Surname Völlers - Meaning and Origin
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Völlers: What does the surname Völlers mean?
The last name Völlers is of German origin, and was likely derived from a first name that was more popular in past centuries. The root of the name is the Old German personal name “Foliyar,” which means “people’s army.”
The name could have been passed down through the generations in the form of a patronymic, meaning that the namesake father may have had the given name Foliyar, and his son inherited the last name Völlers. This name may have been taken up by men who had served in the military, or perhaps were of aristocratic or noble descent.
The name may also have been used to denote a position of leadership or importance within a family or community. This would have been especially true in the days of strong-ties to extended family and localities.
Today, the last name Völlers can be found throughout Germany and other parts of the world where German immigrants have moved. It is still associated with strength, courage, and leadership.
Order DNA origin analysisVöllers: Where does the name Völlers come from?
The last name Völlers is most commonly found in Germany today. It is an uncommon surname, but due to its German roots, it is more often found there than anywhere else.
The earliest records list Völlers as an occupation as far as the 14th century. In the 19th century, it became more common as a surname, especially in the German states. Its prevalence increased even more as people migrated to countries outside of Germany, such as the United States.
In Germany, Völlers is a popular last name in Bavaria, Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also found in several other countries including Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic.
However, the Völlers surname is not exclusive to just Germany. It can also be found in several other places throughout Europe and the world. This includes countries like Hungary, Romania, Finland, Russia and even the United States, thanks to German immigrants who brought the name with them during the 19th century wave of immigration.
In America, Völlers is most common in the Midwestern states, especially Wisconsin and Illinois. It is estimated there are around 200 people with some variant of the Völlers surname still living in America today.
Variations of the surname Völlers
Völlers is an Old German surname. It can be found with variant spellings such as Föllers, Foellers, Foellers, Follers, Vellers, Voellers, and Voelkers. It is also related to surnames of similar origins such as Föller, Foeller, Feller, Veller, andvoelker.
The version of the surname Völlers is typically more commonly found in German-speaking parts of Europe such as Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, while the spelling variations and related surnames are seen in other Germanic places, such as the Netherlands.
This surname is derived from the Old German word "Fölla," which means "plow," or "till." The earliest record of the surname can be traced back to a 12th-century document relating to a Werner Völlers. It was more commonly found in East Frisia. Some of the familie's notable people include former German soccer player and manager Lothar Matthäus Völlers, actor August Völlers, and author Manfred Völlers.
The surname is also known as the surname of the Völlers Bloodline, a family that supposedly had a good luck charm, a black rooster which would announce when a battle had been won. This family can be traced back to 1637 in the German city of Bremen.
In terms of its frequency, Völlers is a fairly rare surname. In the United States, it was not found in the census in 2017, implying that it is not widely used in the country. However, it is more common in Germany, ranking 5,070th most common surname in that country.
Famous people with the name Völlers
- Rudi Völler: This former German footballer is one of the most famous people with the surname Völlers. Völler was a professional player for clubs such as Werder Bremen and Roma and was part of the German national team that won the 1990 World Cup. He also managed the German national team from 2006 to 2004 and led them to a third-place finish at the 2002 World Cup.
- Biber Völlers: This German-Namibian footballer was born in Windhoek and is considered to be Germany's first coloured international footballer. Völlers was naturalised as a German citizen in 1971 and played in the national team from 1973 to 1977 for clubs such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
- Lina Völlers: Lina Völlers is a German actress. She has appeared in numerous films and television series over the years. Her most notable role was in the 2014 film, The Bridge to Nowhere, in which she had a supporting role.
- Sofia Völlers: Sofia Völlers is the daughter of Rudi Völler and was an international gymnast who participated in the 2012 Olympics in London. Her most notable achievement was a silver medal at the 2005 World Gymnastics Championships.
- Werner Völlers: Werner Völlers is a German equestrian. He won an Olympic silver medal in dressage at the 1988 Seoul Games and was a four-time gold medalist at the European Championships in Dressage between 1986 and 1997. He was also part of the 1984 German Olympic equestrian eventing team. In 1998, he became the President of the German Equestrian Federation.