Surname Volz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'V'
Re-defining Self-Identity: iGENEA DNA Test Unearths Hidden Ancestral Insights about the Volz Lineage
Spurred by an innate quest to comprehend my lineage, I took the iGENEA DNA test. Little did I know my Volz ancestors carried an array of unexpected revelations, which eventually reshuffled my self-understanding.
J. Volz
read moreVolz: What does the surname Volz mean?
The last name Volz is of German origin and has been known to be used in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria for hundreds of years. The surname translates to “descendant of Wolz,” which is an old German personal name derived from wulfs, meaning “wolf.” The family name is thought to have derived from the medieval profession of mastering the training of a wolf to be used in hunting.
During the Middle Ages in Germany, names were derived from personal characteristics, occupation, geographic location, and other associations, so the Volz family likely had its origin in the profession of training wolves. The profession of wolf herding was often passed down to younger generations, and as such, the surname likely originated with a family and was passed through generations.
The name Volz can be found in public records in Germany as far back as 1795, and census records from Germany in 1850 show the Volz family scattered throughout many areas of the country. The Volz name is still in use today in Germany, and there are people in the US and other countries with the name who can trace their heritage back to Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisVolz: Where does the name Volz come from?
The last name Volz is of German origin and is most common today in Germany and parts of Central and Eastern Europe where it is spelled “Volz” or “Wolz.” It is also found to a lesser extent in the United States, where it is spelled “Wolz” and “Voltz.” In the United States, Volz is most common in the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and is also found in other areas with large German-American populations, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The meaning of the last name Volz is “wolf,” and it was likely used as a nickname for someone thought to resemble a wolf, or for a fierce warrior. The form “Wolz” may have been derived from the name given to the people of northern Germany, the Wends.
The surname Volz is part of the larger group of German-language surnames that were often derived from various occupations or characteristic traits of the person who first held the name. Other examples of this type of surname include Bauer (farmer), Miller (miller), and Miller (minter). The Volz surname is one of the oldest surnames in Germany, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century.
The commonness of the Volz surname today reflects its long and varied history. The Volz family can trace their roots back to an original ancestor who likely lived many centuries ago in Germany. Today, the Volz surname is found all over the world, in many different forms.
Variations of the surname Volz
The surname Volz (also spelled Foltz, Folts, Fölz, and Foeltz) is a German-origin habitational surname, derived from the Old German word “foltz” meaning “swamp”. This surname was most likely assumed by someone who lived near a swamp, and over time, the spelling of the surname has changed as different dialects of German have developed. Some variants of the surname Volz include Völz, Wölz, Weiltz, Welts, Voelz, Vølz, and Wöltz.
A few other similar surnames, often anglicized versions of the name, may also be seen, such as Voltz, Velz, Feltz, Felz, Fultze, Wolts, and Woltz. Additionally, numerous extended variants of the surname Volz exist, such as Volze, Volzemer, Voltzinger, Veltz, Veltzman, Fultz, Folcte, Foltzmann, Foltzman, Foltzmeister, and Foeltz.
In South Tyrol, a region in the northeast of Italy, there are a few related surnames, including Falser, Folser, and Foelsche. Additionally, the Italian surname Volçi is a variant of the original Germanic version of the name.
Overall, there are a large number of surnames that share the same origin as the surname Volz, and they usually just differ by spelling and local dialect. While some are still commonly found in Germany, others have been adopted and anglicized in other places, or have died out in favor of other surnames.
Famous people with the name Volz
- Clint Volz: professional stuntman
- Danny Volz: students rights lobbyist
- Eva Volz: Olympic rhythmic gymnast
- Franz Volz: Austrian alpine skier
- soap opera actor Jack Volz
- Julianne Volz: journalist and writer
- Karl Volz: former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Melissa Volz: playing the role of Jacki Maxwell in the television series Justified
- Mike Volz: United States soccer midfielder
- Phil Volz: Northern Illinois University Double Bass professor
- Stefan Volz: motorcycle racer in the World Superbike Championship
- Theodore Volz: American songwriter
- Wolfgang Volz: photographer and writer
- Yvonne Volz: German sailing silver medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics.