Surname Woelfel - Meaning and Origin
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Woelfel: What does the surname Woelfel mean?
Woelfel is a surname of German origin and is thought to have been derived from a given name, a diminutive of wo[e]lf meaning "wolf". It can also be traced back to the Germanic word wolf, meaning “wolf.” It is likely that the first bearers of this surname were either an ancestor of a known wolf or some sort of individual who showed qualities of a wolf, like courage and loyalty.
Notably, the Woelfel name was borne by several notable Germans. For instance, in the 17th century, Hans Woelfel served in several posts, including mayor of Bernau, a small German town. Meanwhile, Friedrich Woelfel (1851-1921) was a professor and theologian who wrote about the history of the Protestant church and served as a President of the Union of German Evangelical Churches from 1909 to 1913.
Today, Woelfel is still a relatively common name in Germany, and can be found in other countries like the United States and Canada. Most people bearing this surname are likely descended from German ancestry. In recent times, Woelfel has been used as first name as well as a surname. It has also been used as the surname of characters in literature, like in the 1933 novel "The Green Man" by Dashiell Hammet.
From its Germanic roots to its usage today, the Woelfel name is an important part of German heritage, symbolizing courage, loyalty, and a history of strong figures.
Order DNA origin analysisWoelfel: Where does the name Woelfel come from?
The surname Woelfel can most commonly be found in the United States of America, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Scandinavian countries today.
In the US, the surname Woelfel can be found in many prominent states including Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Illinois. In Pennsylvania, Woelfel is even a village. The first origins of the name in the US are traced to a George Woelfel who immigrated to America sometime around 1751.
In Germany, the name Woelfel is likely of Slavic origin and translates to Wolfville, or the city of wolves. It is most common in southern Germany and still particularly populous around the state of Baden-Württemberg.
In Austria, records dating back to the 1400s have been found for the last name Woelfel, although it is speculated that this particular branch of the Woelfel family tree likely dates back to the 1200s.
The surname Woelfel is also common in Switzerland, especially in the canton of Bern, where it is one of the most common last names in the region.
Notable bearers of the surname Woelfel throughout history include Swiss artist Peter Johann Woelfel, German-American politician Frederick Woelfel, and Austrian-French sculptor Johann Baptiste Woelfel.
Variations of the surname Woelfel
Woelfel is a German surname derived from wölf meaning 'wolf', and is associated with the surname Wolfel. It is found in areas such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Variants of the surname include Wölfel, Wolfel, Wolfell, Wolffel, Wolfell, Woelfel, Woelfell, Wuelfel, Wuellfel, Wolfl and Wolfle. Spellings of the surname may also vary, such as Wolfell, Woffell, Wolphele and Wolvell.
The surname is sometimes found with the suffixes -mann and -le, such as in the variant surnames Woelfelman and Woelfelke. These variants are more commonly found in Americanized versions, and the suffixes may also appear with the alternate spellings: i.e. Wolfelman, Wolfelke.
There are other variants of Woelfel, including Wolferl and Wolffarl. This form is derived from a German first name 'Wolfer', which is the short form of the old German nameWolfram.
The surname of Woelfel may also be spelled Wölfel or Wolfel with the prefixes van, de, or von.
Many variations and spellings of the name are found today, and its origin is still traced to German and Austrian ancestry.
Famous people with the name Woelfel
- Ernst Woelfel: German entomologist
- Leonhard Woelfel: German paleontologist
- David Woelfel: American historian
- Bob Woelfel: American politician
- William Woelfel: American lawyer
- Marion Woelfel: German writer
- Karl Woelfel: German architect
- Andrew Woelfel: American activist
- Judy Woelfel: American basketball player
- Francis Woelfel: German actor