Surname Wollkopf - Meaning and Origin
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Wollkopf: What does the surname Wollkopf mean?
The surname Wollkopf is either a German, Dutch, or Jewish surname of unknown origin. It is likely derived from an old Germanic term meaning "head of the wool" or "wool head," although the exact meaning is uncertain. It is possible that the surname was once used to denote an individual whose occupation involved the processing of wool.
Wollkopf is found primarily in Germany, the Netherlands, and various areas of eastern Europe with large Jewish populations. It is primarily an Ashkenazi surname. Those bearing it can be found in “historic documents ranging from the Middle Ages to the modern period.”
There is no single definition for the surname Wollkopf, as it likely has multiple origins and different meanings as each family that carries the name is unique. For example, a family of Dutch origin may have used the term to describe a farmer who raised sheep, while a family of German or Jewish origin may have used it to describe a person with a particular skill or expertise when it came to preparing the wool for market.
No matter the origin, the surname Wollkopf is likely to remain a mystery – a visible legacy of the long-ago family that first bore it.
Order DNA origin analysisWollkopf: Where does the name Wollkopf come from?
The last name Wollkopf is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "woll" meaning wool. In medieval times it was given as a surname to people who dealt in wool products, primarily sheep herders and merchants. Today, the name is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, with smaller pockets of Wollkopfs in France, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia.
In modern times, the name Wollkopf is still most commonly used in Germany and Austria due to its historical links to the region. In Germany, the name is particularly prevalent in Bavaria and the Rhineland-Palatinate area. In Austria, the name is typically associated with Vienna, Upper Austria, and the Burgenland region.
In the United States, fewer than 600 people bear the Wollkopf name. Major cities with a concentration of those individuals are New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, and Phoenix. Immigration records suggest they are mostly descendants of German immigrants who kept the Wollkopf name from the old country.
Among Germany’s Jewish population, the Wollkopf surname is quite common. Jewish immigrants to the United States often shortened the name to Wolff, presumably to avoid anti-Semitism.
In general, the Wollkopf last name is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, but smaller pockets of the surname are present around the world. Descendants of German immigrants to the United States continue to keep the Wollkopf surname today.
Variations of the surname Wollkopf
The surname Wollkopf is a German topographic surname, meaning "wool head," or "wool-capped." It has a large number of variants, spellings, and surnames from the same origin. Variants of this surname include Wallkopp, Vollkopf, Wolkopp, Wellkopp, Wallkop, Wollkopp, Wulkopp, Wollekopf, Waelcoep, Woolcapp, Völkopf, and Uhlkopp.
Spellings from the same origin include Wollkop, Wellkopf, Wollekop, Wölkopf, Wüllikopf, Völkopf, Wöhlkopf, and Wöhlkop.
Surnames from the same origin include Valkeye, Woolley, Woolke, Wolk, Wullikop, Wuritkopf, Wellscoat, Wollcoat, and Wollcot.
In some areas where this surname is common, surnames derived from it can also be found, such as Wellkopf, Wolcott, Vollkop, Völkopf, Woolcott, Woelkop, and Wooley.
The surname Wollkopf is most commonly found in the provinces of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, as well as in Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein. It is also found in parts of the United States, Canada, and other countries.
Famous people with the name Wollkopf
- Giovanni Wollkopf: a Brazilian television actor and singer.
- Joe Wollkopf: an American film producer.
- David Wollkopf: a British stand-up comedian.
- Elkie Wollkopf: a Canadian singer-songwriter.
- Jack Wollkopf: an American actor.
- John Wollkopf: a British composer.
- Thomas Wollkopf: a German visual artist.
- Max Wollkopf: a Swedish film director.
- Herbert Wollkopf: an Austrian painter and sculptor.
- Henry Wollkopf: a French sculptor.
- Paul Wollkopf: an American architect.
- Anthony Wollkopf: a German singer-songwriter.
- Johannes Wollkopf: a Dutch composer and pianist.
- Emile Wollkopf: a Swiss photographer.
- Christian Wollkopf: a German artist.
- Albert Wollkopf: an Austrian film director.
- Wilhelm Wollkopf: a German illustrator and animator.
- Anna Wollkopf: a Danish actress.
- Christine Wollkopf: an Austrian actress and singer.
- Daniela Wollkopf: an Argentine actress and producer.