Surname Voelker - Meaning and Origin
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Voelker: What does the surname Voelker mean?
The last name Voelker is of German origin and has several potential meanings. One interpretation is that it may be derived from the Middle High German word "vogelære," which means bird catcher. This interpretation suggests it may have been an occupational surname for someone who used to catch birds for a living. Another interpretation suggests it could be from "volk", meaning people or folk, and could have been used to designate someone as a representative or leader of the people. As with many surnames, the exact meaning can vary based on regional usage and family history. While the surname is most prevalent in Germany, it is also found in the United States and other countries due to immigration.
Order DNA origin analysisVoelker: Where does the name Voelker come from?
The last name Voelker is most common in the United States, particularly in the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota and Iowa.
In Wisconsin, Voelker is the 1,592nd most common last name, with accounts of 2,074 individuals. The highest concentration of the name is in surrounding Dodge, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, and Manitowoc counties.
In Michigan, it is the 6,941st most common last name with 1,685 total individuals, most concentrated in Oakland and Wayne counties, which includes Detroit.
In North Dakota, the name Voelker is the 1,426th most common, with 438 individuals, most belonging to North Dakota's home counties of Traill and Pembina.
Finally, in Iowa, the name Voelker is the 2,873rd most common, with 471 individuals. It is most common in Polk County, home to the state capital of Des Moines.
The Voelker name is most likely of German origin, and means either justice-keeper or hunter. It has been written many ways including Veelker, Feulker, Feulkers, and Faalcker.
Variations of the surname Voelker
Voelker is a German surname, derived from the word ‘Volker’, which means 'people'. Variants of the surname include Volker, Völker, Volckers, Völckers, Völxer, Völxers, and Falks. Other variants of the Voelker surname can also include Voelckel, Voelkel, Völkel, Feulker, and Fölcker.
In some cases, the Voelker surname may be spelled as 'Fölker' or 'Folker' or, occasionally, 'Fuellker'. These variants are derived from the Middle High German name 'Völger' or 'Fölger', both using the same 'Volc-' or 'Folc-' prefix as the original Voelker surname.
The surname Voelker is associated with numerous common German surnames including Volkert, Volkmer, Volkmann, Volkmar, Volkmair, and Volkers. While most of these related surnames are spelled differently from the Voelker surname, the two are linked through the common prefix volc- or folc-.
Various other surnames have been derived from the Voelker surname, such as the U.S.A. surname Volkers, as well as the Dutch surname Van Volger in Australia. In Poland, the Voelker surname is often associated with the Völxer, Völxen, or Fuellker surnames.
The Voelker surname is also thought to have evolved from the biblical surname 'Volkrah', believed to be the son of Joktan in the Book of Geneses. Though the origin of the Voelker surname certainly remains rooted in German ancestry, various surname variants and derivatives from all over the world are now associated with it.
Famous people with the name Voelker
- Roderick Voelker: American actor, known for role on TV series "Anger Management”.
- Fritz Voelker: German composer, poet and author.
- Bob Voelker: American fighter pilot, World War II veteran, and former longtime inspector general of the State of Michigan.
- J. Paul Voelker: French journalist and war reporter.
- Tyson Voelker: American professional wrestler and actor.
- Frank Voelker: Watercolor painter from Germany.
- Bruce Voelker: American politician who served as the Penn Hills mayor for over two decades.
- Edward Voelker: Professional baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers.
- Henry Voelker: German Olympic gold medalist in cycling from 1912.
- Sylvi Voelker: Swiss professional ice hockey player and member of the Swiss women's national team.