Surname Wolgemut - Meaning and Origin

Wolgemut: What does the surname Wolgemut mean?

The last name Wolgemut is of German origin and is believed to be derived from a nickname or toponym. The surname derives from Middle High German words meaning ‘wolf game’, though the exact etymology is unknown. The earliest known bearer of the name, Goppold Wolgemut, was recorded in 1264 and was likely an hunter. It is possible the name reflects his expertise in wolf hunting.

In the 15th century, the artist Michael Wolgemut was given the task of decorating the Church of Our Lady in Nuremberg, of which a painting, the Dance of Death, still remains. Other famous people with the name in the same era include Wilhelm Wolgemut and his two sons, who were often credited with the invention of woodcutting technique. The Wolgemut family were influential in producing printed works of early literature and art.

Today, the surname Wolgemut is common in Germany and still used throughout Europe, as well as in the United States, where it was often Americanized to Woolam or Woolman. This surname can be found in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia.

Wolgemut: Where does the name Wolgemut come from?

The last name Wolgemut is most commonly found in Germany today. It is particularly concentrated in Bavaria, Thuringia and Saxony, three German states located in the central and eastern parts of the country. According to data from Forebears, an online genealogical database, Germany is home to about 2,739 people with the surname Wolgemut.

The last name Wolgemut is derived from the German words "Wolle" which translates to wool, and "Gamut" which translates to trade. This suggests that the original bearer of the name was likely a wool merchant or dealer.

There are also larger concentrations of people with the last name Wolgemut in Switzerland, Austria, and Poland. However, it is likely that those with the surname in those countries are descendants of German immigrants.

The surname Wolgemut is quite rare outside of German-speaking countries. In the United States, there are only 81 people with the surname.

Many people with the last name Wolgemut are descendants of Germanic-speaking people who lived during the Middle Ages. In particular, those with the last name probably trace their history back to the fifteenth-century German artist, Michael Wolgemut, who was known for his woodcuts, drawings, and paintings.

Variations of the surname Wolgemut

The surname Wolgemut has various variants, spellings and related surnames of the same origin. The original form of the surname is an old German name derived from the German words, 'wohl' and 'gemütlich', meaning good and comfortable or kind and warm. Common variants of the surname include Wolgemut, Wolgemuth, Wohlgemuth and Wohlgemut. Other related surnames include Walgemut, Walgemuth, Walgemut, Wolcot, Walcot and Wolesmut.

It is also possible to find the surname further altered by other languages such as Dutch, where it is often found as Wolgemulder, Wolgemulder, Wolgemulder and Wolgemuller. Similarly, in Polish the surname may be found as Wolgimont, Wolesmut or Woleszmont, while in Norwegian and other Scandinavian countries the name may appear as Valgemut, Valgemut, Valgemuth or even Walgimut.

Variations of the spelling of the surname have also occurred over time. In the late 1904s, Wolgemut was commonly misspelled as Wolgicut or Wolgicutt, and further spellings like Wohlgimut or Wulgemut have also been found.

In some cases, individuals with the surname Wolgemut may have changed the spelling of their name to make it easier to pronounce or spell, such as in the case of the Wolesmut family in Wisconsin who had changed their name to Wulczeymut for these reasons.

Due to its German origins, related names commonly found among southern German states include Wahlgemuth, Wohlgemuth, and Walgemuth. The original German spelling and variations of the name can also be found widely in North America too, with the variants Walgemuth and Wahlgemuth commonly being used.

Famous people with the name Wolgemut

• Michael Wolgemut: Michael Wolgemut was a German painter, printmaker, stained glass artist and illustrator, most famous for his collaboration with the great printer and publisher, Albrecht Dürer, in Nuremberg in 1490.
• Wilhelm Wolgemut: Wilhelm Wolgemut was a German painter and draughtsman, active in Nuremberg in the 16th century. He was the chief assistant of Albrecht Dürer, and went on to become an important figure in his own right in Nuremberg, painting religious and mythological works as well as being a prolific printmaker.
• Julius Wolgemut: Julius Wolgemut was an important and influential German painter and art theorist active in the early 19th century. During his career, he employed a variety of methods in painting, framing, and printing, helping to establish a number of practices in that era that would go on to be adopted and taken up by his followers.
• Matthäus Wolgemut: Matthäus Wolgemut was a German painter, printmaker, goldsmith, and draughtsman. He was the founder of the Nuremberg School of painting, which was to dominate German Renaissance painting for much of the 16th century. He is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Albrecht Dürer in a number of important painted works.
• Adelheid Wolgemut: Adelheid Wolgemut was a German designer and printmaker active in the mid-19th century. She is best known for her works with Alphonse Mucha and her own practice as a successful printmaker. She is recognised as a major figure in the development of modern art during this time.

Other surnames

Wolgemuth