Surname Woulfe - Meaning and Origin
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Woulfe: What does the surname Woulfe mean?
The surname Woulfe is an Anglicised version of the Irish name Ó Faoláin, which literally means "son of Faolán". This places the surname in the category of "patronymic" surnames, which are derived from the given name of a father or grandfather. The Gaelic name Faolán is believed to be derived from the Old Irish word for "wolf". While there may have been a historical individual from whom the surname is derived, it is more likely that the surname Woulfe was adopted to signify the group identity of an ancestral clan.
The use of the surname Woulfe began in medieval Ireland as part of the Gaelic system of naming families. This system identified a person by their forename, followed by the name of their father, grand-father, or great-grandfather. In this way, Clan Woulfe can be traced back to the tenth century.
The Woulfe family is associated with County Clare, Ireland, where the earliest records of the name were found. The name was quite popular in the region, and a number of Woulfes have made their mark in Irish history. Some of the most notable members of the family include Senator Michael Woulfe and British Army General Sir Richard Woulfe.
The origin of the surname Woulfe provides an interesting insight into the history and culture of an Irish family. It is a reminder of the wolf symbol being used as a symbol for Irish strength, courage, and independence. Today, the Woulfe surname can be found all over the world, and people proudly display their connection to their Irish roots.
Order DNA origin analysisWoulfe: Where does the name Woulfe come from?
The surname Woulfe is a variant of the Irish-Gaelic surname 'Ó Foghludha', which was derived from the Irish given name 'Fogal', meaning "wolf". The name as a whole can mean "descendent of the wolf". This surname is found in both Ireland and Scotland, where variations include 'Woulfe', 'Wolf', 'Wolffe', 'Wolfe', and 'Woolf'. In Ireland, the surname is most commonly found in County Limerick, as well as parts of South Galway, North Tipperary, and South Kilkenny.
In Scotland, Woulfe surname is more common, with variants such as 'Woolfe', 'Wolfe', and 'Woolf'. In Scotland, the surname is mainly found in Glasgow, where concentration is the highest. In nearby Edinburgh concentrations are high as well.
In England, where variations such as 'Wolf' and 'Woolf' can be found, the presence of the Woulfe surname is generally low, with only rare occurrences.
Today, the surname Woulfe and its variants can be found in many countries as a result of immigration or emigration from Scotland and Ireland. In the United States, cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have relatively high population concentrations of people bearing this surname. Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom also have relatively high population concentrations among their migratory citizens.
It is estimated that worldwide, there are thousands of people bearing the last name Woulfe. The percentage of people who bear this name is much lower than other more common surnames such as Smith, Johnson, and Williams, but the presence of the Woulfe surname can still be seen throughout parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Woulfe
The surname Woulfe has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is predominantly an Irish surname and is likely derived from the word “wulf”, meaning “wolf” in Old English. The most common spellings are Wolfe, Woulfe, Wools, Woolf, Wolff, and Wolfes. It can also be found with the prefixes O’ and Mac, such as O’Woulfe and MacWoulfe. This is a fairly common surname in Ireland, especially in the South and South West, including Galway, Cork, and Limerick. Variations on the spelling can also be found in other countries. In Scotland, the spelling is usually Woolf while in England, it is often Woolfe.
Other surnames of the same origin include Wohl, Wolle, Woll, Wollf, Walf, Wolfley, and Wool. There are also Dutch spellings of the name such as Wulff and Van Wolfe. It is likely that Woulfe is also a name derived from the German Ulrich or from the personal name Wolf which was common in France and Belgium. In the United States of America, the surname is usually found as Wolf, Woolf, and Wolfes.
The surnames Woolf and Wolfe are relatively popular in the United States, but the name Woulfe is not as common. The different variations on the spelling of the name are just one way to trace the history and origin of the surname.
Famous people with the name Woulfe
- John Woulfe, Irish activist and campaigner for the independence of Ireland from Britain during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Ciaran Woulfe, Irish musician, songwriter and record producer.
- Tom Woulfe, Irish actor, best known for his role as John Porter in The Bandits (2003) and Nicky in Mrs. Brown's Boys (2011-2014).
- Roddy Woulfe, Irish politician, who served as Seanad Éireann representative for Fianna Fáil from April 2011 to April 2016.
- John Woulfe, Irish politician, who was a Member of the European Parliament for Fianna Fáil from 2004 to 2009.
- Majella Woulfe, Irish judge, who has been a judge of the High Court since October 2018.
- Cormac Woulfe, Irish footballer who currently plays for Scottish club Hamilton Academical.
- Oisin Woulfe, Irish footballer, who currently plays for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
- Murray Woulfe, Canadian actor and comedian best known for his role as Hawkeye Farr in the television series, Lost in Space (1998-2002).
- Jill Woulfe, American actress, best known for her roles in the television shows, Frasier (1994-2004), Grey's Anatomy (2005-2008) and Private Practice (2009-2012).