Surname Walpe - Meaning and Origin
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Walpe: What does the surname Walpe mean?
The surname Walpe is of German origin and is believed to have derived from the pre-Christian Slavic or Old Prussian language. In Slavic, the term walpa translates to 'wolf', which suggests that people with the surname Walpe may have had a close historical association with animals such as wolves.
The first recorded use of the Walpe surname is from the 13th century in the town of Breslau, located in what is today Poland. Records indicate that the surname was held by individuals involved in the business of blacksmithing, likely suggesting that the activity was associated with the wolf-related origins of the surname.
In the years that followed, the Walpe surname also became associated with certain regions, particularly in the more remote, rural areas of eastern Germany. In some cases, such regions were inhabited by people who were linked to rural living and animal husbandry, again suggesting a possible association between the surname and wolves.
The Walpe surname is still found today, especially in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also common in parts of the United States, where it is believed to have been adopted in the 17th century by immigrants from Germany.
The robust and mysterious ancient origin of the Walpe surname continue to provide a source of intrigue to researchers, though much of its associations with wolves remains a subject of speculation.
Order DNA origin analysisWalpe: Where does the name Walpe come from?
The last name Walpe is most commonly found in Germany today. This is most likely due to ancestry tracing back to Germanic migrants. It is a last name that originated in the late Middle Ages, with the earliest known records of the family in the 14th century. The Walpe family was mainly based in the former Prussian provinces of East Prussia and West Prussia.
After World War II, Germany was divided into four Allied Occupation Zones. As a result, many German families immigrated to the newly formed West German state, including the Walpe family. During this time, other Walpe family members left Germany completely, moving to other parts of Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world.
Today, it is estimated that as many as 4,000 people have the last name Walpe, with the majority living in West Germany. In addition, there are significant populations of Walpes living in Canada and the United States. As a result, the last name Walpe can be found all around the world today, though it is most commonly seen in Germany.
Variations of the surname Walpe
The Walpe surname originates from Germany, and has several variants and spellings, as well as associated surnames, commonly found in genealogical records. Variations of the surname Walpe include Wallpo, Wallpe,Wallp,Wallpoe, Walp, Waldpe, Walb, Walbo,Waelpe, Walpoe,Wahlpe,Walderp, Walper, Wahlpa, and many more. In some parts of the world, and especially in the United States, Walpe is also often spelled Walp or Walpoe.
Surnames with similar origins include Walpole, Walprom, Walso, Weltje, Weipel, and Walbrand. These are all variations and derivatives of the surname Walpe, and have been recorded in many European nations over the centuries.
Other surnames which originate from the same root include: Walpinger, Wallprier, Wahlpi, Waelpie, Walppie, Wallpie, Wehlpi, Wallenpoe, Walpig, Walping, and Wollp.
Walpe is the oldest known form of the surname, and is an uncommon last name amongst Europeans in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Austria, and Switzerland. Other countries with Walpe family members include Australia, Canada, the United States, and South Africa.
Famous people with the name Walpe
- Adolf Walpe: Austrian psychologist, psychoanalyst and psychotherapist.
- Johannes Walpe: German theologian and philosopher.
- Eric Walpe: German sportsman, competed in track and field athletics.
- Wilhelm Walpe: German zoologist and evolutionary biologist.
- Georg Walpe: German sculptor, active in the Munich area.
- Hanno Walpe: German politician, affiliated with the Social Democratic Party.
- Melinda Walpe: British author and journalist.
- Alexandra Walpe: American film and television actress.
- Petula Walpe: British actress and singer.
- Bernd Walpe: German comic book artist and illustrator.
- Joanne Walpe: Canadian painter, landscape artist, and printmaker.