the 1981 US Open doubles title alongside Alycia Moulton.

Other surnames

Terwilliger