Surname Volkel - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling the Threads of My Heritage: A Personal Journey with iGENEA DNA Test and the Volkel Surname
Recently, I embarked on a fascinating journey of self-discovery with the help of an iGENEA DNA test. This fascinating exploration deeply enriched my perspective of my family's surname, Volkel, my personal identity, and historical heritage.
A. Volkel
read moreVolkel: What does the surname Volkel mean?
The last name Volkel is of Dutch origin, and likely originated in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. The name is derived from the Old Dutch terms "vul" and "kel" which means "hill" and "house" respectively. Combined, these two elements create the literal meaning of "house on the hill."
The Volkel family was first documented in the Dutch city of Harlingen in the 16th century. Already established as a prominent and esteemed family by this time, the Volkels maintained prominence in the community through the centuries in several professions. From being master building contractors of churches and windmills, to being the town's notaries, the Volkels maintained high social standing and influence in the city.
Today, the Volkel surname is found throughout the Netherlands and beyond. It retains its meaning of "house on the hill" and still symbolizes a sense of prominence and respect. The Volkel family is known to be a family of distinction who has bravely and proudly upheld their shoulders high through the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisVolkel: Where does the name Volkel come from?
The last name Volkel is commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany, as well as parts of Belgium and the Province of South Holland. It is one of the few last names from the Netherlands that has made its way beyond the Dutch boundaries, particularly to the former Dutch colonies.
Roughly 72% of Volkel's with a Netherlands origin can be found on the Dutch island of Texel, part of the ancient Texelerland municipality on a nearby Waddeneiland, or island on the coast of the North Sea.
The name is also commonly found in Germany, particularly in the states of Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. Other areas of Germany are known to have Volkel families, as well as Austria and among German-speaking Swiss.
Volkel is a relatively uncommon last name, and is not as popular as other Dutch surnames, such as Van der Heuvel and Peters. It is however, more closely linked to certain Dutch communities than the more popular names.
In the United States, the name can be found in the states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and California, although these areas are mostly populated by people with Dutch descent.
Overall, the last name Volkel is most common amongst the Dutch ancestry, found mainly in the Netherlands, the Province of South Holland, and Germany. It is also found in some of the former Dutch colonies, as well as in certain areas of the United States.
Variations of the surname Volkel
The surname Volkel has a few variants and is associated with a number of different spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Folke, Folk, Fölkel, Folkel, Völkel, Fekel, Folkeln, and Volkman.
The surname Volkel is derived from the Germanic personal name Folcwald, which means “ruler of the people”. It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. Variants of the name include Folke, Fölkel, and Völkel.
The spelling and surnames of the same origin for Volkel are composed of the elements folc, meaning “people”, and wald or wal, meaning “rule”. Other variations include Folkeln and Folkeman. Another variant, Volkman, is derived from the Old High German volc, meaning “people”.
The Volkel family is believed to have originated in the town of Volkel, in the Netherlands. The town was named after the family and is located in the province of North Brabant. In many cases, the name Volkel has been Anglicized and changed to Folke or Folkeman.
In addition to the variants, other surnames of the same origin are Folkman, Folkmann, Fahlke, Voelkel, Volkelman, Fistsch, Fischel, Fuschwitz, Fugel, and Fougel. The spelling and given names of the same origin have also been recorded as Fallsch, Volhe, and Folch or Folck.
The surname Volkel is also found as a surname in Sweden and Denmark. In Sweden, it is recorded as Folk, Folke, and Volkel among other variations. In Denmark, it is particularly common in the province of Schleswig-Holstein.
Overall, there are a wide range of variants for the spelling and surnames of the same origin for the Volkel surname. Some of the most common are Folke, Folk, Fölkel, Folkel, Völkel, Fekel, Folkeln, and Volkman. Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Folkman, Folkmann, Fahlke, Voelkel, Volkelman, Fistsch, Fischel, Fuschwitz, Fugel, Fougel, Fallsch, Volhe, and Folch or Folck.
Famous people with the name Volkel
- Gerard Volkel: a Dutch painter and filmmaker.
- Sebastiaan Volkel: a Dutch professional association footballer.
- Rob Volkel: a Dutch baseball player.
- Marcel Volkel: an Austrian mathematician who developed the Volkel–Wienert theorem.
- Isolabella von Volkel: the Austrian- German Baroness of the 18th century.
- Jan Volkel: a Dutch journalist, author and television presenter.
- Gary Volkel: a Canadian lightweight boxer.
- Marcel Volkel: a Dutch speed skating specialist.
- Anja Volkel: a Dutch voice actress.
- Lucas Volkel: a Dutch curler.
- Matthew Volkel: an American theater actor and director.
- Jaap Volkel: a Dutch diver who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
- Gisela von Volkel: a German painting and engraving artist.
- Petra von Volkel: a Dutch field hockey player.
- Christiane von Volkel: a German sculptor.
- Willem Volkel: a Dutch ice hockey player.
- Jörg Volkel: a German geographer and expert in Global Change.
- John Volkel: an American astronaut who flew in space on three space shuttle missions.
- Erwin van Volkel: a Dutch alpine skier.
- Loek Volkel: a Dutch field hockey player.