Surname Folz - Meaning and Origin
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Folz: What does the surname Folz mean?
The surname Folz is of German origin. It is a variant of the name Folz, meaning 'one who lives in a marsh'. It belongs to the larger category of surnames derived from specific places or geographical features. The surname is also thought to originate from the German word "Vogel," meaning "bird." It was likely given to an individual who was a bird keeper, or who had a house near a marshy area where many birds could be found.
The Folz surname might also have a connection to the Latin name Fulk, an abbreviation of names that began with ‘Fulcon’, which meant ‘people of the people.' Fulk was also used as a personal name; there were medieval saints named Fulk who founded monasteries in Europe.
The surname Folz is found primarily in Northern Europe, specifically Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. It is also found in the United States, particularly among immigrants from those areas. Those with the last name are likely descended from those who traveled to American shores in the 1600s and early 1700s.
The surname Folz is quite uncommon and unique. It is a reminder of the families' strong ties to their original homes in Europe. It is a likely connection to their forefathers' journeys from their homeland to their new country, the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisFolz: Where does the name Folz come from?
The last name Folz is not particularly common in any given region today. It is, however, found scattered across several countries. In Germany, Folz is the 7,028th most common surname and is primarily concentrated in the southern states. In the United States, it is mainly located in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, and Texas. It is also present in other parts of Europe, such as in England where 5 individuals have the surname, in Austria with 30, and in France with 6808. There are also some cases of the surname in the Caribbean, chiefly in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Although it is not incredibly popular, the last name Folz was likely first brought to prominence in Europe in the 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a personal name derived from the German folz, meaning ‘forest’, which indicates that it likely was the family name of people who lived in an area with a lot of trees. This could explain its fairly widespread distribution across multiple countries today. Interestingly, Folz has also been made into a more modern variant, Foltz, presumably to make it easier to spell or pronounce.
Variations of the surname Folz
Folz is a German surname that can be spelt in a variety of ways. The most common variant is Folz, followed by Folts, Foltz, Foltz and Foults. It is also used as a hyphenated surname Folz-Foltz, and is often found spelled as Volz.
The German language is not case sensitive, meaning that the pronunciation of words does not change depending on upper or lower case letters. As such, Folz and FOLZ have the same sound but represent different variants. Other variants include Folts, Foltz, Voelz and Völz.
Folz is most likely derived from the Middle High German word Folts, meaning “clumsy” or “awkward”, and is used to describe someone prone to making mistakes. The name may have been given to a clumsy or awkward person in the past.
The surname Folz or variants thereof can also be found in other countries where people of German descent have settled. In the Netherlands, the surname is spelled as Volz or Völz. Additionally, in Scandinavia, the surname is spelled as Foults or Founts.
Lastly, Folz can also be found as a surname in other countries due to emigration from Germany. In the United States and Canada, Folz is still used, but is more commonly spelled as Foltz or Foults. The surname in Ireland is usually Foults, and may also show up as Founts.
Famous people with the name Folz
- Paul Folz: A professional American football player who was an offensive left tackle for the Arizona Cardinals.
- Dmitry Folz: A Russian film director and screenwriter known for his breakout film “Breaking Through the Spaces” (2013).
- John Paul Folz: A German political theorist and public intellectual renowned for his innovations in the fields of sociology, political science, and social theory.
- Arthur Folz: An American comedian, actor, and internet personality, best known for his viral video series “The Folz Files”.
- Ruth Folz: An Israeli artist known for her works in abstract expressionism, sculpture, and installation art.
- Alfred Folz: An Austrian anatomist and professor of anatomy at the University of Vienna.
- Beth Folz: An American poet and book reviewer whose poetry collections have been widely acclaimed.
- Stephen Folz: An American software developer and entrepreneur, founder of the web development firm “Folz Technologies”.
- Niles Folz: A professional tennis player who was ranked among the Top-10 juniors in the United States.
- Gail Folz: An American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for her work in the indie rock duo “Folz & Chaps”.