Surname Folprecht - Meaning and Origin
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Folprecht: What does the surname Folprecht mean?
The surname Folprecht is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German “volprecht” which means “counselor or adviser”. It was an early Medieval title of nobility given to certain counselors and advisers appointed by kings, dukes, and governors to make decisions in the name of the state. In modern times, Folprecht is a rare surname and is most commonly found in Germany and other parts of central Europe.
Those who bear the Folprecht surname today likely have distant ancestors who had a long line of noble advisors in the service of a ruler in Medieval Europe. This would explain why the name is so exclusive; it was only ever used as a title of nobility by a select group of people.
The surname Folprecht is thought to be linked to the German word “freiherr”, which translates literally to “free holder”. This would suggest that those with the surname Folprecht may have held a high rank of nobility, such as an imperial or royal advisor. It also implies that the family may have had a role in the nation’s legal system, as most advisors at the time had a considerable legal knowledge.
This noble surname has been around for hundreds of years and has likely been passed down from generation to generation throughout history. Although the name doesn’t appear very often in modern times, those who bear the Folprecht name today can take solace in knowing that their family belonged to an exclusive group of Medieval officials.
Order DNA origin analysisFolprecht: Where does the name Folprecht come from?
The last name Folprecht has largely stayed within its German-speaking origins, mostly appearing throughout Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria. Historically, Folprecht families often lived in rural farming communities or smaller towns. As a result, the name is still found more often in these areas today, with concentrations in Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria in Germany.
In terms of immigration, some Folprecht families have relocated to the United States and Canada in the 20th century. For example, several passengers with the last name boarded the steamer "Konigin Luise" from Hamburg, Germany in 1894. However, the majority remain in Europe with the highest recorded presence in Germany.
In research conducted on the website myheritage.com in 2018, there were 2,993 Folprecht records in Germany and 167 in the USA. The name is thought to have derived from Old German Folfrihte, indicating a brave or respected leader of a village.
Overall, the last name Folprecht is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Europe, with a handful of families having settled abroad in other countries.
Variations of the surname Folprecht
Folprecht is an uncommon German surname most common among migrants and expatriates living in the US and Canada. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for this surname include Folbrecht, Folbrech, Follprecht, Follpracht, Folpracht, Volprecht, Vollprecht, and Vollpracht.
Folprecht is primarily derived from the Old German phrases ‘vol’ or ‘Fol’, meaning ‘people’ or ‘device’, and ‘brecht’ meaning ‘area’ or ‘tool’, although there are no written records to prove this conclusively.
In its native German language, the surname is usually spelled ‘Folprecht’, while in the United States, the surname ‘Folbrecht’ is the more common spelling. In other countries, the spelling 'Follprecht' is frequently seen. Variants of the surname Folbrecht, such as Folbrech and Follbrech, can also be found in the US and Canada.
In the US, variant spellings of the Folprecht surname include Folpracht, Vollprecht, and Vollpracht. In Canada, the variant Follpracht is more commonly seen than the others.
The spelling 'Volprecht' is also recorded in some census documents in Germany. However, its exact origin is unclear, as the word 'Vol' can also mean 'crazy' or 'foolish' in some German dialects.
Surnames of the same origin as Folprecht include Folbrech, Folpracht, Follpracht, Volprecht, and Vollprecht. All of these surnames can be traced back to the same geographical origin in Germany, and may have come from the same family line. Records suggest that similar surnames have been found in Canada, the US, and in England.
Famous people with the name Folprecht
- Franz Folprecht, a German footballer
- Waltraud Folprecht, a German scientist, biologist and geneticist
- Robert Folprecht, an Austrian freestyle skier
- Rolf Folprecht, a German film composer
- Willy Folprecht, a German photographer and director
- Florian Folprecht, a German film editor
- Pauline Folprecht, a German artist
- Fritz Folprecht, a German opera singer
- Friedhelm Folprecht, a German pianist
- Anna-Katharina Folprecht, a German painter
- Heidi Folprecht, a German organist
- Joachim Folprecht, an Austrian electrical engineer
- Johann Folprecht, a Czech doctor
- Klaus Folprecht, a German musician
- Marco Folprecht, a German screenwriter
- Michael Folprecht, a German actor
- Tobias Folprecht, a German film producer
- Thomas Folprecht, an Austrian Olympic athlete
- Udo Folprecht, a German historian
- Stefan Folprecht, a German author