Surname Wülfing - Meaning and Origin
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Wülfing: What does the surname Wülfing mean?
The surname Wülfing (also spelled Wuelfing, Wuefling, Ulfing, Uelfing, Wüfling, and Woelfing) is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German personal name Wolfing, which as its root name “Wolf”, meaning “wolf”.
In Germanic tribal culture, the wolf was a powerful and often revered symbol of strength, courage, and cunning. The Wolf was seen as a noble guardian and symbol of danger and protection, as well as being a messenger of fate.
The Wolfing name signifies a sense of extended protection. It's likely that someone with this surname, many hundreds of years ago, would have had qualities associated with the wolf, such as ferocity, strength, and intelligence.
The surname Wülfing is also associated with royalty, as in the 12th century, a man named Hugues de Wolfing appears in a document concerning the coronation of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
In modern Germany, the Wülfing name is still relatively common and denotes a person from the populous region of Lower Saxony. In Germany, people with the surname Wolvfling are often considered to be part of the creative class, and artwork such as prints and sculptures depicting wolves are a popular way to honor their heritage.
In short, the surname Wülfing has a deep association with strength, protection, and sometimes royal lineage. Its importance to the Germanic people is still significant to this day, and is one of the more common surnames in Lower Saxony.
Order DNA origin analysisWülfing: Where does the name Wülfing come from?
The surname Wülfing is most common in Germany today, though it can also be found to a lesser degree in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Wülfing was historically a noble German family name, originating in the German region of Saxony, and is found chiefly in the south-east and south-west of the country. Records suggest that it is one of the oldest known German surnames, dating back to the Middle Ages.
The original source of the name Wülfing remains debatable. It may have derived from the Old Germanic elements “wulf” meaning ‘wolf’ and “ing” meaning ‘son of’, which together could signify ‘son of the wolf’. Similarly, it may have been derived from a place name meaning ‘forest or estate of the wolves’, something dictated by one’s geographical locality.
Wülfing is still relatively common in Germany today, ranking 563rd in prevalence, with 44,442 citizens bearing this last name. It is most commonly found in the north-eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt (11,117) and Rheinland-Pfalz (8,054), followed by Baden-Württemberg (5,610) and Bavaria (5,106).
While the overall numbers of the surname Wülfing have steadily declined over the past 80 years, descendants of the Wülfing family still remain in their native Germany today, and in other parts of Europe, making Wülfing one of the oldest known surnames still in use.
Variations of the surname Wülfing
The surname Wülfing has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It can be spelled Wülfing, Wulfing, Wolfing, Wuehlfing, Wuehlafing, Wulffing, Wuelfing, Woelfing, Wülfinger, Wulfinger, Wolfinger, Wuehlfinger, Wuehlafinger, Wulffinger, Wuelfinger, Woelfinger, Wülflings, Wulflings, Wolflings, Wuehlflings, Wuehlaflings, Wulfflings, Wuelflings, Woelflings, Wülffen, and Wuelffen.
The combination of letters 'Wülf' in this surname is derived from the Old High German word 'wulf' which means 'wolf.' This word is also present in other German variants of the same surname, such as 'Wuffing' and 'Wolffing.' This indicates a possible origin from an ancestors’ association with wolves.
The particular variants of this surname are the result of regional dialects, immigration patterns, and changes to spelling conventions over time. It is likely that many of the variant surnames would have originally been interchangeable with Wülfing. However, modern-day genealogists may need to investigate whether particular variants are associated with specific branches of the family.
Some families may also have adopted variants of the surname after immigrating to other countries. For example, Wulfing may have been adopted by families who immigrated to the US as the umlaut didn’t become popularly used in American names until the 20th century. Furthermore, this surname may be found in its non-Germanic spelling as Wolfing, particularly in English-speaking countries.
In summary, the surname Wülfing has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is important for genealogists to consider these versions when researching their Wülfing family history.
Famous people with the name Wülfing
- Audrey Wülfing: Actress from Germany, known for her roles in the films The Monastery (2006), The Child (2004), and Contracted: Phase 2 (2015).
- Wolf-Rudiger Wülfing: German former rower who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Oliver Wülfing: German author and professor who writes on topics related to mathematics, computer science, and philosophy.
- Alfred Aharon Wülfing: German-born American molecular biologist best known for his work on alcohol dehydrogenase.
- Fritz Wülfing: German politician best known for his many years of service in the Bundestag.
- Ralf Wülfing: German physicist who is widely known for his work with noble gases and laser spectroscopy.
- Christoph Wülfing: German journalist and reporter on economics and financial issues.
- Paul Wülfing: German author and journalist who has written extensively on political Islam.
- Elke Wülfing: German television presenter and former model who has appeared on shows like Die Superhändler and Tretboot in Seenot.
- Johannes Wülfing: German composer whose prolific output includes orchestral, chamber, vocal, and choral works.