Surname Wolsiefer - Meaning and Origin
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Wolsiefer: What does the surname Wolsiefer mean?
The surname Wolsiefer is of German and Dutch origin, and is derived from the personal name Wolse, which was first recorded in the Holland region of the Netherlands, and Wohlsieffer. The name is composed of the elements ‘wol-’ meaning ‘heart’, and ‘seiffer’ meaning ‘crosser’ or ' puller'. Thus, the probable meaning of the name is “one who pulls out of hearts”.
In the Middle Ages, the name would have referred to someone who was successful in a legal dispute, who had the ability to pull the heartfelt wishes out of a situation. Later, in the 19th century, the surname was adopted by many members of the milling, brewing and distilling trades in Holland, indicating a certain level of success in the industries.
The surname Wolsiefer has also been found in the United States in the 1800s, with a number of recorded immigrants from Germany, Holland and Scandinavia. The popularity of the surname in the US is likely due to the availability of jobs in the industrial sector as well as family ties.
Today, the surname is found throughout Europe and the United States. It is not a particularly common name, though it does have some presence in countries such as Germany, Holland, Norway and America.
Overall, the surname Wolsiefer has an interesting history and is likely derived from an old German or Dutch phrase, meaning “one who pulls out of hearts”. The name may have indicated a special skill or ability, likely related to law or financial success. Today, the surname is found throughout Europe and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisWolsiefer: Where does the name Wolsiefer come from?
The last name Wolsiefer is most commonly found in the United States today, particularly in the Midwest. Census records indicate that the surname is most popular in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, though it can occasionally be found in other states as well.
Wolsiefer's roots can be traced back to Germany, where it was first recorded in the medieval period. It is believed to have been derived from the ancestral name, Wolsieff, which is itself derived from either the Germanic personal name Wolfenspeon or the Middle High German word wolsee, meaning 'claw'. These names refer to the shape of a wolf's claws, hence the similarity with Wolsiefer.
Today, Wolsiefer is a relatively uncommon name. It is most concentrated in the Upper Midwest, and is thought to be the result of German immigrants coming to the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Due to its rarity, Wolsiefer may also be found in other countries throughout the world, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
For those with the last name Wolsiefer, nowadays, it is possible to find others with the same name thanks to online databases, such as genealogy sites, which allow people to easily search for relatives and connect them with each other.
Variations of the surname Wolsiefer
The surname Wolsiefer is of German origin and may also be spelled as Wölsiefer, Woelsteiner, and Wolschner. The English spelling is generally Wolsiefer, whereas in Germany the spelling is more commonly Wölsiefer. The spelling Wölsiefer was originally used as an orthographical variation to distinguish the name from other names with similar spellings, such as Wolsfeger and Wolffaer.
Wolsiefer is derived from two elements: "wol" meaning "wolf" and "siefer" meaning "fragment". As such the surname refers to a person descended from a family with the "wolf fragment" or lineage name. The spelling Wölsiefer is thought to be an abbreviated form of a longer name, possibly a name beginning with Wolf- or Wolff- that was adapted to become shorter.
The surname is found mainly in the German-speaking regions of Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Variants of the surname include Wölstine, Wollstine, Wollsteiner, Wolschner, and Wölsteiner. Variations of the surname can also be found in North America, where it is spelled as Wolsifar or Wolsifer.
In Germany, the name may also have been derived from the given name Woleffe, a pet form of the given name Wolfrad, which means "wolf-advice." It is possible that the original bearer of the surname Wolsiefer was named after a wolf-like character, such as a bear or wolf hunter.
The family name is thought to date back to the early seventeenth century, and is first found in Germany, especially in the areas of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It can also be found in the region of Pomerania. In the United States, the surname can be found in many states including Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
Famous people with the name Wolsiefer
- Karl H Wolsieffer, a former flag officer in the United States Navy.
- Walter Wolsieffer, a German physicist and professor emeritus at Ruhr University Bochum.
- Frederick Wolsieffer, an American jurist who served on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
- Charles J Wolsieffer, a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe from 1999 to 2002.
- David R Wolsieffer, a retired United States Marine Corps major general who served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
- Rudolph J Wolsieffer, a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force who served in the Korean War.
- John Wolsieffer, an American large-scale painter and mixed media artist.
- Jack Wolsieffer, an actor and musician best known for his role as Jonathan Young on the CBC Television series, The Rez.
- Edith Wolsieffer, a stage actress best known for her roles on Broadway.
- Caitlyn Wolsieffer, a Canadian actress, best known for her roles in the films Sleeping Giant and My Awkward Sexual Adventure.