Surname Wulfen - Meaning and Origin
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Wulfen: What does the surname Wulfen mean?
The last name Wulfen is of German origin and is derived from a nickname referring to someone who was believed to possess great strength or a fierce nature. The nickname derives from the old high German word "wulf" meaning wolf.
The family name Wulfen is believed to come from the nobility of medieval times. In medieval German culture, some people were believed to possess great strength or ferocity, and were described as having "wolfish" tendencies. Consequently, they were given the nicknames 'wulf' or 'wulfen.'
The name Wulfen is associated with a bold family line, a strong character, and boundless courage. People who bear the name of Wulfen tend to be creative and independent, with a few exceptions. They are also strong willed and somewhat independent-minded, having the strength and courage to create their own paths in life.
Interestingly, the Wulfen family name is found in many different forms throughout Germany. Variations of the Wulfen name include Wulfenauer, Wulfert, Wulfes, and Wolfenmeier. All of these variations are derived from the same nickname, originally referring to someone with a strong personality or fierce demeanor.
In modern times, the Wulfen family name is still quite popular. There are many notable figures, both living and in history, who have carried the name Wulfen. Regardless of its modern variants, Wulfen is an old German name that represents courage and strength.
Order DNA origin analysisWulfen: Where does the name Wulfen come from?
The last name Wulfen is most commonly found in Europe today, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. The surname is derived from the German word “wulf” meaning “wolf” which may have been used as an appellative name (i.e. a nickname). While the use of Wulfen as a surname in Germany dates back to the 13th century, its usage as a surname became much more widespread during the 18th and 19th centuries. As a result of immigration, the name can now be found in many other countries, especially in the U.S., Canada, and Argentina.
In the United States, The Wulfen family was among the earliest German-speaking immigrants to arrive in Pennsylvania in the first half of the 1700s. It is believed that the family immigrated from Rhineland-Westphalia in southern Germany. Since then, the Wulfen surname has spread all throughout the United States. In more recent times, Wulfen immigrants to the United States have come from countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands, and settlements of the surname can now be found in the eastern states such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Due to the family's 6-7 centuries of European history, many Wulfens across the world are still connected through an online family tree and other genealogy resources. Today, Wulfen families in the US and abroad are still actively sharing and preserving their family history and heritage.
Variations of the surname Wulfen
The surname Wulfen is an old German word, deriving from a man's name Wulf which means wolf. It is a toponymic surname, which originated from a place named Wolfing or Wulfing, which is of uncertain origin.
There are no known variations or alternate spellings of the surname Wulfen. However, it is sometimes mistakenly spelled Wulffen, Wolffon, Wolffen, Wolfen, Wolfon, Wülfen, Wulffon, or Wolfon. In some cases, the ending of the surname may be changed to –man or –enburg.
The surname Wulfen is also known by other surnames of similar origin, such as Wulfing, Wolfinger, Wolfing, Wolfman, Wulfheimer, Woolf, Woolley, Wolfenbühler, Wolfram, and Woolfson.
The Wolfen surname may also be of Jewish or Polish origin, and in that case the spelling Wulfen would become Wolff. Other variants and spellings of this surname may include Wufen, Vulfen, Velfen, and Wolfens.
In some cases, the Wulfen surname may have been changed to one of the following: Woulf, Wolffe, Wulff, Woof, Wooten, or Wootenberg.
Famous people with the name Wulfen
- Augustin Riedl von Wulfen: Austrian field marshal in the Habsburg empire
- Johann Heinrich Wulfen: Austrian botanist and priest
- Johann Bernard Wulfen: Austrian botanist and mineralogist
- Ernst Otto Wulfen: Austrian botanist and explorer
- Thomas Wulfen: German geologist
- Adolphe Wulfen: German occultist
- Gerhard Wulfen: German avant-garde artist
- Petri Wulfen: Swedish footballer
- Rik van Wulfen: Dutch composer and musician
- Chantal Wulfen: Dutch female distance runner
- Tina Wulfen: Swiss cyclist
- Alan Wulfen: American artist