Surname Völzke - Meaning and Origin
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Völzke: What does the surname Völzke mean?
The last name Völzke is a German surname that originated in the Saxony region of Germany, which is located in the southeastern portion of the country. The name is derived from a personal name, which could have been influenced by a personal attribute or physical characteristic, as was common with many surnames of this era. It is believed to be a patronymic name, derived from the given name ‘Völz’, meaning ‘people’s son’ and originally referred to the son of someone named Volz. In today’s society, the surname is most commonly found throughout Germany, particularly in its northeastern region.
The modern spelling of the surname is thought to have originated as early as the 17th century, when many Germans would have changed the spelling of their surname to better suit the dialect of the language. As the prevalence of surnames was low before this time, it is likely that the surname Völzke was established as far back as the 16th century.
Regardless of its modern spelling, the surname has a very significant meaning rooted in its ancient origins as ‘people’s son’. Personifying this very human trait of the human spirit, it is a meaningful surname to its descendants. Völzke today remains a strong and popular surname in its native Germany, where it continues to be proudly passed on through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisVölzke: Where does the name Völzke come from?
The last name Völzke is primarily found in Germany today. It is most concentrated in the northeastern parts of the country, especially Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. According to statistic, it is in the top 5,000 most common German last names.
The name Völzke has a long-standing presence in Germany, with the first mention of the name occurring in 1287 in Mecklenburg. In the centuries that followed, Völzkes were actively involved in politics, science, and literature. Völzkes also spread to different parts of the country and can be found in Bavaria, Prussia, Saxony, and other regions.
The name Völzke is derived from the German “Folz” or the old Germanic "Folc," which means someone or something "from the people." It is a patronymic or name derived from the father's given name. For example, a man named Johann could be the father of Volzke, generating a form of the name such as Volzke Johannson.
Today, the name Völzke is still associated with political involvement and public life. Some prominent Völzkes include a former German astronaut, a member of the current Bundestag, and several actors and writers, among other members of society.
Variations of the surname Völzke
The surname Völzke (or Voelzke) is a German patronymic surname derived from the given name Volzke, which was commonly used as a personal name in German areas during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Polish word for 'wolf', but other theories attribute the source to a Middle High German word for 'ingenious', 'shrewd' or 'quick'.
Variations and spelling of the surname Völzke include Voelzke, Friedrich Voelzke, Voelzel, Volze, Fohleisch, Voelzek, Voelter, Voeltsch, and Foelzke.
Surnames with similar origins include Wolfe, Foulkes, and Woolfe. Wolf, along with its variants Wolfs, Berwolf, and Wolff, share the same meaning of 'wolf' as the original German surname Völzke. While Foulkes and Woolfe are more related to the Middle High German word for 'ingenious' or 'shrewd'.
All the surnames mentioned are thought to surface from the given name Volzke, and can be seen as variations and spellings of the same origin. Common Nicknames derived from Völzke include Volz, Voelz, and Wolfel.
Famous people with the name Völzke
- Chris Völzke, German professional soccer player
- Sören Völzke, German journalist and book author
- Hans Völzke, German politician and member of the Bundestag
- Katja Völzke, German political scientist and professor at the University of Hamburg
- Johannes Völzke, German engineer and professor at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
- Justus Völzke, German professional cyclist and mountain biker
- Kai Völzke, German telecommunications and mathematician
- Boris Völzke, German professional ice hockey player
- Don Völzke, German composer, producer, singer and songwriter
- Maria Völzke, German historian and professor at the University of Applied Sciences Stralsund