Wahle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Wahle

What does the name Wahle mean?

The German surname Wahle emerged in the lands that formed the modern state of Lower Saxony, which is presently bordered by the North Sea, the Hartz mountains and the Elbe and Ems rivers. Lower Saxony was previously a medieval Saxon dukedom. In the Middle Ages, many of the Saxon lands were a part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was characterized by the Feudal System. Before this era, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Many people, such as the Wahle family, adopted the name of their feudal occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Wahle was an occupational name for an elector. In medieval Germany, electors were the ecclesiastical and temporal princes who elected the Holy Roman Emperor. Ancient records reveal the name Wahle is derived from the Old German word wala, which means choice.

Early Origins of the Wahle family

The surname Wahle was first found in Oldenburg, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the prominent families of these regions. From the 13th century on the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the Prussian nation.

Chronicles first mention J. Wale of Greifswald, Pomerania in 1322 and Gerd Waler of Anklam in 1406, but the oldest branches of the family are mentioned as having their seat in Oldenburg and even earlier in nearby Doetlingen.

Early History of the Wahle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wahle research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1541, 1587, 1617 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Wahle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wahle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wahle, Wahlen, Wahler, Wahls, Wahlers, Waler and many more.

Early Notables of the Wahle family

Johann Andreas Wahler, economic advisor at the courts of Bamberg and Wuerzburg, who was ennobled in 1753 in reward for his outstanding service

Migration of the Wahle family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Johann Caspar Wahl, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1754; many others followed in 1842; 1844; 1855; 1871; and 1898. Melchior Wahl came with his wife Anna Clara and their two children to Philadelphia in 1808.

Contemporary Notables of the name Wahle (post 1700) +

Mike Wahle (b. 1977), American football offensive lineman
Ernst Wahle (1889-1981), German archaeologist
Otto Wahle (1879-1963), Austrian two time silver and bronze Olympic medalist for aquatics during the 1900 and 1904 games
Richard Wahle (1857-1935), Austrian philosopher, professor at the Universities of Czernowitz and Vienna