Surname Voges - Meaning and Origin
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V. Voges
read moreVoges: What does the surname Voges mean?
The last name Voges is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Old German personal name “Vog,” which is derived from the Old High German “vogal,” meaning "of the people." Over time, the last name became an occupational name for an official or messenger sent out by the ruler.
It was common for a person to take on the name of their ancestor, and as such, Voges was often adopted as a last name reflecting a person's familial connection to the station. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it become common for the second son to use his father's first name as his last name, further popularizing the Voges surname.
The Voges family has a long and proud history. Records of the family can be found in the Pfalz and Bavaria regions of Germany. The Voges family's presence can be found not only in Germany, but all over the world, with many of them having immigrated to the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, the Voges name is still used by individuals all over the world who are proud to carry on their family's legacy and history. This legacy has been passed down from generation to generation, and the name will continue to be used by the Voges family members for years to come.
Order DNA origin analysisVoges: Where does the name Voges come from?
The surname Voges is most common throughout Germany and Switzerland, and it has variations in the Netherlands, Denmark, and France. In Germany, the name is the 35th most common surname and the 16th most common in Switzerland. The most common geographic region associated with this surname is the Rhineland region, which has seen many migrations of Germanic peoples. The family name is also associated with many Jews who adopted it. Additionally, other immigrants from Europe, such as from Poland and Russia, have taken the name as their own.
Voges is a common surname in the United States as well, especially among German Americans. The Voges surname has been prominent in the state of New York since at least 1800. In the 2000 US census, the Voges surname was the 2,434th most common, with roughly 6,543 people bearing the name. Across all of the United States, the Voges surname had an overall population of about 11,449. The states with the highest density of this surname were New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois, all likely as a result of migrations of German-speaking persons in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Aside from the United States, the Voges surname is also common in many Latin American countries. The earliest records of people bearing the name date from the mid- to late 18th century. It has become especially popular in Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru. In Mexico, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Nuevo Leon, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Veracruz.
Today, the Voges surname is still common in Germany and throughout Europe, as well as in the United States and Latin America. It has a unique history and many branches associated with it.
Variations of the surname Voges
The surname Voges is most often seen in German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It may have originated from the Low German word ‘voghe’ meaning ‘throw’ or ‘hurl’. The name is derived from a nickname for a ‘fierce’ or ‘tough’ individual who was able to hurl or throw things farther than others.
Variations of the surname Voges include Vogts, Fauges, Vauges and Voggen. Spelling variations of the surname tend to appear as a result of linguistic differences, specifically those between German and regional dialects – for example, ‘Voghes’ is an alternative spelling.
In some cases, the same surname Voges is spelt with a single letter ‘S’ – Voge.
Surnames with similar meanings are also seen; for example, Voegel is an alternative, often used in the area of former Prussia. Variations of the same surname available in the Austro-Hungarian Empire include Vogel, Vogl and Fogl, of the same origin as ‘Voges’.
Although the surname’s meaning is rooted in the German word ‘voghe’, there are those who suggest it originated from Birdenfeld, a town in Northern Germany. There is also a Jewish origin attributed to it, as Zion Voges is listed as a Jewish officer in the Austrian History of the Jews of Vienna.
In today’s world, Voges remains a popular choice of surname and is seen in many, mostly German speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Voges
- Katja Voges: a German actress.
- Aleida Voges: a Dutch film director and actor.
- Oliver Voges: German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union party.
- Thomas Voges: German sport shooter, Olympian and world champion.
- Matthias Voges: a German media entrepreneur and founder of Voges Entertainment.
- Rick Voges: a former Major League Baseball player.
- Harold F. Voges: a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral and former Commander of the US 6th Fleet.
- Dana Voges: an Australian actress.
- Carl Frankfurt Voges: a German novelist and journalist of the early 20th century.
- Rainer Voges: a German film, television and stage actor.
- Sarah Voges: an American dancer and choreographer.
- Sofia Voges: a German theater, film and television actress.
- Hanno Voges: a German physicist and professor of engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology.
- Mike Voges: an American film production designer.
- Manfred Voges: a German race car driver and racing champion.
- Frank Voges: a German footballer and former coach of the East Frisian club SV Werder.
- Jens Voges: a German rugby union player.
- Helmut Voges: a German television presenter, journalist and author.
- Adelheid Voges: a German television presenter.
- Peter David Voges: a former diplomat of the United States.