Surname Völz - Meaning and Origin
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Embarking on a deeply personal journey with iGENEA, I discovered unexpected insights about my Völz ancestors. This transformative experience shifted my perspective about myself, taught me about the resilience, adaptability, and unexpected origins of my lineage, and gave me a more profound self-understanding.
D. Völz
read moreVölz: What does the surname Völz mean?
The surname Völz is of German origin, and is derived from the Middle High German word "völzer," meaning "bird catcher." The name was most likely given to a person who worked as a bird catcher, or a hunter of birds.
The exact history of the Völz surname is unknown, but it is likely to have come from the region of Hannover in Germany. There, the Völz family had a significant presence in the area since the 12th century. They were a prominent family and had many members who were farmers, merchants, craftsmen, and other professions.
The family spread out from Hannover across the whole of Germany, and eventually, to other countries. Several branches of the family have lived in places such as Switzerland, the United States, and Canada.
Due to their long history and the prominence of the family, the Völz surname has come to be associated with a sense of strength and resourcefulness. Today, most people with the Völz surname are proud of their heritage, and continue to demonstrate the strength and resourcefulness of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisVölz: Where does the name Völz come from?
The last name Völz is most common in Germany, particularly in the Bavarian region of the country. The widespread distribution of the surname can be attributed to the fact that the Völz family dates back centuries to the region.
Within Germany, the surname is most common in the Bavarian states of Upper and Lower Bavaria, along with areas of Franconia and other smaller areas. The highest concentration of the name is in Upper Bavarian district of Pfarrkirchen, where it is ranked as the 25th most common spelling.
In terms of international distribution, the Völz surname is spread further throughout Europe, with sizable populations being reported in Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Smaller populations in Canada, the United States, and Venezuela can be attributed to former Völz family members who emigrated or were displaced during the 20th century.
The name Völz is also regularly found in parts of Brazil with sizable German communities, where it is commonly spelt "Volz" or "Vols". It is believed to have been adopted by German settlers during the 19th century, when the noun “völz”, which translates to “fir tree”, was commonly used in Bavaria to denote someone who lived near or worked with this type of tree.
Overall, the last name Völz has a long-standing history in Bavaria and is still firmly associated with the region today. It is likely to continue to be a popular surname in Germany, and potentially other countries, as more people of German descent trace their roots back to the region.
Variations of the surname Völz
The surname Völz is a common German surname derived from the word "Völz" meaning "clearing in the forest." It is usually spelled as "Voelz" or "Voelzke" but other variants include Volz, Voehlz, Voehl, Vowlz, Voilz, Voelcz, and Vöelz.
All of these variants, spellings, and surnames originate from the same noun and each of them can be traced back to a certain region or etymological origin. The most common, or oldest, variant is Völz which is most likely derived from the old Germanic word Völz meaning "clearing in the forest". This noun likely arose in areas of Germany where forests were cleared with the purpose of settlement or cultivation, and it became a surname in a similar way as many other nouns were adopted into surnames.
The other variants of this surname all likely originated from this same noun but could have arisen for different reasons. For example, Voelz could have been a phonetic spelling of the original Völz pronunciation, or could have arisen as a variant in an area where the pronunciation was slightly different. Similarly, Voelzke and Voehlz may arise due to regional differences in pronunciation or dialect. Vowlz and Voilz may have arisen as phonetic spellings related to language barriers between Germanic language and other languages, such as English.
In conclusion, the surname Völz has many different variants which can be traced back to a common origin. All of the spellings and variants are derived from the same noun meaning "clearing in the forest". Each variant could have arisen for different reasons ranging from regional differences in pronunciation to phonetic spellings related to language barriers.
Famous people with the name Völz
- Anika Völz: German actress and director best known for her roles on the films Enfant Terrible and Deutsch unfrei. She has also appeared in the television series Türkisch für Anfänger.
- Gerhard Völz: German actor and voiceover artist known for his roles as Arabella's father on the popular German telenovela Verliebt in Berlin, as well as the voice of Charlie Brown in the German dub of the popular animated films Peanuts.
- Johannes Völz: German actor best known for his roles in the series Kommissar Rex, Laat maar zitten and Dahoam is Dahoam.
- Katja Völz: German actress best known for her roles in films such as Die schöne Lügenmacherin, Mädelsabend and Die Feuerzangenbowle.
- Leonhard Völz: German musical composer and actor known for his role on the musical Mamma Mia! and the Austrian television series Tatort.
- Sigrid Völz: German actress best known for her roles in television series such as Alarm für Cobra 11: Die Autobahnpolizei, Bibi Blocksberg and Unter Uns.
- Wolfgang Völz: German actor and voice-actor best remembered for playing the role of Oskar Hase in the television series Das Traumschiff. He was also the voice of Jiminy Cricket in the German dub of the classic Disney film Pinocchio.