Surname Voss - Meaning and Origin

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Experience an in-depth, revealing journey into personal ancestry and lineage with the iGENEA DNA test, as it aids in the uncovering of familial migration patterns and unlocks a greater understanding of surnames such as Voss.

K. Voss

Voss: What does the surname Voss mean?

The surname Voss has German, Dutch, and Scandinavian roots. Essentially, it is an occupational or geographical surname. In terms of its occupational origins, the name is derived from the Middle Low German term "Vos," which means "fox". This was usually given as a nickname to individuals who were seen as being cunning, smart, or as having red hair, similar to a fox.

The surname could also be geographical and denote someone who lived in or near a forest, recalling the interaction of foxes and forests in popular imagination.

In reference to its Scandinavian roots, it is a habitational name from any of several places in Norway named Voss, from the Old Norse 'vǫs' which means 'inlet' or 'small bay'.

Therefore, the meaning of the surname Voss can depend on the cultural and geographical context of the person bearing the name. It's important to bear in mind that surnames can carry several meanings due to their long historical and evolving nature.

Voss: Where does the name Voss come from?

The last name Voss is most commonly found in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden today. It originated in German speaking countries as a variation of another, more traditional surname, Voß.

In Germany, the name Voss is primarily found in a few different regions of the country, such as the Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. In Denmark, it is found mainly in North Jutland and South Jutland. In the Netherlands, it is more common in the provinces of Gelderland, South Holland, and North-Brabant. Sweden is one of the countries where Voss is most common, and the name is especially prevalent in the regions of Västra Götland, Halland, Värmland, Uppsala, and Stockholm.

The name is common enough that there are many notable people with the last name Voss, including 15th century swiss Humanist, Sebastian Voss; 18th century painter, Bernhard Voss; and 19th century theologian, Josephine Voss. Today, the last name continues to be popular enough that there are various websites and other venues for people with the name Voss to meet, converse, and reconnect.

Variations of the surname Voss

The surname Voss is an Old German name, derived from the word for “forest” and suggests the original bearer was a hunter or a one who lived in a forested area. It is also found in Scandinavian languages, such as Danish and Swedish, as Vos. Other spelling variations and regional spellings of Voss include Vossen, Vosseler, Fosel, Vossel, Vossell, Fossel and Voes.

In the United States, many people with this surname descended from Dutch immigrants. Similarly, German immigrants may also spell the name as Voß or Vosss.

In England the surname Voss was common in London in the 18th century. Here, the variant spellings of Vose, Voss, Vous, Vovs and Vouz were used.

Other surnames which share a common Germanic root include Vosburgh, Voß, Vossen, Voßmann, and Vossler.

In Scotland, there are several Scottish Voss clans, which can be researched by looking into different local history records. Some of these clans include Clan Vose of Ayrshire, Clan Vose of Fife, and Clan Vass of Buchan.

Finally, other surnames which share a similar origin include Foos, Fose, Voce, Vosser, Fouss, and Fuss.

Famous people with the name Voss

• Ann Voss: an American actress known for her roles in films and television movies like “The Naked Monster”, “Joy Ride”, “Revenge of the Nerds”, and “Dumb and Dumber”.
• Bea Voss: a German actress and singer who made appearances in movies like “The Sweater”, “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “The Matrix Reloaded”, and “The Gold Rush”.
• Brian Voss: a professional bowler from Los Angeles, California known for winning multiple BPAA US Open Titles, two PBA Tour titles, and the 2003 PBA Player of the Year Award.
• Chris Voss: American entrepreneur and business consultant, best known for his book Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It.
• Doug Voss: an American television and film actor who made appearances in movies like “Any Given Sunday”, “Conviction”, “Does Not Compute”, “Supporting Characters”, and television series such as “Gotham” and “The Flash”.
• Ingrid Voss: a German former television presenter and news anchor who is best known for her work on the German news program “Tagesschau”.
• Jack Voss: a writer and film producer who wrote and produced movies like “The Boondock Saints”, “Land of Lost Souls”, and the television series “What About Brian”.
• John Voss: an American professional boxer and two-time WBO Super-Middleweight Champion.
• Maribeth Voss: an American screenwriter and director known for writing films like “I am Sam” and “American Beauty”, as well as directing the television series “Reba”.
• Mike Voss: a radio personality and radio host who previously served as a morning show host for KLOS and KABC in Los Angeles.

Other surnames

VosVosbergVosburgVosburghVosculVoseVosenVoshansVoshellVoskampVoskötterVoskuhlVoskuhleVoskühlerVoskuilVoskuilenVoslohVosperVospeterVosseVossekaulVossenVossenkaulVossenkuhlVössingVossköhlerVosskötterVosskuhlVosskuhleVosskühler