Surname Wohlfiel - Meaning and Origin
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Wohlfiel: What does the surname Wohlfiel mean?
The surname Wohlfiel is of German origin, derived from the personal name 'Wolf'. The literal meaning of Wohlfiel is 'wolf, brave', whereby 'Wohl' translates to 'wolf' and 'fiel' translates to either 'brave' or 'strident'. It is likely that the name was originally bestowed upon a warrior or brave fight, and is still used as a given name to honor a symbol of courage.
The Wohlfiel surname began to appear throughout Germany in the early Middle Ages. Records from as early as the 1200s indicate that the name Wohlfiel was in use in the area of Hesse, Germany. The surname was gradually spread throughout Germany and beyond, with variants of Wohlfiel popping up in other European countries such as France and Belgium.
The meaning of Wohlfiel stayed the same as the name spread throughout various countries. It symbolized a revered quality of bravery, and such an interpretation is still true today. For this reason, many individuals of German descent who bear this surname often retain the meaning of courage and strength when introducing themselves.
Order DNA origin analysisWohlfiel: Where does the name Wohlfiel come from?
The last name Wohlfiel is most commonly found in Germany. According to Forebears, a genealogy research website with records from around the world, Wohlfiel is found most often in the northern part of the country. This is particularly true in regions like Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bremen. Records also show there are a few Wohlfiel families in Berlin and Hamburg.
Outside of Germany, the last name Wohlfiel is also found in small populations in countries such as France, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the United States, Canada, and Australia. By comparing records from 2020, almost all of these populations outside of Germany are quite small – comprising of only a few families all over the world.
The last name Wohlfiel may have derived from the Germanic personal name Wolfgeilo, which is composed of the words wolf, meaning wolf, and geilo, meaning donate or give. This could have been used as nickname or a description for someone who was generous or kindly gave others. Alternatively, the name might also have derived from the German word Wohlfeil, which means “cheap” or “desirable”. This could have been used to describe a person’s character, or even their business acumen.
Variations of the surname Wohlfiel
The surname Wohlfiel is often written as Wohlfeil or Wohlfielle, and is a German surname. Some of the other spellings include Wohlfeld, Wohlfeldt, Wohlferl, Wohlferle, Wohlfert, Wohlfeule, and Wohlfle.
The surname is a derivation of the Old German word “wohlfeile”, which is derived from the Danish origin “wohl” meaning well and “feil” which means fair. The name Wohlfiel was mostly used to refer to people or places of good fairness or justice.
In the eastern parts of Germany, there are some variations in spelling including: Wolffel, Wolffelle, Wolffell, and Wolffeler. Interestingly, some variants of this surname are also found in areas unrelated to the German language, such as in France and India. In France, the spelling is “Walfeil” and in India, “Walfeld” is the preferred version.
In the United States, the first recorded use of the surname Wohlfiel was in 1845 in Pennsylvania. Since then, it has been used in several other states including New York, Texas, Ohio, and North Carolina, among others.
Today, the surnames Wohlfiel, Wohlfielle, Wohlfeil, Wolffel, Wolffelle, Wolffell, and Wolffeler are actively used and are found among those of German, French, and Indian descent. Those bearing this surname are most likely descendants of a single family, however it is possible that they descended from families with the same name living in different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Wohlfiel
- Judy Wohlfiel: American film and television actress, winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award
- Dave Wohlfiel: German-born American sculptor, specializing in life-size bronze statues
- Daniel Wohlfiel: German actor and director
- Dankmar Wohlfiel: German sculptor and engraver
- Andres Wohlfiel: Austrian baseball player
- Dieter Wohlfiel: German songwriter and musician
- Harald Wohlfiel: German politician
- Moritz Wohlfiel: German footballer
- Martha Wohlfiel: Swiss painter and photographer
- Hermann Wohlfiel: German philologist and historian