Surname Folmer - Meaning and Origin
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Folmer: What does the surname Folmer mean?
The last name Folmer is of Swiss-German origin. It can be found as a given name and surname in many European countries. The name Folmer comes from the Germanic term "folmari," which means "shepherd." Additionally, the name is derived from the Old Germanic given name "Volmar," which means "Lord of the People." This indicates that the Folmer name is associated with a powerful family of nobles in centuries past.
Folmer is also a very common surname in the United States. It is believed to be mostly of German-American heritage, as many German immigrants settled in the Appalachians of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Ohio in the 1800s. In modern times, some of the notable people who have carried the Folmer name include the musician Erwin Folmer, the computer scientist Maria Folmer, and the environmental scientist Elmira Folmer.
Overall, the last name Folmer carries a rich history of leadership and nobility in Europe, and it is now a common name in modern America.
Order DNA origin analysisFolmer: Where does the name Folmer come from?
The last name Folmer can be found throughout the world today, although it is most commonly associated with countries in Central and Northern Europe. In the Netherlands, it is the 56th most popular surname, and it is particularly common in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is also popular throughout Germany, particularly in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Baden-Württemberg.
Folmer is also found in Scandinavia, mainly in Norway and Denmark. Additionally, it is a fairly common name in the United Kingdom, particularly in the English counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In the United States, it is not particularly common, but most of the United States' few thousand Folmer families can trace their roots to Central and Northern Europe.
Furthermore, the name is occasionally found in countries throughout the world, particularly in former colonies of the Dutch Republic such as Suriname, Indonesia, and South Africa. It is even possible to find families with the name in countries further afield, such as Australia and New Zealand.
Overall, the surname Folmer is most strongly associated with Central and Northern Europe. Despite this, it can be found throughout the world today.
Variations of the surname Folmer
Folmer is a surname of German origin, derived from the name of the place from which the family originally came. The variants, spellings and surnames of this origin include Folmair, Fölmer, Fölmair, Fölmaier, Fölmer, Fölmeyr, Fölmier, Fölmyer, and Foelmer.
One other variant spelling of Folmer is Fölmle, which is a derivative of the German word Voelma, meaning “arbitrator” or “judge.” This spelling is more commonly found in Southern Germany, which was an area settled by immigrants from the former Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
The Folmer surname may also appear in the spelling of Fölmerich, which is derived from the German word fölmeren which translates as “to be peaceful”. This form of the Folmer name is most commonly found in North German and Western German census and other records.
The surnames Foelmaier, Föhlmaier, Fölmaier, Folmayer, and Fölmayer are derived from the German word fölmeren as well. This spelling is most commonly found in German census records, and is derived from the same root as Fölmerich.
Finally, the surname Fohlmer is derived from the German name Fölmle and is most commonly found in Southwest Germany. This variant of the Folmer surname has also been found in a few US census records, as well as in other German records, indicating that some of the family members emigrated to America.
Famous people with the name Folmer
- Kirk Folmer: American musician and composer for video games and films
- Doug Folmer: American former professional football player
- Geordon Folmer: Canadian former professional ice hockey player
- Emil Folmer: Danish scientist and geologist
- Lloyd Folmer: American former college basketball coach
- James Folmer: Professor at the University of Colorado Denver
- Gary Folmer: Engineer and former astronaut
- Ted Folmer: Former professional football player
- Barbara Folmer: Dutch politician
- Inge Folmer: Danish photographer and actor