Surname Völkerrath - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'V'
Völkerrath: What does the surname Völkerrath mean?
The German surname Völkerrath is a topographic name for someone who lived near or among a small group of people, from the Middle High German "völker" meaning "people." The "rath" element likely refers to a council of elders; according to mightySurnames.com, "People with the Völkerrath surname were noted for their democratic activism and involvement in local politics." This suggests that the origins of the Völkerrath surname may have developed in response to the political changes that characterized Germany in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
In addition to being a topographic and political name, Völkerrath also carries significant cultural and historical significance. According to Genealogical.com, it is most likely derived from the region of North Rhine-Westphalia, where many settlements with the same name were established in the 1700s. This reflects the cultural element of the name, which likely came about through the various ethnic groups that populated the area at the time, as it was an area with a proud history marked by various migrations over the centuries.
The Völkerrath surname also reflects an important social element frequently found in Germanic surnames. It is likely that the family was distinguished as a social unit of some kind associated with a settlement or community.
In short, the German surname Völkerrath is a topographic, cultural and social name which likely originated in response to the political changes of the Middle Ages. Reflecting the history and culture of North Rhine-Westphalia and the migratory events of many ethnic groups over the centuries, the name is steeped in cultural and social importance.
Order DNA origin analysisVölkerrath: Where does the name Völkerrath come from?
The last name Völkerrath is commonly found throughout Germany today. Historically, the name originated in the Middle Ages in the countryside of the Rhine Valley between Germany and the Netherlands. As Germany became more unified, families with the last name Völkerrath moved to other regions. Consequently, there are now many Völkerraths living throughout Germany and its surrounding countries.
In Germany, it is most concentrated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region in southwest Germany. Additionally, a large concentration of people with this last name live in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and the surrounding cities of the German states. Outside of Germany, the name is most common in Austria, France, and the Netherlands.
Although the name is most common in Europe, it can also be found in other parts of the world. There are Völkerraths living in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America. The last name appears to be more frequently found in countries that had significant German immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The current population of people with the last name Völkerrath is estimated to be about 10,000. However, the exact population is difficult to determine due to the fact that various variations of the name (Volkerrath, Volkert, Volkerts, etc.) exist throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Völkerrath
Völkerrath is a German surname, coming from the Middle High German word “volker” which means people and “rath” which means counsel. The spelling variants of this surname are Folkerrath, Fulkerrath, and Fullkerrath. As far as surnames of the same origin, variants can include Voelkerrath, Voellerath, Voellkerrath, Voelkerrat, Volkerrath, Voelker, Volkers, Völkers and Völker.
To some degree, many of these surnames are regional, but they share the same origin and base words. Voelkerrath is the most popular spelling of the surname in Germany, while Folkerrath is usually found in the Netherlands. In the United States, Völkerrath most often appears as Voelkerrath or Voellerath.
Meanwhile, in countries such as Italy, a surname of the same origin might be called Folcieri. Another related name is Volkemann, which is found both in Germany and the Netherlands, though its origin is slightly different—it is related to folk and to “mann” meaning man.
A similar surname from France might be Foulques, which is related to the French word for people, “foule.” A final related name is Volkerts, which is found in Germany and the Netherlands and is related to the German word for people, “volk.” These are just a few examples of variant spellings and related surnames of the same origin as Völkerrath.
Famous people with the name Völkerrath
- Wolfgang Völkerrath (1908: 1992): German engineer and business leader in the automotive industry
- Ursula Völkerrath (born 1923): German actress
- Herbert Völkerrath (1934-2011): German lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Bundestag
- Hans Völkerrath (1928: 2006): German parasitologist and zoologist
- Alfred Völkerrath (1922: 2003): German sculptor
- Bernhard Völkerrath (born 1913): German Roman Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Würzburg
- Udo Völkerrath (born 1932): German international sportsman, competing in speed skating and cycling
- Ralf Völkerrath (born 1947): German motorbike rider
- Ernst Völkerrath (born 1934): German sculptor 10.Marion Völkerrath-Kolb (born 1949): German politician and Member of the European Parliament 11.Brigitte Völkerrath (born 1951): German professor of medical science and doctor 12.Wolfgang Völkerrath-Emden (born 1925): German economist and mathematician 13.Günter Völkerrath (1915: 1988): German audio engineer and head of design at Bell Labs 14.Siegfried Völkerrath (1924: 2009): German rugby union player 15.Raimund Völkerrath (born 1946): German politician and a Member of the Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein