Surname Wolker - Meaning and Origin
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Wolker: What does the surname Wolker mean?
The last name Wolker is of German origin, and it derived from either the Middle High German word "wolcen" or the Low German word "wolker." The original meaning of the name is not certain, but both words come from the German word "walchen," which in turn likely comes from a Proto-Germanic root "wolkan" meaning "to tread or trample." This has lead some to believe the name to mean "trampler" or "stomper."
Wolker is not an extremely common name, but it can be found mainly in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Records indicate that it is an old surname, believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. From the 14th to the 16th century, the name is historically concentrated in Germany, borne by landowners, vassals, and merchants across the country.
Nowadays, the name is still found in German-speaking countries, but it is also found in many other countries around the world, including Canada, New Zealand, United States, and Australia.
It is thought to be an occupational name - referring to a worker who made and sold leather or shoe materials, or perhaps one who walked a lot, such as a soldier or messenger.
Order DNA origin analysisWolker: Where does the name Wolker come from?
The last name Wolker is of German origin and is most commonly seen in Germany today. However, this name is also found in other countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and other European countries. In many of these countries, the surnames are anglicized variations, with names like Walker, Walters, and Waller all representing versions of the Wolker last name.
In Germany, the name is often spelled Wolker, and records show that it can be traced back to the 11th century in the German region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This region is located on the country's northern Baltic Sea coast. The name is believed to have originated from a word for people who worked in a marsh, making it an occupational surname.
In the U.S., records show the name first appeared around 1856, when Carl Wolker and his wife arrived in New York City from Germany. Since then, the number of people living in the United States with the Wolker last name has gradually increased, although it is still far from common. The 2010 U.S. Census showed that there were only about 8,000 people with the Wolker name in the entire country.
Variations of the surname Wolker
The surname Wolker is derived from the German occupational surname Wolker or Wolcke, meaning “weaver,” and is shared by around 2,500 people in Germany . Other variants and spellings of this name include: Walcker, Walckers, Walckor, Walcke, Walkers, Walker, Wolkers, Wolcke, Wulke, Wölker, Wölcke, Wölcker, Wölcker, and Wélker.
For people in the United States, immigration records from the 19th and early 20th centuries often record Walker and Waller variants under the same surname. In other records, Walkers is listed as an alternate surname for Wolker.
In other countries such as Denmark, Poland, and France, this surname can be spelled as Walker, Walkera, Walkerów, Wólczyka, and Wolker respectively.
The Dutch and Flemish surname Wolker is usually derived from the Old German personal name Wolfgang. The Dutch variants are Wolken, Wolcke, Walcken, and Walckens.
In Czech, the surname is properly spelled Wolker, but in documents of the 19th and early 20th century, it is also listed in variant spellings such as Volcker, Volker, and Welker.
In Jewish families, the name may often be spelled as Wolkers, Wolkovska, Wolkovsky, and Wolkowsky.
In Swedish and Norwegian the surname is usually spelled Wälcker, Wälkner or Wälkner, and in Finnish, it is spelled Wähker.
In Russia, the surname may be listed in variant forms such as Valcher, Valcker, Valok, and Volko.
Finally, in Spain, the surname may be spelled Walquer, Walqueras, and Wolquer.
Overall, the surname Wolker has numerous alternate variants and spellings throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Wolker
- Paul Walker: Paul Walker (1973-2013) was an American actor and philanthropist, best known for his roles in the Fast and Furious franchise.
- David Walker: David Walker (1785-1830) was an American abolitionist, journalist, and pamphleteer as well as a self-educated black activist who fought against the racial injustice of slavery in the United States.
- Ivy Walker: Ivy Walker (1986-) is an American cinematographer, best known for her recent work on the Pulitzer Prize-winning film “Moonlight.”
- Doug Walker: Doug Walker (1981-) is an American actor, comedian, and internet reviewer. He is the creator of the popular online series “Nostalgia Critic” and “That Guy with the Glasses.”
- Amy Walker: Amy Walker (1989-) is an American actress and producer, best known for her work as both a YouTube star and an associate director in the award-winning musical “Hamilton.”
- Tami Walker: Tami Walker (1974-) is an American interior designer, artist, and the founder of Tami Walker & Co., a design and lifestyle studio that creates luxury interiors for high end clients.
- Karen Walker: Karen Walker (1968-2018) was an American fashion designer best known for her bold and innovative designs that focused on the merging of fashion and art.
- Brad Walker: Brad Walker (1970-) is an American comic book artist and the illustrator of the Wolverine miniseries and other comics for Marvel Comics.
- Carl Walker: Carl Walker (1954-) is an American architect and the founder of Walker Architecture Group, LLC. He is the recipient of numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects for his designs.