Surname Wohlfahrth - Meaning and Origin

Wohlfahrth: What does the surname Wohlfahrth mean?

The last name Wohlfahrth is of German origin and means “well fare”. It is derived from two German words; “wohl”, meaning “well”, and “fahrt”, meaning “go” or “fare”. The name likely originated as a metonymic occupational name for someone who provides transportation services. It could also refer to someone who acted as a guide in any capacity. It is an ancient name that was in use as far back as the 14th century.

The name is found mostly in German-speaking regions. It is currently predominant in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but is also found in other parts of Europe, including Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. It is also found in the United States, where it often has been modified to Wolfarth.

The Wohlfahrth name is associated with a proud tradition of hard work and achievement. Many holders of the name have been successful tradesmen, artisans, and entrepreneurs.

The name is thought to bring good luck and a certain degree of prosperity to its bearers. A numerical designation, or “Lucky Number” is associated with the name Wohlfahrth; 6. This number is thought to bring the family a certain degree of luck and good fortune.

Wohlfahrth: Where does the name Wohlfahrth come from?

The last name Wohlfahrth is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries like Austria and Switzerland. It likely originated in what is now southwestern Germany, though records of its earliest occurrences are scarce. In more recent times, the name is found in parts of the United States, particularly in states with large German-American populations such as Wisconsin, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

For those of German ancestry, Wohlfahrt is an uncommon but not rare name. It is currently estimated that there are over 3,000 people with the last name living in the United States alone, with smaller numbers elsewhere in North America and Europe. The name appears in the records of many German-American and other immigrant family trees, likely brought to North America by descendants of German pioneers who settled there in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

As an occupational name, Wohlfahrt translates to “well-being” in German and was given to individuals involved in providing for the community. This likely refers to merchants, bakers, and other tradesmen who made their living by providing goods and services to their fellow citizens. One of the earliest known occurrences of the name was recorded in 1577 in Prussia, where one “Hans Wohlfahrt” was registered as living in the town of Neustadt.

Though the name is more commonly found in Germany and German-speaking countries today, it continues to be found in other parts of Europe, North America, and Australia. As a result of emigration, it is possible for a person of German ancestry to have the last name Wohlfahrt anywhere in the world.

Variations of the surname Wohlfahrth

Derivations of the surname Wohlfahrth include Wolfarth, Wolfhard, Wolfhart, Wulffhardt, Wolfhardt, and Wal-fard. It is most commonly found in Germany, and is of German and Old High German origin, translating to 'wolf strong, brave/bold'.

The Wohlfahrth spelling is the root of most of these surnames, reflecting a preference for an umlaut (ö) rather than an o. Wohlfahrth also appears in other spellings, such as Wohlfarth, Wohlhiert, Wahlghard and Walghart.

The Wolfarth spelling is a variation of Wohlfahrth, with a silent ‘h’ added for pronunciation purposes. Wolfhard and Wolfhart are also popular spellings, as they emphasize the wolf element rather than the hard element of the name. Wulffhardt emphasizes the ‘f’ in the name, and equates roughly to strong wolf.

The suffix -arde/-hart in the surname is a Germanic form of a 'bold/hard' character, often associated with a person’s physical and mental strength. It is also thought to signify bravery, a strong aptitude for ruling or even a warrior mindset.

Finally, the Wal-fard variant is used mainly in the English-speaking world and is derived from the combination of the words 'wolf' and 'fard', which means 'guardian or protector'. It is believed to be the anglicized version of Wohlfahrth, and was likely adopted during the migration of Germanic peoples across Europe.

Famous people with the name Wohlfahrth

• Reinhard Wohlfahrth: Pastor and member of the East German CDU, was the General Secretary of the German Christian Democratic Union's Youth organization (CDU/CSU-Junge Union) in 1965-1976 and member of the German Bundestag from 1969-1990.
• Eberhard Wohlfahrth: Theologist and co-founder of the German organization “Gemeinnutzige Gesellschaft für missionarische Arbeit” from 1891-1898.
• Mia Wohlfahrth: Professional mountain bike racer, competes at top professional racing events in the US and Europe, and was the youngest woman to finish the world-renowned Leadville 100 MTB Race in 2017.
• Horst Wohlfahrth: Journalist and author from Germany.
• Peter Wohlfahrth: Composer and songwriter, best known for six large-scale folk-operas (Contra-Operas) that he wrote for West German television from 1975-1984.
• Boris Wohlfahrth: Cinematographer from Germany best known for his work in the film “The Magic Mountain” (1982).
• Messiah Wohlfahrth: Professional cyclist from the Netherlands.
• Monika Wohlfahrth: Champion long-distance swimmer and member of the German Swimming Hall of Fame.
• José Wohlfahrth: Retired Peruvian football goalkeeper most well known for playing for Serie A side Club Atlético Peñarol from 1971-1975.
• Rüdiger Wohlfahrth: Senior research engineer at Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems in Sankt Augustin, Germany.

Other surnames

Wohlfahrt