Surname Woltze - Meaning and Origin

Woltze: What does the surname Woltze mean?

The last name Woltze is a German or Dutch patronymic surname, meaning “son of Wold”. In the Middle Ages, it was a common practice for Europeans to take the name of their father or ancestor as their surname. Wold was a popular given name throughout Europe during this era, derived from an Old Germanic word meaning “rule” or “government”. This suggests the Woltzes were a family of powerful and noble origins.

The Woltzes may also have descended from ancient Norse seafarers, since Wold is a derivative of the Norse word völgyr, which means “wavecrow”. This term was typically used to refer to a renowned sailor or navigator, typically a chief or captain on board the ship. This suggests the Woltzes may have once served as seafaring adventurers.

The Woltze surname is rarely found in the United States, as most of its bearers are likely of European descent, particularly from Germany or the Netherlands. Nevertheless, the name Woltze has a storied history that likely dates back to the Middle Ages, and reveals a great deal about the origin and backbone of these bearers’ family lines.

Woltze: Where does the name Woltze come from?

The surname Woltze is most commonly found in Germany. As of 2019, the last name was most prevalent in Bavaria, where it ranked number 350 out of all surnames. In addition to its presence in Germany, this surname can also be found in the Nordic countries, particularly in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.

In the United States, the surname Woltze is still relatively uncommon, although there are some pockets of the population who bear this name. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, within the last census year, there were approximately 630 people with the last name Woltze living in the United States. Most people with the surname Woltze live in large cities such as New York City and San Diego.

The origin of the last name Woltze is unclear. It is thought to be derived from a Germanic or Old Norse word meaning “wolf” or “dangerous beast.” The name could also be derived from the Old German word “wulfsze,” meaning “wolf lair.”

Whatever the exact origin, Woltze is an uncommon name in the 21st century. This is probably due in part to the other forms of the name, such as Wolfs, Wulf and Wolf, which were more prevalent during early periods of emigration. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating name with an interesting past.

Variations of the surname Woltze

The surname Woltze is of German origin and can be found in many different spellings. Variants and alternate spellings of the patriarchic surname Woltze include Wolski, Wolz, Wolts, Waltz, Wolt, Wooltz, Walz, and Walkowiak. These variants were likely assigned to indicate a place of origin, a regional affiliation or an occupation of the family at one time.

Some spelling variants of the surname Woltze can be found in a wide variety of languages and spellings known as patronymic surnames. These are surnames based on the father's name, such as Woltz, Woltzhauer, Woltzheim, Woltzner, Wolter, Wolschlager, Wolsky, Wolskoff, Wolskoff, Waltz, Walds, Wally, Waller, Wallley, Walser, Walscher, and Walkoff.

Other, more rare variants for Woltze include Wojkowicz, Wojtkowiak, Wojtczak, Wojciechowicz, and Wojcik. Additionally, the variants Wolczyk and Vovk may have its roots in the surname Woltze. However, this is highly speculative since the exact origin of these surnames is often lost in the mists of time.

The spelling variations of the surname Woltze is an example of the many ways family names were altered over time. Variations of not only the spelling of the surname, but also the pronunciation of it, likely occurred over periods of migration and residence, language variation and disputes between various authorities as to how names should be spelled or pronounced.

Famous people with the name Woltze

• Tom Woltz: singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
• Chris Woltz: rower who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
• Klaus Woltze: actor and voice-over artist
• Carl Woltz: Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1898 to 1905
• Richard Woltze: American Brigadier General who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II
• Daniel Woltz: producer of music videos and commercials
• Lena Woltze: figure skater from Sweden
• Kris Woltze: competitive swimmer who represented the United States at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, Canada
• Peter Woltze: German writer who wrote many adventure stories in the 1950s
• Brigitte Woltze: fashion designer and founder of the high-end womenswear label BW by Brigitte Woltze

Other surnames

WoltzWoltzelWoltzenWöltzen