Surname Voelkers - Meaning and Origin
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Voelkers: What does the surname Voelkers mean?
The last name Voelkers (also spelled Völkers) is a Germanic surname which first originated in the regions of Germany and Austria during the Middle Ages. Its original root is the Old-High German word “völk”, which translates to “people”. This suggests that the initial ancestors of the Voelkers people were a tribe that was referred to as “the people” and who adopted this name as their own.
Over time the surname Voelkers evolved to mean “people’s champion” as it was assumed that the bearers of the name were known to take the side of the people they lived amongst, lending their strength to vindicate the weak and protect those that were often vulnerable.
The Voelkers surname is still a very prominent name within the Germanic communities and has been passed down through many generations. The surname continues to be found predominantly in Germany, Austria, and the surrounding Germanic countries today.
Today, the modern Voelkers people proudly carry this name forward and use it as a symbol of their commitment to uphold the values and traditions that their ancestors once held so dear. The name Voelkers stands for standing together, taking responsibility, justice and fairness, as well as loyalty and honour.
Order DNA origin analysisVoelkers: Where does the name Voelkers come from?
The last name Voelkers is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the rural regions of Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Lower Saxony. It is also found in some parts of the Netherlands and in the German-speaking portion of Belgium. While this surname is not overly common in the United States, there are families with this name living in Texas, Iowa, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and several other states.
The Voelkers surname derived from the Middle High German 'völker' which can be translated as 'folks'. It was likely added to the first name of an original bearer as a hereditary last name indicating descent from a specific family. It is usually considered to be a one-family surname, and it's possible that all the people with the last name Voelkers today share a common ancestor who first adopted it hundreds of years ago.
The Voelkers in Germany today are mainly employed in farming, agriculture, and banking. There are also many teachers, medical professionals, and other business owners living with the surname.
In Germany, Voelkers are mainly affiliated with the Protestant faith, particularly the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This faith has strong roots in the rural regions of Germany and remains the most prominent church in Germany today.
Variations of the surname Voelkers
The surname Voelkers has many variants and alternative spellings. The surnames Völkers, Voelker, Voelcker, Völcker, Volker, Volcker, Völker, Folker, Folcker, Folkers, Fölker, Fölcker, Foelker, Foelchers, Foelcker and Folchers are all variations of the same origin surname.
In German the surname Völkers is derived from the Latin word “Volcatius” which means “lively” and the name itself is derived from the German word “vogler” meaning “bird catcher” or “bird holder”. Voelkers is also believed to have derived from a German noble family who lived in Switzerland and was known as the “de Völkers” family.
In Denmark, the surname Völkers was also used, with the spelling variations Völcker or Völker being preferred. The Danish version of the family name was derived from the Old Danish word “völk” which meant “stranger”.
In Dutch, the surname Volkers is a patronymic Dutch surname derived from the Germanic personal name “Folchere”. The Dutch version of the surname was also sometimes spelled as “Volkers”.
In Dutch, the surname Foelkers is derived from the patronymic Dutch surname “Folker” which originated from the German personal name “Folcher”. The Foelkers family resided in the Netherlands and Germany.
In English, the surname Volker is most commonly found in the United States. This version of the surname is derived from the German personal name “Folcher” and it is believed to have been adapted and Anglicised by English-speaking settlers in America.
Finally, the surname Folker is a modern spelling variation of the patronymic surname “Folker” which is derived from the German personal name “Folcher”. This spelling variation of the surname is most commonly found in Germany.
In summary, Voelkers is an ancient surname with multiple spellings and variations from different origins – ranging from Germanic, Danish and Dutch all the way to English forms, derived from the personal name “Folcher”. The most common variants of the surname are Völkers, Voelker, Voelcker, Völcker, Volker, Volcker, Völker, Folker, Folcker, Folkers, Fölker, Fölcker, Foelker, Foelchers, Foelcker and Folchers.
Famous people with the name Voelkers
- Maurice Voelkers: Maurice Voelkers is an American professional basketball player for the Pacific International marginline Osaka Evessa in Japan.
- Jarred Voelkers: Jarred Voelkers is an American professional road cyclist who currently competes for UCS–Srs.
- Kayden Voelkers: Kayden Voelkers is an American actor, best known for his roles in I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2016) as Jeremy and I, Tonya (2017) as Oceas.
- Kory Voelkers: Kory Voelkers is an American musician who is currently the lead singer and bassist for the band Canta.
- Byron Voelkers: Byron Voelkers is an American technology executive and inventor who has held positions at Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Google.
- Miranda Voelkers: Miranda Voelkers is an American singer-songwriter and producer from Austin, Texas. She has collaborated with many artists, including Snoop Dogg and Blur.
- Dave Voelkers: Dave Voelkers is an American professional poker player from Los Angeles, California. He has won two World Series of Poker bracelets.
- Sherry Voelkers: Sherry Voelkers is an American professional bodybuilder, who won the Miss International in 2004.
- Peter Voelkers: Peter Voelkers is a retired American professional golfer who won the 1985 PGA Tour Championship and 2004 Senior PGA Championship.