Surname Volkens - Meaning and Origin
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Volkens: What does the surname Volkens mean?
The last name Volkens is of German origin and is a topographical surname, indicating that the original bearer of the name lived near a pond or marsh. It is derived from the German word “volk” meaning “marsh” or “pond”, and is also related to the Slavic word “vlak” which also means “marsh”.
It is believed that the first Volkens lived in an area surrounded by many marshes, streams and ponds and that they would have benefitted from the resources which they could find there. This could have been anything from fish, wildfowl and other game to medicinal plants found in the wetlands and swamps.
The Volkens family most likely settled in the area before the 12th century and, as Germany began to become more organised and cities formed, the Volkens family spread across the country. The surname was adopted as a family name in various regions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe.
Today, the Volkens family name can be found throughout Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world. People bearing the Volkens name are often noted for their ambition and resourcefulness, with many becoming successful entrepreneurs, politicians, and business owners. The Volkens name carries a deep sense of family, justice and strength – traits that are still admired and looked up to by many people.
Order DNA origin analysisVolkens: Where does the name Volkens come from?
The last name Volkens is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to derive from "Volk," the German word for "people" or the Dutch word "Folken," which means "descendants of a clan leader," suggesting its origins in Germany and the Netherlands.
In Germany, Volkens is a very common name, especially in the western part of the country. In the Netherlands, it is mainly found in the provinces of Drenthe, Overijssel, and Groningen.
Another source indicates that Volkens is a rare last name in the United Kingdom. Immigration records suggest that the surname may have spread to the United Kingdom from Germany or the Netherlands as recently as the mid-1900s.
In the United States, Volkens is an uncommonly used last name. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, only 28 people in the country had the surname. Most of them were concentrated in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
The last name Volkens is relatively uncommon worldwide, but most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Volkens
The Volkens surname is derived from a Germanic origin and is primarily found in German and Dutch speaking countries. The variants of the name include Volkans, Vollkens, Foelkens, and Falckens.
The Vollkens variation of the surname often indicates the origin of the family in the area of East Frisia in Germany. It is typically found in modern-day Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
The Dutch spelling of the Volkens surname is Foelkens. It has many alternate spelling such as Foelkensz, Voelkens, Voelkensz, Voelken, and Voelkens. This variant is primarily found in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The closely related surname Falckens is said to have originated in the area of the Prussian provinces of East Prussia and West Prussia. This version of the surname is found mainly in Germany, though alternate spellings Valkens, Falkens, Falkensz, and Falkers are also found in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Today, the Volkens, Vollkens, Foelkens and Falckens surnames are all found in Germany and the Netherlands, though they can also be found in Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, America, and Canada as well. These surnames all share a common ancestry and are likely linked to one another through one of their distant ancestors.
Famous people with the name Volkens
- Lars Volkens: German footballer
- Herb Volkens: German-born American businessman
- Christopher Volkens: German poet
- Petra Volkens: German Model
- Patrick Volkens: German actor
- Jochen Volkens: German writer
- Hermann Volkens: German zoologist
- Anneliese Volkens: German journalist
- Carolin Volkens: German swimmer
- Josephine Volkens: German singer/songwriter