Surname Voelkel - Meaning and Origin
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Voelkel: What does the surname Voelkel mean?
The last name Voelkel is of German origin. It likely derived from a habitational name derived from a place named Voelkel in Lower Saxony. The meaning of the name comes from the Middle High German word “voelkel” which means “falcon”.
The surname Voelkel would be especially common among families that first lived in the region and adopted the name, or who had ancestral ties to the area. It is also likely that people who lived close to a falconry also adopted the name.
In terms of ancestry, those with the last name Voelkel have likely been in the region going back to the late middle ages. Its usage dates back to as far as 1540.
Surnames were extremely important to identify members of a community. They are also a measure of survival. Even though some were adopted for pragmatic reasons, many surnames, like Voelkel, were chosen for their meaning. As such, those with the last name Voelkel can be proud of their cultural heritage.
Overall, Voelkel is a German last name that likely originated from the word for “falcon” and is associated with families who had ancestral ties to the area. Its usage dates back to the late middle ages and reflects cultural heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisVoelkel: Where does the name Voelkel come from?
The last name Voelkel is most commonly found in Germany with a low frequency of occurrence in other countries such as the US and Canada.
In Germany, the name "Voelkel" originates in Bavaria and is a toponymic name found in medieval documents from the 12-13th centuries. The name is derived from a place name of Slavic origin, most likely referring to either Mill or Millen located in Lower Germany.
In the US, the surname is most common in New York and Pennsylvania, with the highest concentrations in Buffalo and Pittsburgh. In addition, the name is also found in the states of Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
In Canada, the only province where the name Voelkel is relatively common is Saskatchewan, though the name is still fairly rare.
Generally, the last name Voelkel is found in areas where people of German descent have migrated. As such, the survival rate of the name Voelkel is associated with the popularity of German immigration to countries such as the US and Canada over the last few centuries.
Variations of the surname Voelkel
The surname Voelkel has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Völkel, Felkel, Felky, Voehle, Voehl, Voelker, Völker, Fehle, Felke, Felgers, Felske, Velke, Völke, Fahlke, and Föhlke.
The earliest record of the name Voelkel dates back to 1325, when Hans Voelkel, son of one Jakob Völkel, was mentioned in a document from the city of Reutlingen. Since then, the surname has continued to spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, resulting in many variants.
The most common spelling variant of the surname Voelkel is Völkel, which is the German spelling. This spelling has been used in many German-speaking countries since its initial creation. It is also common in Austria and certain Central European countries.
The spelling Felkel is a variant of the surname often found in the Palatinate region of Germany. This variant is commonly linked to the Germanic name “Valko” and the old German name “Volco”, which means “people”.
The spelling Felky is often found in the Polish-speaking countries of Central Europe and is a variant of the original surname. It is derived from the Slovakian word “felky”, which refers to a forest or wooded area.
Voehle is a variant of Völkel, often found in various German speaking countries, and is derived from the Old High German name “Volkho”, which means “people”.
The surname Voelker is another variant of the original surname found in Germany, Holland, and the United States. This variant is derived from the Middle High German term “volker”, which means “people”.
These variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin all derive from the surname Voelkel, ultimately coming from the Germanic “Valko”, meaning “people”. Variants of this name can be found in many countries and provinces throughout Europe and beyond.
Famous people with the name Voelkel
- Thomas Voelkel: German actor and film producer, starring in such films as Black Panther and Kingsman: The Secret Service.
- Elias Voelkel: German football player who played for FC St. Pauli and Arminia Bielefeld.
- Axel Voelkel: Austrian entrepreneur and founder of art and design company Atelierhaus Graz in Graz, Austria.
- Konrad Voelkel: German scientist, director of the Institute of Geography at Leipzig University, and the man behind the Voelkel System of World Mapping.
- Albrecht Voelkel: German industrialist, one of the pioneers of the modern European steel industry.
- Bernhard Voelkel: Organist and composer of many works for organ and choruses including "Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich."
- Heinrich Voelkel: Austrian painter, illustrator, and draughtsman, whose works used the cubist style.
- Wolfgang Voelkel: German sculptor known for his figurative sculpture.
- Arno Voelkel: German actor, director and teacher of acting, appearing in television series such as Die Entlassene and Die Blume von Hawaii.
- Georg Wilhelm Voelkel: German Minister of the Royal Prussian Court Gardens and Parks and creator of the Voelwald Park in Heidelberg.