Surname Voelcker - Meaning and Origin
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Voelcker: What does the surname Voelcker mean?
Voelcker is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German term "vogeler", which translates to "bird catcher". It is an occupational surname, likely referred to individuals or families whose profession involved trapping and selling birds or serving as a fowler. Over time, as professions were passed down through generations, so were the surnames, thus certain surnames became associated with certain professions. The variations of the surname, such as Voelker, Folker, and Vogler, are common due to regional dialects and pronunciation differences. The surname Voelcker, like many other German surnames, spread to other parts of the world with German emigration.
Order DNA origin analysisVoelcker: Where does the name Voelcker come from?
The surname Voelcker is most commonly seen in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It can also be found in other parts of Europe such as the Netherlands and Poland, as well as in the United States and Canada.
Based on German records dating back to the 16th century, the name Voelcker is thought to have originated from the German regions of Thuringia, Niedersachsen, and Westfalen. It is believed that the name is derived from the Old German words "Voelk", which means "folk" or "people," and "er," meaning "ruler."
Today, there are over 3,000 people in Germany bearing the surname Voelcker. In the United States, there are nearly 500 people with the name, predominantly located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, though it can be found in other areas as well. In Canada, there are about 250 people with the surname Voelcker, most of whom are concentrated in Ontario and Alberta.
Though Voelcker may not be a particularly common name in any one place, it does have a significant presence in both the German-speaking world and the English-speaking countries of North America. Its presence can be largely attributed to the German immigrants that traveled to the United States and Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries in pursuit of a better life.
Variations of the surname Voelcker
The Voelcker surname is known by many different spellings and variants, including the following: Voelker, Völker, Völcker, Voelkerr, Völkerr, Völckerr, Völker, Voelkert, Voellker, and Völlker.
The spelling of surnames often changes from one place to another, as each locality may use different dialects of the language, and some people have simply chosen to adopt or subtly change an existing surname by way of their own expression. In the case of Voelcker, some variations may also be attributed to immigration from different parts of the world.
The Germanic variation of the Voelcker surname tends to be Völker and Völcker, and is the original spelling used in Germany, Austria, and other parts of Germany-speaking Europe. Voelker is a Dutch variation often used in Holland and parts of the Netherlands, while Voelkerr is the Swedish and Norwegian variation used in those countries.
Voelkert is a spelling variation commonly found in Denmark, while Voellker is primarily used in Hungary and parts of Eastern Europe. Similarly, Völlker is an Austrian variation found in parts of Austria and other German-speaking countries, and Völkerr is the Danish version used in Denmark and other Scandinavian nations.
In short, the Voelcker surname is steeped in fascinating history, and its many different spellings and variants are a testament to the international mobility of different populations over the course of history.
Famous people with the name Voelcker
- Mark Voelcker: American race car driver who competed in the ARCA Racing Series between 1987 and 1995.
- August Voelcker: was an Industrial Chemist in the UK who was awarded the Gold Medal by Royal Institute of Chemistry in 1955, for services to the development of the chemical industry.
- John Voelcker: British financial journalist and biographer, best known for his work on William Waldorf Astor and Susan B. Anthony.
- David Voelcker: a German-born architect who immigrated to the United States and became the first designated partner of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Chicago.
- Sibylle Voelcker: CEO of the Munich-based media company Siniat GmbH.
- Arend Voelcker: research professor at the University of Freiburg in Germany and the director of the Swiss Institute for Problems of Aging (SIPA).
- Hans Carl Von Voelcker: German Conway scholar who studied divinity at Trinity College Cambridge before going on to become Pastor at the Oberammergau church in Bavaria.
- Eva Voelcker: a Pulitzer Prize-winning economist and venture capitalist who works in the field of impact investing.
- Peter Voelcker: German American artist and musician based in Brooklyn, New York.
- Heinrich Voelcker: 19th century Lutheran pastor from Hannover in Germany, best known for bringing Lutherans and Methodists together at the work of the Prussian Union.