Surname Wulfing - Meaning and Origin
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Wulfing: What does the surname Wulfing mean?
The surname Wulfing has its origins in northern Germany and is derived from a nickname given to an ancestor who was known for their violent or wolf-like tendencies. It is believed to have been coined before the 12th century, as a combination of the Old German word “wulf” meaning wolf, and the suffix “ing” denoting descendant of.
In the Middle Ages, it was the custom for people to be given descriptive nicknames or sobriquets to help to distinguish them from others. It is thought that the ancestor from whom the Wulfing name was derived gained his nickname due to his warrior-like ability in battle, or for other dominant behaviours typically associated with wolves.
Records of the surname can be found throughout the German states, with some notable mentions in the histories of Prussia, Ostfriesland, Bavaria, and the city of Hamburg. Notable namesakes include Christos Wulfing, a German poet and screenwriter, and Brigitte Wulfing, a well-known West German javelin thrower.
The Wulfing name is not common, but it has endured for centuries and is likely to remain in history. Those that carry it are connected to a notable ancestor and have the distinction of being part of a small community of people throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWulfing: Where does the name Wulfing come from?
The last name Wulfing is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the western part of the country. Records suggest that the name has been present in German-speaking lands as far back as the 12th century, with the earliest documented mention of the name coming from a document dated 1157.
The town of Gevelsberg is particularly associated with the name, due to the large number of Wulfings who have Stake their roots in the area. It is thought that the earliest Wulfings to settle in the area were from the small farming village of Mülheim-Weisweiler in the Rhineland. It is believed that these Wulfings moved to Gevelsberg around the 16th or 17th century.
The Wulfings of Gevelsberg worked as farmers, ironmongers, and later as miners, as mining became more common in the area during the 19th century. By the 20th century, many Wulfings had moved to more urban areas, particularly in the large cities of North Rhine-Westphalia. However, descendants of the early Wulfings of Gevelsberg still live in the area and throughout Germany.
The name Wulfing may also be found in other parts of Europe, particularly the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, as well as in the United States.
Variations of the surname Wulfing
The surname Wulfing is derived from the Old Germanic personal name, Wulf, which means “wolf”. As such, there are many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of the surname Wulfing are Wulfing, Wulfin, Wolfing, and Wolfin. There are also a few more uncommon spellings, such as Wolffen, Wolffin, Woolfe, Woolfinger, and Wulfenstein. Additionally, the surnames Woolfing, Woolfson, Wolffson, and Wolfson could also be related to the name, but their exact relationship to the name is unclear.
The surnames Ulvin, Ulfin, Ulvig, and Ulffing may also be related to the surname Wulfing, as they are derived from names with similar meaning: Ulvin is derived from the Old Norse name Ulv or Ulf, which is likewise related to the Old Germanic name Wulf, and Ulvig, Ulffing, and Ulfin come from Ulfig, which is derived from the same Old Norse and Old Germanic names.
Other surnames related to the Wulfing family, although not directly, are Vogel/Vogelhut, a German name ultimately derived from the Old High German word for ‘bird’; Wolfmeier, an anglicised version of the German surname Wolfmaier; and Wolfschmidt, a German occupational surname meaning ‘wolf-smith’.
In conclusion, the surname Wulfing has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, and variations of the name are still popular in Germany and other parts of Europe today.
Famous people with the name Wulfing
- Jordan Wulfing: American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author.
- August Wulfing: German philosopher and theologian.
- Kurt Wulfing: German World War I flying ace.
- Johann Wulfing: German painter of the Baroque period.
- Peggy Wulfing: American film actress.
- Erich Wulfing: German physicist, director of the Max Planck Institute for Physics.
- Jay Wulfing: American TV Host, author, and comedian.
- Stefan Wulfing: German illustrator of children's books.
- Jorg Wulfing: German figure skater.
- Connie Wulfing: American singer, songwriter, and producer.