Surname von Wolfram - Meaning and Origin

von Wolfram: What does the surname von Wolfram mean?

Von Wolfram is a German surname that likely has someone with a nobility background. The word “von” is a preposition, and together, it is a part of a German aristocratic title that means “of” or “from.” Wolfram specifically comes from the German word “Wolfrahm” which means “wolf” and “raven” signifying someone whose family descended from noble wolves. In modern times, von Wolfram families are typically found in central Germany and Austria.

The von Wolfram family crest typically has two silver wolves with their tongues sticking out, striding across a red field. Since the wolves have their tongues sticking out, it shows that the family is wolf-like, but also humorous and jovial, traits that may have been passed down to the generations.

The von Wolfram family commonly has a strong story and ties to German nobility class and culture. Historically these families have held high positions in government and gained prestigious titles. Notable people with the surname von Wolfram include Jürgen von Wolfram who was a minister-president of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and Karl Joseph von Wolfram who was a lawyer and judge in 19th century Austria.

Overall, Von Wolfram is a prominent German surname with a noble and aristocratic background. It’s associated with strong and witty personalities as well as powerful members from prominent German families.

von Wolfram: Where does the name von Wolfram come from?

The last name von Wolfram is particularly common among German-speaking populations, notably in the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. There are also pockets of von Wolfram families scattered throughout the United States, as well as further afield in Namibia and South Africa.

Given the relatively small population of German-speaking people in the world, von Wolfram is not one of the most common surnames, but nonetheless indicative of a long, proud heritage. It likely originated as a locational name during the Middle Ages, created for those who lived in or around the area of Wolfram, Germany. As such, some of the oldest von Wolfram lines date back hundreds of years in this area.

Von Wolfram spouses often change their surnames upon marriage, however many descendants outside of Germany keep the family name as part of their heritage. Those with the von Wolfram last name typically share more than just a name; they are likely to be related to some extent, although such relationships are rarely close.

Despite its relatively small prevalence around the world, the von Wolfram name remains a proud emblem of German heritage. For many, it is a reminder of the strong roots each family member has in a shared past.

Variations of the surname von Wolfram

The surname von Wolfram has numerous variants, spellings, and alternative surnames of the same origin. It is a German noble surname and is also spelled as von Wolfframm. Common alternative surnames found in records include Wolfrom, Wolfrum, Wulfram, Wolfrozen, Wislram, Bolton, Woolfram, Winter and Wilfert. The surname may also be occasionally seen as Wolfrumm, Wulfrain, or Weifert.

The spelling of German surnames especially those of noble origin often varied depending on the area where the retainers of the surname granade to reside. Therefore, the surname von Wolfram is spelled differently depending on the region and the available record keeping that time.

In general, the main variant of the name is Wolfframm and is the most common spelling recorded. Wolfrom is also a relatively common variant. Some spellings, such as Wolfrozen, Wislram and Winter are more rare, typically being limited to a certain region of Germany or another country.

As the surname hails from a German noble family, the von Wolfram likely have a coat of arms to accompany their surname. The von Wolfram coat of arms is rather unique, featuring a black eagle on a yellow background. This visual representation of the surname worked as a symbol of the family itself and served as a reminder of the von Wolfram family's nobility.

As German surnames of noble origin can have numerous variants and spellings, in research the various variants of the same origin are important to consider when tracing the family records. Additionally, the coat of arms for the von Wolfram family could provide useful information when conducting a genealogical search.

Famous people with the name von Wolfram

• Prince Friedrich von Wolfram: Prince Friedrich von Wolfram (1786-1850) was a German prince of the House of Wolfram von Bingen. He held the office of Governor-General of the Principality of Homburg and was Grand Master of the Order of Saint Cross.
• Graf Karl Wilhelm von Wolfram: Graf Karl Wilhelm von Wolfram (1748-1830) was also a German prince and held several titles throughout his life, such as Minister of Justice, Chamberlain of the Grand Duke of Hanover, and President of the High Court of the Rhineland and the Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt.
• Rüdiger von Wolfram: Rüdiger von Wolfram (born 1971) is a German sportsman and the current President of the International Federation of Modern Pentathlon.
• Albrecht Wilhelm von Wolfram: Albrecht Wilhelm von Wolfram (1819-1891) was a German diplomat and the official representative of the German Empire at the Second International Conference in Vienna.
• Hans von Wolfram: Hans von Wolfram (1912-1987) was a German lawyer and professor at University of Munich. He specialized in constitutional law, European integration, and federalism.
• Christoph Andreas von Wolfram: Christoph Andres von Wolfram (1747-1832) was a German general and diplomat. He served as Prussian envoy to various European courts, including Florence, Venice, Naples, and Mantua, among others.
• Richard von Wolfram: Richard von Wolfram (born 1934) is a German professor of optics at the University of Applied Sciences in Heidelberg. He is a renowned physicist and founder of the Wolfgang von Wolfram Institute in Heidelberg.

Other surnames

von Wolff