Surname Wollstädter - Meaning and Origin

Wollstädter: What does the surname Wollstädter mean?

Wollstädter is a German surname that has its roots in the town of Wollstadt, which was once located in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The name itself derived from the Old High German word "wolt" meaning "forest" and "Stadt" meaning "city". This could indicate that the original inhabitants of the town of Wollstadt were primarily engaged in forestry work and forest management.

The Wollstädter family has a long history dating back to the 16th century. It is believed that the earliest members of the Wollstädter family were from the Rheinholz or Rhine Forest. From there, the family spread throughout Germany, eventually settling in the town of Wollstadt and the surrounding region.

Throughout the centuries, Wollstädter family members have gone on to pursue a variety of professions. Some have become farmers while others have achieved success in the military, academia, business, and other fields.

Today, the Wollstädter family is still prominent in Germany and parts of Europe. It is believed that there are tens of thousands of individuals who hold the Wollstädter last name worldwide. Many Wollstädter descendants, both in Europe and abroad, trace their roots back to the town of Wollstadt and the Rheinholz region.

Wollstädter: Where does the name Wollstädter come from?

The last name Wollstädter has a long European history. It is a German surname, derived from the Old High German woilstat meaning "protective screen" and stet meaning "post". Historically, it was used as a name for a guard or watchman.

Today, the name Wollstädter is relatively common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Europe where German culture is more prevalent, such as the Netherlands or Poland. In Germany alone it is estimated there are around 350 people with the name Wollstädter or variations thereof.

The name is also occasionally found in the United States, typically as a result of immigration from Europe and other countries with a Germanic culture. According to Ancestry.com, the highest concentration of Wollstädter in the Americans can be found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Finally, there are a few Wollstädters throughout the rest of the world, mostly in countries that have opened their doors to immigrants from other parts of the world – such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In summary, the last name Wollstädter is today most common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but can also be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand through immigration.

Variations of the surname Wollstädter

The surname Wollstädter is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, derived from the German town of Wollstadt in Hesse. The surname is derived from the Old Germanic personal name Wulf, meaning 'wolf', and stadt, meaning 'town', thus meaning 'the town of the wolf'.

Variants of the surname Wollstädter include Wolfstädter, Woolstädter, Wolstadter, Wohlstadt, Wolschmidt, Wolsdorf and Woolstricher.

The surname has also been spelled differently in various regions and eras. Early variants include Wallstadt, Welfstadt (in northern Germany), Wolstadt, Wolstatt and Wolstad. Later variants include Wollstadt (in 18th century Prussia), Woulstain (in Russia) and Voolstad (in South Africa).

Since being Anglicized, the surname has taken on various spellings, including Wollstad, Wolstad, Woolstad and Woolstadt.

Surnames of the same origin include Wolff, Wolfsdorf, Wolffsohn, Wolfensohn, Wolberg, Wohlberg and Wolffenstein.

Famous people with the name Wollstädter

• Sigmund Wollstädter (German painter, 1872-1945)
• Max Wollstädter (German art historian, 1923-2010)
• Felix Wollstädter (German general, 1830-1899)
• Fred Wollstädter (German banker, 1818-1891)
• Frank Wollstädter (American entrepreneur, 1879-1947)
• Martin Wollstädter (German poet, 1874-1938)
• Hans Wollstädter (German zoologist, 1836-1902)
• Ludwig Wollstädter (German physicist and Nobel winner, 1865-1933)
• Heinrich Wollstädter (German architect, 1870-1951)
• Anita Wollstädter (American film critic and activist, 1900-1985)

Other surnames

Wollstadt