Surname Folmers - Meaning and Origin
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Folmers: What does the surname Folmers mean?
The last name Folmers is of Dutch origin. The word Folmers comes from the combination of two Dutch words, 'fol' and 'mers'. The first part of the word, 'fol', is a Dutch word that means people, while the second part, 'mers', is taken from the Dutch word 'merse' which refers to the marshy or wetland areas of the Netherlands. Put together, the word Folmers literally means "the people of the marsh".
The Folmers family first originate during the early Middle Ages. Most likely, the Folmers moved into the marshlands near the rivers of the low countries in an effort to provide shelter. It's possible that the family trades such as fishing, hunting, and farming were adopted by the Folmers in order to support themselves.
Today, the Folmers are found mostly throughout the Netherlands. The family has also spread out to other parts of Europe, Australia and the United States, as many Folmers have migrated to these locations.
For many generations, the Folmers have had a strong work ethic and charm. They have a strong connection with the family history and the marshlands of the Netherlands. Many Folmers take a great pride in their name and protective nature towards their family. As a result, the name Folmers has carried on through generations and still remains in many families today.
Order DNA origin analysisFolmers: Where does the name Folmers come from?
The last name Folmers is predominantly found in Germany and the Netherlands today. The name is rarely found outside of these two countries, though occasional examples can be found in other parts of Europe.
The name is a patronym, derived from the given name Folmer. This name comes from the Dutch and German words folmaer and vollmaer, which both mean “fuller” or “cloth maker.” It is likely that Folmers used to be an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with cloth. The popularity of the last name Folmers is thought to stem from the importance of the cloth trade during the Middle Ages in the Low Countries and Germany, as these economies relied heavily on the trade of textiles.
The last name Folmers is most common today in Dutch-speaking areas of Belgium and the Netherlands as well as along the Rhine Valley in Germany, particularly along routes of old trade. It is also found in several other European countries, particularly those with historical connections to the Dutch and Germans.
The spelling of the last name has varied over the years, with variants such as Volmers, Vonfulmer, Folmaer, and Vollmaer. Today, the spelling remains the same in both Germany and the Netherlands and it’s thought that the last name is slowly declining in both countries.
Variations of the surname Folmers
Folmers is an uncommon surname of Dutch origin. Variants of the surname Folmers include Folmar, Folmars, Folmer, Folmersen, Fullmer, Fullmers, Folkers, and Velmaers.
Variants of Folmers are derived from a shortening of the name ‘Fullen’, or ‘Vollen’, which meant ‘from the pools’ in Dutch. It was a name given to someone who lived close to a body of water or marshland. As such, people bearing this surname may have hailed from these regions in the Netherlands or other Dutch settlements. An alternate spelling of the name, ‘Vollmer’, indicates a Dutch surname derived from "Valen Mar" (‘pond’ and ‘marshland’).
There are also various spellings and surnames derived from Folmers, including Folman, Folmar, Fullman, Fullmer, Fullmers, Follmer, Folkers, and Velmaers. ‘Folman’, a variation of Folmers, is derived from the Middle Dutch word "folleman”, meaning ‘councillor’, or 'one of considerable authority'.
The ‘Folkers’ surname is an altered spelling of ‘Folmers’, possibly originating from a person with a long-standing reputation as a councilor or official. It is also thought to be descended from the Germanic personal name ‘Volker’.
The ‘Velmaers’ surname may be a direct variant of ‘Vollmers’, or have derived from ‘Vellmers’, another Dutch surname derived from ‘veld’, meaning ‘field’ or ‘land’.
Ultimately, all of these surnames stem from a common Dutch origin, and may even have a common ancestor. Therefore, Folmers and nearly all of its variants, spellings, and surnames can be traced back to the same source.
Famous people with the name Folmers
- Ryan Folmers: an American mixed martial artist. He is a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship having fought four times in the promotion between 2009 and 2011.
- Lawrence Folmers: A Dutch tennis player who was active in the 1950s and early 1960s.
- Dorien Folmers: A Dutch football player. He is currently the technical director of Feyenoord.
- Jean Folmers: A Dutch painter and sculptor. He has had exhibitions throughout his career, both in the Netherlands and abroad.
- Roy Folmers: A Dutch former professional cyclist. He was a two-time Dutch national champion and competed at the UCI Road World Championships seven times.
- Fabian Folmers: A Dutch long-distance runner. His personal best time for the half marathon is 1:02:31 and he has also run a marathon in under two hours and fifty minutes.
- Christina Folmers: A Dutch singer and songwriter. She has been writing and performing music since 1995 and has released two studio albums in that time.
- Erwin Folmers: A Dutch politician. He served as mayor of Heerlen and held a number of posts in local and national politics.