Surname Volcker - Meaning and Origin
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Volcker: What does the surname Volcker mean?
The surname Volcker is of German origin, derived from the personal name Volker. It is a compound of two elements: "folk" meaning people or tribe, and "heri, hari" meaning army. Therefore, Volcker can be translated to mean "people's guard" or "people’s army". The name likely originated as a status name for a leader or a warrior among his people, indicating his role as a protector or a soldier. It's common in Germanic languages for names to have elements related to war, strength, and protection, reflecting the historical importance of these attributes. Some famous bearers of this surname include Paul Volcker, an American economist who served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve under the U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
Order DNA origin analysisVolcker: Where does the name Volcker come from?
The last name Volcker is most commonly found in four countries: the United States, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. In the United States, the name Volcker is concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. In Pennsylvania alone, there are roughly 722 people with the last name Volcker. This family line is ethnically German, as the name originated in the German region of German-speaking Europe.
In Germany, the name Volcker is most concentrated in the region of Bavaria. Interestingly, the origin of the Volcker last name is thought to have come from Bavaria. With over 292 individuals bearing the last name, this region displays the highest concentration of this surname in Germany.
In Switzerland, the last name Volcker is more rare than the other countries. Currently, there are a total of 38 individuals with this last name in this nation. Lastly, Austria is home to 14 individuals with the last name Volcker. The majority of these individuals live in Vienna, the capital of Austria.
Though the last name Volcker is not one of the more popular surnames today, it is still relatively common in the four aforementioned countries. It is often seen as a prestigious name, linked to the prominent lieutenant general of the United States, Philipp Volcker.
Variations of the surname Volcker
The surname Volcker is a German surname, derived from the personal name "Volker." Variations in spelling and variants of this surname include: Völker, Volkmar, Volkmann, Folkers, Volksmann, and Fulkers.
Variants of Volcker are found in both the German and Dutch speaking worlds, although they were traditionally found most prominently in the German-speaking countries of Europe.
Among English speakers, variant spellings can include: Volker, Volkers, Folker, Folkerth, Folker, Fulker, Foulker, Fulcher, Fulk, and Folcher.
The Volcker surname is used with a number of given names, including Fulk, Fulko, Volke, and Volker. Additionally, it can also be combined with other surnames, including other variants the Volker surname, to create surnames like: Volkmar-Volker, Folkers-Völker, Volkmann-Folkers, Volksmann-Fulkers, and Fulkers-Volksmann.
The Volcker surname is also associated with other German surnames, such as Völkner and Völker. In addition, another variant of the surname exists outside of Germany, in the Netherlands. Known as Foulker, the Dutch spelling of Volcker, this variant is fairly rare in the Netherlands.
Variations in the spelling and variants of the Volcker surname can be found around the world, from the German-speaking countries of Europe to English-speaking countries, to the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Volcker
- Paul Volcker: Paul Volcker is an American economist who served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979-1987. He is credited with helping to bring inflation down during his tenure, and for the implementation of the unpopular Volcker Rule which placed limits on banks' risk-taking activities.
- Eric Volcker: Eric Volcker is a biologist, retired physician and human rights advocate. He has committed his time to researching and advocating on behalf of Indigenous peoples living with HIV/AIDS, founding the PACHA-STEP cultural exchange program to strengthen cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.
- Richard Volcker: Richard Volcker is a former high-ranking United Nations diplomat who served as South Africa's Deputy High Representative for the UN and the African Union in the early 2000s. He also served as the UN's Special Envoy for Conflict Management and Resolution to address cross-border disputes and conflicts in Africa.
- Donald Volcker: Donald Volcker is a former United States Senator from Illinois who served from 1969-1970. He is known for his support of civil rights and for championing the anti-abortion agenda in Congress.
- Janet Volcker: Janet Volcker is an American lawyer and the president and chief executive officer of the Volcker Alliance. The alliance was created to advance effective management of government to achieve greater results and is dedicated to improving the performance of the public sector by building better teamwork and creating strong leadership.
- Fred Volcker: Fred Volcker is a businessman and philanthropist who is the owner of Volcker Group, a New York-based financial services company. He established the Volcker Fund in 2009 to advance social and economic progress, and his philanthropic activities have focused on education and healthcare initiatives.