| ![Show Contents]() Walheim History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany Nestled between the Rhine and Wesser rivers is the ancient German region of Westphalia. Westphalia, the home of the name Walheim. In the German provinces, hereditary surnames were adopted after the 12th century, and names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Local surnames originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. When coupled with the German preposition von, which means from or of, local names can indicate that the initial bearer of the name was an aristocrat. However, in modern times, the preposition is frequently dropped from surnames of this type. The Walheim family originally lived near a forest. The name Walheim is derived from the Germanic word wald, which meant forest and the Old German word heim, which means settlement or homestead. Early Origins of the Walheim familyThe surname Walheim was first found in Westphalia, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the national conflicts of the territories of Germany. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs. Early History of the Walheim familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Walheim research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1518, 1603 and 1649 are included under the topic Early Walheim History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Walheim Spelling VariationsOne can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Walheim include Waldheim, Waldenheim, Walderheim, Waltheim and others. Early Notables of the Walheim familyAnother 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Walheim Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Walheim familyMany Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them: Peter Waldhelm, who arrived in America in 1779; Friedrich Waldheim, who came to New York in 1835; and Philip Waldheim, who came to New York in 1851.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Walheim (post 1700) | + |
- Donald Walheim (b. 1939), American retired professional heavyweight boxer, George Foreman's first professional opponent, light heavyweight Golden Gloves Champion in 1964
- Colonel, USAF Rex J. Walheim (b. 1962), United States Air Force officer and NASA Astronaut with 565 hours in space 1
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