Surname Wolfrat - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wolfrat: What does the surname Wolfrat mean?
The last name Wolfrat is of German origin and is a patronymic surname meaning “descendant of Wolfrad”. The name is derived from the Old German given name Wolfrad, which is composed of the elements “wolf” and “rad” meaning “counsel” or “advice”. The surname has a noble connotation, as “Wolfrad” was commonly used for the firstborn son of a noble family.
The first recorded use of the surname Wolfrat dates back to 1548, during Germany’s Middle Ages – a period of political and social transition when the area was beginning to move toward the modern nation-state. Over time, the name spread to other regions of western and central Europe, particularly France.
Today, Wolfrat is one of the most common surnames in France, the United States, and Canada. In the United States, it ranks within the top 3,000 names, with the highest concentration among those of German descent. It is also found in other countries, including England, Austria, and Australia.
The surname Wolfrat is an enduring testament to the courage and spirit of those who gave their lives to defend their homeland and conquer new lands. It immortalizes the will to fight, survive, and even thrive in challenging times. It signifies strength, determination, and an unbridled spirit that continues to inspire those who have chosen to carry it on for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWolfrat: Where does the name Wolfrat come from?
The last name Wolfrat is not a particularly common name today and is most likely of German origin. It is most concentrated in Germany and its neighbouring countries. It has low population density in other parts of Europe, such as the United Kingdom, France, and the rest of Scandinavia. It is slightly more pronounced in North America, especially the United States, where it is spread across the entire continent from Maine to California.
In the United States, Wolfrat is most heavily populated in states such as Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, and North Dakota. It is also present in large cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, which have large German-speaking immigrant populations. In Asia, Wolfrat is fairly uncommon, with isolated pockets in India and China.
Within the United States, the highest concentration of Wolfrats can be found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - a city with a large German-American population and home to the Wölfert family, its most prominent emigrants. Beyond that, Wolfrats can be found as far away as Moscow, Australia, and even South Africa, but at much lower numbers.
Overall, it is a fairly uncommon name, and not particularly common in any one geographic location.
Variations of the surname Wolfrat
Wolfrat is an old German surname which originates as a combination of words meaning 'wolf ruler’. It is an occupational name for someone associated with the noble profession of ruling. The variants and spellings for the name Wolfrat include Wolfrade, Wulffrat, Wolffrath, Wolffrad(h), Wulffratt, and Wolfratt. These variations of the surname may have been adopted depending on a family's region of origin and the language spoken there.
Surnames similar to Wolfrat that have the same origin are Wulff, Wulf, Wolf, Wulffman, Luft, and Luck. These names are believed to derive from the ancient Germanic personal name Wolf which means “wolf”. It was first used as a given name by Germanic tribes which called their leaders “lords of the wolves”. It continues to be popular in various forms and it is found throughout many regions and cultures.
The name Wolfrat can also be found in the Slavic countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. Here, the name often takes on an altered spelling, or a version of the same pronunciation, such as Volfrát, Wolffrát, and Volfrati. In Ukraine, the Cyrillic spelling is Волфрат. The variation Wolfram is also popular among countries such as Austria and Germany.
Overall, the surname Wolfrat has a rich history and is believed to originate from a Germanic personal name, meaning “lord of the wolves”. It continues to be found in many countries, sometimes with slight variations in pronunciation and spelling.
Famous people with the name Wolfrat
- John Wolf Ratzinger (1924-2020), German-born prelate and theologian who served as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1981 to 2005 and was Pope Benedict XVI from 2005 to 2013.
- Charles Wolf Ratzinger (1918-2013), German professor of theology at the Fulda seminary and the brother of Pope Benedict XVI.
- Martha Wolf Ratzinger (1905-1991), mother of Pope Benedict XVI, who helped raise her children during World War II.
- Joseph Wolf Ratzinger (1914-2005), German theologian and the father of Pope Benedict XVI, who was a police officer in Nazi Germany.
- Maria Peintner (née Wolf Ratzinger, born 1986), Austrian sprinter and the daughter of Pope Benedict XVI.
- Andrea Wolf Ratzinger (born 1954), German lawyer and the sister of Pope Benedict XVI.
- Georg Ratzinger (né Wolf Ratzinger, 1922-2020), German musician and choirmaster, who succeeded his brother Joseph Wolf Ratzinger as the Ratzinger family's choirmaster.
- Georg Ratzinger (né Wolf Ratzinger, 1739-1793), German musician, composer, and choirmaster, who was the father of Joseph Wolf Ratzinger.
- Johann Baptist Wolf Ratzinger (1882-1945), Austrian state police chief, who was the father of Charles Wolf Ratzinger.
- Albert Wolf Ratzinger (1910-1944), German soldier who fell in action during World War II, and the eldest brother of Pope Benedict XVI.