From Walrecht Family Project

Introduction

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This artikel will lead you trough information on the meaning and origin of the family name Walrecht. On this journey you will see the meaning of the words the name is composed of. Besides that the name will be shown in a broader perspective. A cultural line of naming will be followed so, unless noted differently, genealogies are external. This means the relations revere to root words, their meaning, origin and use, not necessarily to any genetic relations.

This research could also be interesting for research on the names: Waldrich, Walrich, Waldrick, Waldrik, Walridge, Walter, Walther, Walters, Workum, Waldrichem, Woudrichem, Walrichem, Walricheim. Walricham, Waldorf, Walsdorf, etc.

Variation in cognates

The family name Walrecht is Deutsch | Diets (Dutch/Nederlands | German/Deutsch | including British and Scandinavian) in origin. Within Walrecht genealogy the cognate (parallel form) Walrig[t] (source) appears, showing that both the "i" and "e" sound can be used interchangeable. An other difference is the method of transliteration, in this case both "ch" and "g" make the same sound. This name does not only sound similar, it can also be used interchangeable. A cognate like Walreg[t] is compliant with this view.

Early records show this name was used as a masculine name, Genealogies show that a cognate like Wal[d]reg[t] (source), Walrig[t], Wal[d]rick (source), and all other related cognates are used interchangeable, in this we see that the "k" and "g" sound are used interchangeable, and the "d" sound can be left out. The son of someone named Walreg[t] or Waldrick would have Walregts or Waldricks as patronimic ("named after father"), this is how the "s" sound can be suffixed, and maybe here the "t" sound first was suffixed. A cognate like Waldrijcx (source) seems to have a deutherothema revering to "rich" or "rule", not "law" or "right".

Cognates of this name can be found throughout the influence sphere of Germanic culture, from the British isles to the Baltic states, and from Norway to Spain, and beyond. The cognates of the Netherlands have [van/de/d'] optionally as preposition, {w/uu/u/v}{a/i}l[d/t] as protothema, r{i/ij/e}[c]{g/k} as deutherothema, and [h][t][s] optionally as suffix. Within Germanic influence sphere the affix h{e/ei/ie/a}m can be found, and can optionally be used in place of a suffix. The combination of the "k" or "c" of the deutherothema and the "s" sound of the suffix can be notated with an "x". There are multiple examples where upto five different cognates are used to revere to a single person.

The main regions of recorded residence and ownership within the Netherlands are Leeuwarden, Harlingen, Groningen, Fivelingo:Duurswold (region of Beerta and Delfzijl), and Westerwolde (region of winschoten). A cognate as Walrich is mostly found within Rhineland (Rheinland/Bas­Rhin), yet is used interchangeable with the other cognates, and is, compared with other parts of the Netherlands, rather populous in Fryslân. A cognate as Waldrich can also be found within the Netherlands. The cognates with preposition are mostly found in Fryslân, while the other examples are more common in Groningen and region (Ommelande).

In Scotland the cognate Mac Walrick can be found, also written as Mac Ualraig (source). The letter "W" was in earlier times notated as "UU", this double­ U was common in all languages related to the subject. In England cognates like Ualric and Ualdric are found. Mac Goldrick originated of Mac Ualdric.

Some history

Historically Groningen was a small border village of Drenthe, next to the Frisian countries. But the village grew in strength by trade, and subjecting the bordering Frisian countries (Ommelande).

Many Frisian villages grew out of a fortified farm, which attracted other farms. The land owning/free farmers had their voice in council, and thereby became local nobility. The village would mostly be called after the founder, namely the farmer of the fortified farm. The city of Dokkum is a good example, this was the community of Doeke, and his family named Doccinga.

In the 9th century the region became part of the "Holy Roman Empire" of Germany. During the 13th century the power of the local nobility was more and more challenged by the Roman Church. At the end of the 16th century the region became part of the Seven Provinces of the Netherlands. In 1619 C.E. Groningen buys "leenrecht" over Westerwolde, which is one of the Ommelande, from Westfalen. By the treaty of Westfalen the war with Spain (1568­1648 C.E.) ends and the Netherlands become independent of the rest of Dietsland/Deutschland. In the period of French occupation (1795­1813 C.E.) the city of Groningen and the Ommelande get a sense of unity, losing the Frisian (Frysk) identity, becoming inhabitants of a province. This is a process that takes place in all the Netherlands.

In early times each region had a more or less distinct dialect, making a gradient of related languages. The distinct Dutch/Netherlandic and German/Deutsch language was enforced by the modern nation states, lifting one dialect above all other. This standardization reduced the number of dialects, and thereby cognates used. Besides that the repeating of a name, for example the use as family name, also reduces the number of cognates.

External genealogies

Within external genealogies there are records of free farmers6 (eigenerfde boeren) using one or more of the cognates, as early as the 15th century. The land owned in Westerwolde came with power of attorney granted by Winschoten. People within the same genealogy are also recorded as leasing7 land (meiers/pachters), meaning a farmer on land in this case owned by the state. The people using the name seem more linked to Fryslân and the Ommelande, which are all Frisian, then to the city of Groningen, which is Saxon.

