Meaning & History
Welter is a German surname derived from the given name Walter. The name Walter comes from the Old High German Waltheri, which itself is a compound of the elements walt “power, authority” and heri “army,” giving the meaning “power of the army.” Surnames like Welter emerged during the late Middle Ages in German-speaking regions as patronymic names, indicating “son of Walter” or someone closely associated with a person named Walter.
The surname Welter is thus one of many German and Dutch variants of Walter, such as Wolter. Cognate surnames in other languages include English Walters and Walterson, as well as Dutch Wouters and Wauters.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Welter is the 7,080th most common surname in the United States, with 4,729 bearers, and is predominantly found among White individuals (96.07%).
- Origin: Germany
- Meaning: Derived from Walter (“power of the army”)
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage: German, with variants in English, Dutch, and other languages
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Welter