Surname Voell - Meaning and Origin
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Voell: What does the surname Voell mean?
The last name Voell is of German origin and is derived from the German name Völkel, an occupational name for someone who lived near or worked with a bird trap. The German word “Völkel” is derived from the verb “vögeln” which means “to hunt small birds” or “to catch birds”.
Originally, the Voell name belonged to a family of hunters, which was gradually adopted and altered, becoming more of a surname, assumed by many to denote their place of origin. This is a fairly common name in Germany and is found throughout the central European region.
The Voell surname is a patronymic surname, which is a name derived from the name of the father of the original bearer. This type of surname is very common among are German and Jewish populations.
Today, the Voell surname is still quite popular. It is found being used by people all over the world. Although the origin of the Voell surname is German, the significance of the name itself transcends continents and cultures. People with this surname continue to be a prominent part of many communities and their rich heritage is a source of neighborhoods and families around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisVoell: Where does the name Voell come from?
The last name Voell is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed to have originated in the area of Bavaria, where records indicate the name was used by landed gentry as early as the Middle Ages. Records also suggest that the name Voell spread to Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe by the 16th century. The Voell family can be found in most German states today, especially in the regions where Bavarian dialects are still spoken.
Currently, one of the largest concentrations of the Voell family is in the state of Lower Saxony. This region was part of West Germany after World War II and is home to many descendants of refugees displaced during the conflict. The Voell family can also be found throughout the United States, where the surname was brought to North America in the 1800s.
Voell is an uncommon name and the total worldwide population is estimated to be in the low thousands. Despite its small numbers, the Voell family can be found in nearly every German-speaking region of the world today. While the majority of modern-day Voells are descendants of the original Bavarian Voells, the surname also has roots in many other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname Voell
The surname Voell is derived from a Germanic name and is usually found among ethnic Germans and descendants of ethnic Germans hailing from Europe. Variants of Voell can include Völ, Vöhl, Voellh, Voll, Voelln, Völlner, Voelpel, Völpel and Völpel.
In particular, the surname Voell often appears in records and documents from Germany and Switzerland, with variants being spelled as Völle and Völl in Switzerland and Völ or Voel in Germany. In some cases, the surnames Vollmer and Volmer are used interchangeably, and though they originate from different language roots, can refer to the same family.
The surname Voell can be spelt in many different ways due partly to variations in the source language’s alphabet. For instance, the Germanic letter ‘ö’ (with diaeresis) is often replaced with an ‘oe’ in modern Danish and English spelling, making the surname sometimes spelt as Voell, Voel, and Voelln. This is also true of the additional surnames derived from Voell, such as Voelpel which can be spelt alternative as Voellpel, Voellpel, and Völpel.
Surnames often change form over time as generations pass on the family name. For instance, the surname Voelpel is sometimes found spelt as Felpel in some records and contemporary versions. Additional surnames derived from the original Voell name include Voelker and Völker.
In conclusion, there are many variations of the surname Voell, ranging from common variants such as Voel and Voell to variants which change based on the region and prevailing language. Additionally, surnames derived from Voell have been spelt variously throughout different records, languages and generations.
Famous people with the name Voell
- Stefanie Voell: A German actress, who is best known for her role as Sophie Reuter in the German television series "Rote Rosen".
- Kurt Voell: A South African sprint athlete from the 1920s. He won gold medals in the 4x100 meter relay at the 1924 Summer Olympics and the 1926 British Empire Games.
- Clemens Voell: A German artist based in Dusseldorf who works with oil on canvas to produce abstract paintings.
- Wilhelm Voell: An Austrian luger who competed in the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the men's singles event in the 1964 games.
- August Voell: An American baseball pitcher who played in the Major-League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers for two seasons in 1930–31.
- John Voell: An American conservationist and public servant who served as the superintendent of Yosemite National Park from 1972 until 1978.
- Margaret Voell: Chief Operating Officer of Johnson & Johnson.
- William Voell: A United States Air Force Major General.
- Judith Voell: A German rower who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Patrick Voell: A German football player who currently plays for BSC Süd-05 Berlin.