Surname Voelk - Meaning and Origin
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Voelk: What does the surname Voelk mean?
The last name Voelk is a German surname with several origins. Its meaning varies by region and can vary between “soldier”, “fighter”, “man at arms”, “knight”, or “someone who is strong and courageous”. It can also be derived from the Old Germanic personal name ‘Walah’, meaning ‘foreigner’ or ‘stranger’.
In some instances, the name is derived from a Germanic given name Veltwin or Veltwar, meaning ‘ruler of the people’ or ‘guardian of the people’. Similarly, it is speculated that the name might have originated from the Latin word ‘volo’, meaning ‘I want or desire’.
This surname is thought to have been found in multiple regions within the former Holy Roman Empire, and in various countries in Europe, mainly the Germanic-speaking regions of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. A notable individual named Voelk was Johann Voelk, a famous artist who specialized in pencil and chalk drawings in the 18th century.
In summary, the last name Voelk is a German surname with several possible origins, the most popular being “soldier”, “fighter”, “man at arms,” knight”, “strong”, or “courageous”. It is commonly found throughout German-speaking countries and is sometimes derived from a Latin phrase or an Old Germanic personal name.
Order DNA origin analysisVoelk: Where does the name Voelk come from?
The last name Voelk is resided in many places around the world. In Germany it is most commonly found in the southern parts of that nation, as well as the Rhine-Ruhr Region in the southwest. It is also found in Poland, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States, it is mainly found in the Midwest, specifically in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan.
In Canada, the last name Voelk is most often found in the province of Quebec. Other parts of the world where this surname is widespread include the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Within the United States, it is important to note that the spelling of the name often differs. Variations include Voelker, Voelcke, Voelger, and Völkel. The number of individuals with the surname Voelk is around ten thousand, with a slight majority of them residing in the United States.
The origin of the name itself is believed to be Germanic, and it is derived from the German word 'volk' which means 'people'. This indicates that it was likely originally used as a descriptive name for the people of a specific region or area.
Variations of the surname Voelk
The surname Voelk is derived from the Germanic word “völk,” meaning “people” or “nation.” As such, the surname can be written in various variants and spellings in different countries throughout the world.
In Germany, the surname is most commonly written as Völk. In other countries, it is often written as Volks, Volk, Fulk, Volck, and Folke. It can also be found written as Foulke and Fulke in many areas, particularly in England and the United States.
Variant spellings of the surname may also be encountered in Scotland, such as Vaulk, Foulquharson, and Foulqueson. The Scottish versions of the surname likely derive from the Middle English term “foulke,” which has similar origins to the Germanic term “völk.”
Other surnames related to Voelk include Völker, Voelker, Völkel, Voelkel, Volkert, Folker, and Velders. These surnames occur mainly in Northern Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Thus, a wide variety of variants, spellings, and related surnames can be traced back to the original term “völk,” allowing many individuals to trace their ancestry back to the same origin.
Famous people with the name Voelk
- Herbert Voelk, German football player
- Ulrich Voelk, German biathlete
- Thomas Voelk, Austrian writer
- Ernst Voelk, Austrian professorial doctor
- Johannes Voelk, German astronomer
- Franz Voelk, Austrian swimmer
- Maximilian Voelk, German ski jumper
- Andreas Voelk, Austrian actor
- Beate Voelk, German businesswoman
- Matthias Voelk, German figure skater
- Robert Voelk, Austrian figure skater
- Helene Voelk, Austrian singer and actress
- Hans Voelk, Austrian lawyer
- Sofie Voelk, Dutch professor of physics