Surname Wolfsohn - Meaning and Origin

Wolfsohn: What does the surname Wolfsohn mean?

The last name Wolfsohn is derived from the Germanic language and has the meaning of a wolf-like individual. It is composed of two words, “Wolf” and “sohn”, which together mean “son of the wolf”. This surname is believed to be of patronymic origin, referring to a family or clans of people who trace their heritage back to a common ancestor with a wolf-like nature.

Although this particular last name was not extremely common, Wolfsohn has been found in Germanic and Jewish populations. It is more commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews, and is thought to have derived from a direct translation of the Hebrew name “Zev Wolf.” This name was also believed to have been brought to the American continent by Jewish immigrants as they left Europe to begin anew in the New World.

The Wolfsohn family has produced many prominent figures throughout history, including notable German-born actor and comedian Fritz Wolfsohn. He was known for his outrageous characters, often playing sarcastic, jovial roles in variety shows and films in the early 20th century. Other family members to note include American Rabbi Bernard Wolfsohn and American stonecutter and Sculptor Nathan Wolfsohn.

The Wolfsohn surname is steeped in the unique mix of cultures present in Europe, and still carries a safe of pride and intrigue even today.

Wolfsohn: Where does the name Wolfsohn come from?

The last name Wolfsohn is most common today in Germany, Austria and also in Jewish communities around the world. It is believed to have originated from Germany, and the spelling of the name often varies from region to region. Most commonly, the Wolfsohn family name is spelt as Wolfsohn or Wolfsohn.

In modern times, those with the surname Wolfsohn (or variants of) usually trace their family history back to Germany or Austria. However, during the 19th century, Wolfsohn families began to migrate to other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. In the UK, Wolfsohns are more likely to be found in areas with a high Jewish population, such as cities like London or Manchester.

Today, Wolfsohn is still considered to be a Jewish surname, and is associated with important rabbis. For example, Rabbi Moses Wolfsohn, son of Rabbi David of Przemysl, was a celebrated historian and rabbi in the mid-1800s.

In conclusion, Wolfsohn remains a relatively uncommon surname. It is most common today in Germany, Austria, and areas with a high Jewish population, such as the United Kingdom. Despite its rarity, those with the surname often trace their lineage back to important rabbis.

Variations of the surname Wolfsohn

The surname Wolfsohn is an Ashkenazi Jewish name derived from the German word 'Wolf' and 'sohn' meaning 'son'. The Wolfsohn surname is also spelled as Wolfson, Wolfsen, Wolfshon, Wolfschon, Wolfschonn, Wolfsohn, Wolfssohn, Wolfsshohn, Volfson, Volfson, Volfshon or Volfsohn.

Variants of Wolfsohn are in Agaricales, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, and the United States.

The spelling variations of the name Wolfsohn include Wolfson, Wolfsen, Wolfshon. It is also seen spelled as Wolfssohn, Wolfschon, Wolfschonn and even Volfson, Volfson, and Volfshon.

In the United States, the most common variants include Wolfson, Wolfsen and Wolfshon. In isolated cases, the surname Wolfsohn may be found spelled as Volfson, Volfsonn, or Volfshon.

Most variants of this surname come from the transformed use of the patronymic element 'sohn' or 'son'. The name Wolfsohn, Wolfssohn and Wolfsshohn are derived from the startname Wolf.

In Eastern and Central Europe, the first records of the Wolfsohn surname appears in the 17th century when Jews began to adopt surnames as they became more integrated in their societies. Records of the Wolfsohn name first appear in the German province of Pomerania in the 18th century. In the United States, Wolfsohn immigrants started to arrive in the 19th century.

The Wolfsohn surname is still found today in Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, as well as the United States and England.

Famous people with the name Wolfsohn

• Christine Wolfsohn: A British-born multi-award-winning actress, director, and playwright, she is best known for her roles on stage, film, and TV.
• Jacob Wolfsohn: A German-American neurologist, he is best known for his work on the development of the EEG (electroencephalogram).
• Karl Wolfsohn: A German musicologist and orgelmeister, he was known for his pioneering work in the field of musicology and organology.
• Arnold Wolfsohn: An American actor and director, Arnold is best remembered for his work on the television series, Night Court.
• Billy Wolfsohn: An English comic book artist and writer, Billy is best known for his work on various Marvel Comics titles, such as Spider-Man.
• Mel Wolfsohn: An American composer, record producer, and songwriter, Mel is best known for collaborating with the famed band, The Beach Boys.
• Pierre Wolfsohn: A French philosopher and writer, Pierre is best known for his critiques of postmodernism, existentialism, and politics.
• Ernest Wolfsohn: An Austrian actor and theatre director, he was most noted for his avant-garde works.
• Louis Wolfsohn: A German entrepreneur best known for founding the cosmetics company, Max Factor.
• Harry Wolfsohn: An English screenwriter and actor, he was most famous for his roles in British television, radio, and cinema.

Other surnames

Wolfson