Surname Wölper - Meaning and Origin
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Wölper: What does the surname Wölper mean?
The last name Wölper is an occupational name of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word ″wolpern″ which means ″to trim″ or ″to shear″. This indicates that the original bearer of the name was a professional sheep or fur shearer.
Surnames such as Wölper are related to ancient trades and vocations that were once practiced in Germany. This type of surname is referred to as an occupational surname. It has been common for many generations for people to take on the surnames of the trades that their parents or ancestors were involved in.
Whereas the spelling of the name Wölper is distinctive, there are several variations of the spelling such as Wolper and Welper. This has the resulted from generations of families dropping syllables or changing the spelling of the name to make in bear a more distinctive resemblance to their own pronunciation.
The recognition of the family name of Wölper is particularly high in Germany, with many people bearing the surname. It can be found in the the manuscripts dating back to the Middle Ages, indicating that the surname has its origins in the country.
The Wölper family is likely to be widely dispersed and internationally known, due to the numerous migrants and emigrants from Germany down the years.
Order DNA origin analysisWölper: Where does the name Wölper come from?
The last name Wölper is most common in Germany today, particularly in the area of Saxony-Anhalt, which is on the eastern side of the country. It is also found in the surrounding countries, though in smaller numbers.
The Wölper surname was first found in Germany, where records indicate that a Wölper family were recorded in the area of the Vogtei of Rodenstein, near the town of Rodenstein, in Hessen, during the 16th century. The surname belongs to the class of pre 7th-century German names, which are derived from the patronymic naming system, at a time when people began to adopt hereditary surnames.
The Germans surnames Wölper and Wölp can be found in everyday life in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It can be seen in the names of families, like the Wölper family from Brandenburg or the Wölp family from Styria. The name Wölper is also found in places like St Moritz, Cologne, Biebergemünd, Holzgerlingen, Düsseldorf and Vienna.
The meaning of the Wölper surname is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word 'welper', which means 'at ease'. It is also speculated that the name may have been derived from the Lower German word 'wölpern', a form of the word 'wölfern', which means 'travel'.
The family traditions and coat of arms of the Wölpers are mostly unknown today, but it is believed that the first people to bear the name put it to great use and honour.
Variations of the surname Wölper
The surname Wölper is derived from the Germanic personal name Walpēr, which itself is derived from elements meaning “ruler” and “army.” As such, the name is derived from the Old German title for a military leader.
The surname has existed in various forms, spellings, and variants since ancient times. Popular variants and spellings of Wölper include Wolff, Wolper, Wölff, Wolffers, Walpers, Wollfers, Wallpf, Woelffers, Wolffers, Wallfers, Wollper, and Woelpers. However, the most widespread variant is Wölper.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Wölper include Wolff, Wolf, Wollf, Wallf, Walp, Walper, Wallfers, Wolffers, Wollpers, Woelpers, and Wollfers. These surnames are all derived from the Old German personal name Walpēr.
Surnames derived from the same origin but with different spellings include Walpfer, Walfer, Wolph, and Wallpher.
Closely related surnames are Welfers, Wallfers, Welfers, and Wolffers.
The surname Wölper has a long and distinguished history. It was used as a title for a medieval military leader, and has since become a popular surname with various spellings and variants.
Famous people with the name Wölper
- Tyra Wölper: German model and actress.
- Alexander Wölper: German gymnast who won a gold medal at the 1959 World Championships.
- Isabella Wölper: German biologist and researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena.
- Manfred Wölper: German speed skater, won gold medal in the 1965 World Allround Speed Skating Championships.
- Peter Wölper: German cinematographer.
- Robert Wölper: German music producer and member of the German hip-hop group Afrob.
- Sybille Wölper: German medical doctor and professor at the Institute for Human Genetics at the University of Hamburg.
- Vincenz Wölper: German alpine skier, won the bronze medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
- Wilhelm Wölper: German sculptor and figurative painter.
- Wolfgang Wölper: German physicist and professor emeritus at the University of Konstanz.