There are military8 records from 16th and 17th century, of which records on a Lord Mayor and Commander of the fortress (Belingwolder Schans/Oude Schans). After his service he buys a fortified farm ("borg") named Bolsiersema9. Besides that people using the name are found as advocates10, and one mayor (burgemeester) of Leeuwarden11, and other people working as city secretary12. Multiple records also show priests13 with the name.

Within Fryslân there where relatively more free farmers, compared to other parts of the Netherlands. The fact that most people found owned or leased land does not proof anything on the meaning of Walrecht. Most archives found are on land ownership or lease. The external genealogies used are probably based on the same archives.

Root words

Both Waldrick and Walreg[t] are used to identify one and the same person. There is a theory that Waldric sprung out of Walric with the "d" sound added, which would have a protothema revering to a wall or dike. The word "wal" can be found in Walburg for example. There are examples of other names with the word "wal" where a "t" or "d" sound became added, so the adding is possible. Yet it seems more probable, based on the cognates found, that the "d" sound of Waldric was dropped, rather then added to Walric.

Many Germanic masculine names, like custom in many cultures, revere to a great ruler or warrior, because these names where so popular many last names sprung out of them. Other distinctions like job designations, status, region, kinship and bodily attribute are also used for naming.

The word "wald" can also be found in the name Waldemar meaning "famous ruler". The name Walfred means "peaceful ruler", in this name you can see that the "d" sound is dropped. The best known name with the word "ric" is Richard, meaning "powerful/brave hart". The name Walle[r]ric means "wall builder" or "army ruler". The name {van der/by de/ter} Wal is also found in the Ommelande. The word Walden14 used to revere to the dyeing (yellow) of textile with a plant named Weld (Resedo luteola) is of later date. The names Walbrecht and Waldebert are derived of the root words "wald" and "bert", meaning "shining (bert) ruler (wald)". The name Hendrik is composed of the root words "heim" meaning "home", and "ric".

Place names like W{a/o/u/ae/ai/oa/oe}r{k/c}um, W{ou/al/ol}driche[i]m, W{a/o}lderkum and Walricheshem15 seemingly have the same root as the name Walrecht with the word "hem", meaning "home", affixed.

The name Walrecht could be derived of "waldric", composed of the Germanic root words, "wald" meaning "forest" or "land", but can also mean "reign", "rule", "government" or "ruler", and the root word "ric" meaning "rule", "power[ful]", "wealth[y]" or "owner[ship]". So "waldric" means "abundant (ric) forest (wald)", just like the German word "waldreich[e][m/n/r/s]", but also "powerful (ric) ruler (wald)" or "land (wald) wealth/owner (ric)".

The fact that the word "wald" could revere to both "ruler" and "forest/land" is because historically most of the land in Europe was forest. And the word to revere to a forest, became used for all kinds of land. In medieval writings, for example, a swamp could be called a forest. To be a ruler you needed to have land, and the owner of land ruled over it, and possibly had a small army.

An other option is that the name Walrecht derived of Waldrin{c/k/ga}, which is a given name of the masculine name Walther. This name is a composition of the root word "wald", mostly combined with "theri" meaning "army" or "people".

The name Valéry (French) is used interchangeable with Waldric and its cognates. This, for example, can be seen in the name of the RC saint Walric, also known as Walaricus, Waldric, Wal[l]eran, or Valéry. This saint is known of the holy oak tree. Wal[l]eran consists of "wald" as protothema and "eran" as suffix, while Valéry, meaning "foreign power/ruler", has the root word "wahl" as protothema instead of "wald", another options is it originated of the latin word "valere", meaning "strong". The word "wahl" is also used for names like, walnut, meaning "foreign nut", and Wales and Walloon revering to regions of people not akin.

It is known that within England and Germany the masculine names Walther and Waldric, in all there cognates, where used interchangeable, which probably also counted for the Netherlands. And the meaning of the names revering to a forest (*A) and/or its inhabitants, or a ruler (*B), seem to show why.

Villages and people

Gerard van Walrich, the mayor of Leeuwarden, as mentioned before, was born in Workum16. His son, known from the Belingwolder Schans, was named Gijsbert Aernzma van Walrich. In Groningen and Drenthe the preposition (de/d'/van) became used less over time. The cognates present in Groningen for some centuries are not recorded with preposition. Cognates like Walrich and Waldrix17 are also found on the Veluwe, in the region of the city Woerkum/Worcum, or Woudrichem in Dutch, placed in North Brabant.

The Frisian city of Warkum, or Workum in Dutch, was historically known as Waldrichem, Woldrichem, Waldrin{c/k}hem, Waldringahem18, and many more cognates. The city of Groningen, for example, was also known as Groninghe{m/n}, meaning "green place/home". In early times Workum was a small village of farmers, but over time more people found their profession in shipbuilding, fishing and trade.

