Surname Volke - Meaning and Origin
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Volke: What does the surname Volke mean?
The last name Volke is of German origin and it refers to someone who lived in or near a wood, especially in the area of East Frisia. It is derived from the German word “volk” which means “forest” and the word “heim” which means “home.” Therefore, the name could be interpreted to roughly mean someone who lived in a wooded home.
The name first appeared in the 13th century when it was used as a topographic surname to describe someone who lived in a wood or at the edge of a wood. It later spread into other regions of Germany, specifically East Frisia, and later into Prussia and eventually the United States.
The Volke family first settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s before they spread down into Maryland, West Virginia and other Mid-Atlantic states, as well as out westward into Kansas and Oklahoma.
Today, the Volke family is well-known for their hard working and entrepreneurial spirit. They have been successful in many professions including farming, engineering, education, the military, business, government service, and the arts.
The Volke name carries a strong sense of history and family unity. It represents a proud family who has been successful in many areas for generations. Those bearing the Volke name can be proud to carry on the family legacy and be inspired to look to the future.
Order DNA origin analysisVolke: Where does the name Volke come from?
The last name Volke is most commonly found in Germany and Switzerland. The name appears to originate from Germany, where it is still more commonly found today. In Germany, the last name Volke is quite popular and can be found in many different cities across the country.
In Switzerland, the name Volke is much less common, but can be found in a few places throughout the country, particularly in the cities of Basel and Zurich. It is also sometimes found in other parts of Europe, such as Sweden, Norway and France, but it is not as common in these areas as it is in Germany and Switzerland.
The language of origin for the last name Volke most likely originated from the Germanic language family, particularly Old High German. It is also possible that the name was adopted from Sweden, as many personal names from Sweden originated from the Old Norse and Viking culture, and Volke could have been one of them.
Regardless, the last name Volke is seen scattered throughout Germany and Switzerland today, although it is not quite as popular in Switzerland as it is in Germany. It is also seen in various other parts of Europe but is less common in those areas.
Variations of the surname Volke
Volke is a surname that originated as a German-language variant of the English surname Folk and is generally thought to be a patronymic form of Volk, meaning “people”. While the surname is commonly seen in its original German form, other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin have developed.
One variant of the surname Volke is Falk, a German and Ashkenazi Jewish form of the same name. Another form is Völkel in German, where the “ö” is a modified form of the letter “o”. In a Jewish context, the spelling Volka or Faulka could be seen as variations on the same name.
The variant spelling of Volke could also be Folke or Fölke in German, with the same meaning but a different spelling of the letters. In North Germany, the spelling Volkmann or Fölkmann is sometimes seen, while in Westphalia it might be seen as Völkmann or Föhlkmann. In some regions, especially in Austria, the spelling could be Folke or Fölke, with the letter “ö” again representing a modified form of the letter “o”.
Jewish variants of Volke could also be Velke or Valk, with the letter “a” representing a modified form of the letter “e”. Furthermore, Volke could also be seen as Fholke or Vulke. Especially in Jewish circles, the name could be given as Fuhlke, Fuehlke, or Fiegle, with the “e” again representing a modified form of the letter “o”.
Famous people with the name Volke
- Hans Volke: German Nazi politician and Gauleiter of East Prussia from 1937-1945.
- Alexander Volke: Chief accountant for the Nazi armaments ministry.
- Herbert Volke: German computer scientist.
- Johannes Volke:Former landscape painter from Germany.
- Clara Volke: German activist and publicist.
- Sabine Volke: Professional German volleyball player.
- Siegfried Volke: Former East German Olympic freestyle skier.
- Heinrich Volke: German politician and syndicalist.
- Christian Volke: German actor, voice actor, and narrator.
- Christa Volke-Radloff: German television actress and presenter.
- Dieter Volke: German economist and former secretary-general of International Union for Housing Finance.
- Hans-Joachim Volke: Former German stage, film and voice actor.
- Uwe Volke: Retired German football goalkeeper.
- Ulrich Volke: Retired German footballer.
- Emmo Volke:Former German Olympic fencer.
- Wolfgang Volke: Retired German professional football player.
- Gerhard Volke: Scientist in the field of organic chemistry.
- Franziska Volke: Member of the German Women's National Football Team.
- Michael Volke: Former German footballer.
- Alfred Volke: Former German footballer.