Surname Wölfli - Meaning and Origin
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Wölfli: What does the surname Wölfli mean?
The last name Wölfli is of German origin, and seems to derive from the German given name Wolf. The original German word wolf translates to "wolf" and was often used as a given name for those believed to possess the characteristics of a wolf, such as strength, courage, and cunning.
The surname Wölfli first appears in records in the late 1400s in what is now the eastern region of Germany. By the 16th century, the surname was well established in Nordlinger, a district of Bavaria near Nuremburg. Today, the surname Wölfli is still widely found in areas of Germany, though it has also become a popular surname in other countries.
The surname Wölfli is a great representation of the strength and pride of the German people. It can also be seen as a tribute to courage and wisdom, and is a reminder of the resourcefulness of a wolf. It is a wonderful reminder of the ancestry of the German people and of the country’s rich culture and heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisWölfli: Where does the name Wölfli come from?
The last name Wölfli is most commonly found today in Switzerland, Argentina and Germany. In Switzerland, the Wölfli surname is quite popular in the canton of Bern where both families of this name originated. Records trace the Swiss branches back to the early 18th century and the first immigrants to carry the name.
In Argentina, the surname Wölfli is quite common around the cities of Buenos Aire and Bahia Blanca. Due to immigration in the late 19th century, many Swiss people, including some Wölflis, settled in the region. Today, the name is still widely used and the descendants are all proud members of the Argentinian community.
Finally, in Germany, the last name Wölfli is primarily found in the state of Bavaria. Here, the name is quite well-known in the small towns of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstaufen, as a result of the many Wölflis who emigrated from Switzerland in the early 20th century.
Although the surname is not as widespread as it once was, the Wölfli family name still remains strong in the three countries where it occurs most frequently: Switzerland, Argentina and Germany.
Variations of the surname Wölfli
The surname Wölfli is a Germanic and Swiss surname. It is a variant of Wolf, which is of Old German origin. Some of the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Wolfley, Wölfli, Woolfley, Wolfly, Wolfli, Wölfel, Wolfer, Wolfel, Wolfeler, Wolffel and Woolfel.
The surname Wolf is derived from the Old German word “wulf”, meaning “wolf”. This hereditary surname was most likely adopted as a nickname for someone who had wolf-like features or mannerisms. It is likely that the surname was also adopted to designate individuals as being from a particular region where wolves were more prevalent, such as present-day Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland.
Wölfli is one of the most common variants of the surname. It is an anglicized form of the name and is probably the most popular spelling of the name in the German-speaking region. The Wölfli variant is also used in some Swiss German dialects.
Another variation of the surname is Wolfly. This occurs mainly in English-speaking countries, such as the United States and Canada. This is likely due to the fact that many Germanic immigrants adopted the Anglicized form of the surname.
Wolfer, Wolfel, Wolfeler, Wolffel, and Woolfel are more traditional Germanic variants of the surname. These spellings were more common in the late 1700s and early 1800s, prior to the adoption of the Anglicized versions of the surname.
Finally, Wolfley and Woolfley are variations of the Wölfli spelling that occur mainly in English-speaking countries, especially the United States. This spelling was likely adopted by early German immigrants who wanted to anglicize their surname.
Famous people with the name Wölfli
- Adolf Wölfli: a Swiss outsider artist who created thousands of pages of highly detailed drawings, texts, and musical compositions during his lifetime.
- Adolf Wölfli's younger brother, Carl Wölfli, who was also a Swiss painter and an outsider artist.
- Georg Wölfli, a Swiss zoologist who was the first to categorize the distribution of bee species.
- Silvan Wölfli, a Swiss football player who has played in multiple countries including Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
- Werner Wölfli, a Swiss mathematician and author. He is most well known for his work in mathematical logic.
- Gustav Wölfli, a Swiss artist, typographer, and author who was particularly known for his contributions to the Bauhaus School in the 1920s.
- Mark Wölfli, a Swiss musician who has released several albums including the Swiss hit, 'Ballade des Ases'.
- Max Wölfli, a Swiss sculptor whose work is featured in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Jan Wölfli, an Austrian composer and pianist who is best known for his work in symphonic music and has released several solo albums.
- Jürg Wölfli, a Swiss conductor and singer who is the current artistic director of the St Gallen opera.