The cognates with preposition are mostly found in Fryslân. In Groningen and Ommelande these variants are only used for people born and raised in Fryslân. The mentioned cognates where present long before the war of independence, while [van] Workum19 is recorded first just before the French occupation, and [van] W{a/o}ldrichem20 is also found, yet no early records are found.

The fact that people of different stature and occupation used the name, and the use of the preposition "van", meaning from, which is not interchangeable with "von", is compliant with the view of a geographical name gained by migration, identified by the place they came from. In all communities or regions a different cognate could be used to revere to this Warkumer immigrant, explaining the great number of cognates. At first through verbal usage, but later fixed through writing. The village names are also known under multiple cognates, yet within the same range as the names of people.

Within Germany there are multiple villages with the name Waldorf or Walsdorf, composed of the root words "wald" and "dorf/dorp", meaning "village [within the] forest". The names Walrich and Waldrich, which are the only foreign cognates used within the Netherlands, seem most populous within the region of such villages. This counts for the Walrich's of Rhineland and Westfalen, as well as the Waldrich's in other, more eastern, regions of Germany.

The family name Waldorp was found in South Holland, and also in Rhineland with or without the preposition "von". Rhineland seems to have harbored the most village and family names which could be related to Walrecht. The names Walddorf, Waldsdorf and Waltrich seem to be originated in Rhineland.

Staffordshire seems to be known of its forest.

Woodham, Waldham and Waltham are also names in England.

Within archives of Durham (England) a Gentlemen named Thomas Smyth of Walrichham21 can be found. Durham is bordering north Yorkshire. Within Yorkshire the name W[h]eldrick can be found.

The village name Altricham probably had a founder named Aldric, meaning "old/wise ruler".

At a time Waldorf in Rhineland had "stadt" affixed. Maybe the names with "dorf" affixed had "he[i]m" affixed in earlier time. If so, Waldorf could some times be interchangeable with Waldheim, or maybe Waldricheim. For Waldricheim i have no records or results. Within the Netherlands Waldrichem became shortened to Warkum. Could Waldheim be a shortened cognate to Waldricheim.

Con{clusion/fusion}

The names Waldrin{c/k}hem and Waldringahem22, seemingly meaning "house of {Waldric/Walther}'s people", could revere to a possible founder. Later the "n" sound was left out making the name Walrecht and all its cognates. Another option is that the root words where "wald" and "ric", but over time the people started to think it was derived of a Walther, and his family Waldringa, founding the village. This founder theory could also work with a founder named Waldric, which will result in a identical family name.

According to multiple sources, names like Waldric, Walric, Walter, Walder and Wahlric, which are cognates or used in that way for over half a millennium, are imported by the Normans ("men of the north"), with an exception for the name derived of the Latin word "valere". Within the Netherlands these Germanic names are found as early as 6th century, and maybe earlier. So possibly the names where already used among continental Saxons, Angles, Frisians, and kin, and Normans exported these names to France, and thereby, if not already present, to the British islands.

Possibly the words "waldric" and "Walther" where mistakenly used interchangeable. Or they where well aware of the difference in meaning, yet saw the resemblance in sound, and the fact both where applicable to the city. And if "Walther" stood for "forest people" or "forest dweller", it could well be seen as a more modern translation of "waldric". Or the names where used interchangeable just like in England.

The similarity in cognate and sound of all theories, and in this case the suitableness for the well wooded surrounding of the village, make it understandable that the words, meaning and origin of the names became confused. The meaning of "waldric" as geographical name could be used interchangeable with the meaning of Walther as "forest people/dweller". While the meaning of Waldric as "powerful ruler" could be used instead of Walther as "army ruler". In his book "Geschiedenis van de stad Workum", T. H. Siemelink advocates the Walther founder theory, refuting the environment theory as an understandable mistake in grammar, yet leaving the Waldric founder theory unmentioned.

During the Seven Provinces of the Netherlands the title Jonker came in use for nobility without a title. Gijsbert Aernzma van Walrich was a Jonker. But the Walrich cognate did not only appear within Fryslân, also in Rhineland, Westfalen, England and Scotland, and can be seen as the most related foreign cognate present within the Netherlands. The English family, counted as nobility, held a seat in Staffordshire from ancient times. These families where possibly of the wealthiest family of a well wooded village, or family of the community founder.

At this stage i have found multiple villages with a name revering to their forested location, with regional presence of people with a name revering to the same, or to the village. Although the "n" sound within cognates of the village name Workum, which is not found in Woudrichem (Brabant), most of the research date seems to point into the direction of the waldric environment theory.

There is a theory about the village in Brabant, that a wealthy land owner named Waldrik23 build a wooden house near the shore of the river Waal, founding todays village of Woudrichem. This directs to the Waldric founder theory, yet does not mean the Frisian, or any other village is named in accordance with the same theory.

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