Surname Voelkner - Meaning and Origin
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Voelkner: What does the surname Voelkner mean?
The last name Voelkner is a German name derived from the Middle High German term “völker”, meaning "peoples". It is generally thought to be an occupational name for a merchant or a peddler, or for a person employed in the buying and selling of goods and services.
Many people with this last name are active in the business and finance industries, where their knowledge and experience in trading makes them a valuable asset. They are often ambitious and driven by success and recognition.
Voelkner is a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the father's first name. The term is also sometimes spelled as Voelker, Voelkner or even Vogeler. Historically, variations of the name have been spelled many different ways, including Volckner, Völkner, Völchner, and Völcher.
The name Voelkner has its roots in medieval Germany, when individuals with the name were known to be involved in trading. They lived in rural areas and often traveled to buy and sell goods and services. Some were also known as merchants or peddlers, travelling to different towns and cities to distribute their wares.
Today, Voelkner remains a popular last name in multiple countries, with many notable people having the name, such as German politician Edmund Voelkner, former Dutch Secretary-General Jan Voelkner and actor/musician Mark Voelkner.
Order DNA origin analysisVoelkner: Where does the name Voelkner come from?
The last name Voelkner is most commonly found in Germany today. This name originated in the country and is believed to derive from the ancient German tribes. The earliest records of Voelkner can be traced back to the Middle Ages, suggesting that it was a common name in the region by that time.
Today, the last name Voelkner is found across the country of Germany. It is most common in the eastern region of the country, which includes Saxony and Thuringia. One of the smallest towns in the country, Voelkner, named after the family, is located in Hesse, Germany.
The surnameis also prevalent across Germany's neighboring countries. It can be found in Austria, Poland, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Additionally, those with the last name Voelkner are scattered across other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and France. Even England and Scotland have limited populations of those with the last name Voelkner.
Due to high levels of migration, there are also those with the surname Voelkner living in North America, primarily in the United States and Canada. Although not as common, the last name Voelkner can also be found in Australia and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Voelkner
The surname Voelkner is a surname of German and Dutch origin. The spelling variations are Falkner, Volkenrath, Volkmar, Vollenrath, Follenrath, Folkenrath, Falknarr, Falknerr, Volkmann, and Volkmann.
The German version of the surname is Voelkner. It is derived from the Old German term "Volker" which means "people". The most common spelling of the name Voelkner is Falkner and Vollenrath. These variations denote a person who was a falconer. An individual who is a keeper of hawks and other raptors.
The Dutch version of the name is Volkenrath which is derived from the Dutch term "Volk", which also translates to "people". It is a distinct spelling of Voelkner and is typically pronounced as "vol-ken-ROT".
Other variations of the name Voelkner include Volkmar, Follenrath, Folkenrath, Falknarr, Falknerr, and Volkmann. There is also a Russian spelling of the name Voelkner, which is Volkov. This spelling is identical to the Russian surname Volkov, which is derived from the Russian word "volk", which roughly translates to "wolf".
All of the spellings of the name Voelkner are surnames of German and Dutch origin. It is likely that many families bearing these surnames are related, but with the many variations, it is difficult to trace the history behind the names.
Famous people with the name Voelkner
- Benjamin Voelkner: former basketball player for the University of Michigan and successful entrepreneur
- Corbin Voelkner: house producer and recording artist
- Sabine Voelkner: award-winning television journalist and author
- Kevin Voelkner: former NBA player and ex-host of the action sports show ‘Xtreme’
- Sandra Voelkner: controversial German politician and leader of the far-right NPD party
- Lukas Voelkner: successful German football club manager and general manager
- Mark Voelkner: well-known international sculptor and fine-art installer
- Thomas Voelkner: professional strongman, world record holder, and motivational speaker
- Desiree Voelkner: successful fashion designer and founder of the leading London boutique
- Rene Voelkner: prominent Swiss chef and restaurateur, credited with pioneering modern French cuisine in Zurich