Surname Wolle - Meaning and Origin
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Wolle: What does the surname Wolle mean?
Wolle is an Germanic surname with multiple possible meanings and origins. Commonly, the name is derived from Middle High German and directly means “wool” or “sheep.” This likely points to the ancestry of the bearer to once having been a wool merchant or to those who kept and cared for sheep in the Middle Ages.
However, the name may have also come from a Low German noun meaning “well” or “pit,” referring to a place where people drew water or kept animals. In the same language, the name could also be derived from a nickname meaning “the generous one,” and many consider this to be the most likely meaning, as Wolle was a fairly common nickname during the Middle Ages.
Additionally, some modern variants are derived from Slavic terms, such as Polish Wołowicz and Russian Valovich, referring to an inhabitant of the village Valovichi near Kiev. Finally, there are records of Jews bearing the name Wolle after adopting it in place of their original surname upon entering Germany. Many variants of the name Wolle exist, including Wall, Wolff, Woolley, and Wolly. The name Wolle is popular in various parts of the world, from Germany to the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisWolle: Where does the name Wolle come from?
The last name Wolle is most common in Germany and Austria today. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "wolle," meaning wool, and is likely to have begun as an occupational name for someone in the wool trade. It is most frequent in the northern states of Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, and Hamburg in Germany, as well as the neighboring country Austria. Records of the spelling have been found as far back as the 1200s, and there is evidence that some of the name bearers were among those who first settled in America in the 1600s.
In the twentieth century, the name Wolle was seen in many parts of the world, including North America and parts of South America and Australia, often with slight variations in spelling. It can also be found in many other European countries, including Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Hungary. Even with the spread of the name, those originally bearing the name were usually of Germanic or Dutch descent. The largest family of Wolle today is thought to be in Cologne, Germany, with many hundreds of people bearing the surname living in the surrounding areas and all across the country.
Variations of the surname Wolle
The surname Wolle is descended from the Middle High German name ‘Wolle’ which means ‘wolf-bold’. The various spellings and variants of the surname Wolle include Wool, Wooll, Wölle, Wiehl, Wöhl, Wöhler, Wuolle, Wuehl, Wuehler, Woel, Weol, and Wohl.
The German spelling of the surname is ‘Wölle’. This variant is the original spelling of the surname and is commonly encountered in records from Germany and other German-speaking regions.
Another variant of the surname is Wool. This spelling is more common in places with English-speaking populations, such as England, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, and Canada.
The surname Wöhl is derived from the ancient German forename ‘Wolhhard’, which is also the root of the surnames Wiehl and Wuehl. The variants Wiehl and Wuehl are encountered in German-speaking areas, while the variant Wuolle is more commonly encountered in English-speaking regions.
Another related surname is Wöhler, which is derived from the German name ‘Wolhar’. Similarly, the variant Woel is likely derived from the German name ‘Wolger’. The variant Weol is derived from the Old German name ‘Wolmar’.
The surname Wohl is derived from the German word ‘wol’ which means ‘courageous’ or ‘bold’. This surname is much more common in Austria than other German-speaking regions.
In summary, the various spellings and variants of the surname ‘Wolle’ include Wool, Wooll, Wölle, Wiehl, Wöhl, Wöhler, Wuolle, Wuehl, Wuehler, Woel, Weol, and Wohl. These surnames are related to each other through regional linguistic influences, and all are descended from the Middle High German name ‘Wolle’ which means ‘wolf-bold’.
Famous people with the name Wolle
- Andreas Wolle: German botanist and geographer
- Katarina Wolle: Norwegian actress
- Soeren Wolle: Danish boxer
- Peder Bolle Wolleman: Norwegian painter
- Jakob Wolle: German violin player
- Jens Werner Wolle: Danish soccer player
- Peter Wolle: American singer and viola player
- Wolfram Wolle: German author
- Dieter Wolle: German actor
- August Wolle: Swiss painter