Surname Folken - Meaning and Origin
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Folken: What does the surname Folken mean?
The last name Folken is a German surname which primarily comes from the medieval given name Volkmar. Volkmar was a popular Old Germanic name and could be translated to mean "people famous," "people famous in their region," or "famous people." The addition of the -en suffix to the name is an older use of the possessive form of the noun, meaning that the name Folken is a variant of the Volkmar.
During the Middle Ages and the early modern period, the name Volkmar spread throughout Europe. As it was adapted to local languages, the name saw changes in spelling. One such adaptation was to Folken in Germany, where the name has been in use since at least the 16th century. The name Folken can be found across the country, though it is primarily concentrated in the central and northern regions.
The surname Folken can be found in both Germany and other parts of the world. It is likely that many who bear the name are descendants of the original Volkmar. Due to its popularity in Europe, it is also possible that some people may have adopted the name through intermarriage and other influences. In addition, some people with similar surnames around the world may be descended from the original Volkmar, or may have adopted the name's variant spellings over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisFolken: Where does the name Folken come from?
The surname Folken is most generally accepted to be of German origin, specifically coming from a dialect of Prussian origin known as Folgum-Tavrske which is today known in English as Flemish. The surname was likely created in the early Middle Ages and is still found today throughout Europe. Specifically, Folken is most commonly found in North-western Europe, particularly in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is also found in smaller numbers in countries such as Luxembourg, England, the United States and Canada.
Today, the surname Folken is slightly more common in Germany than in other countries. In Germany it is most commonly found in larger cities such as Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. In Belgium, the surname Folken is most commonly found in the northern province of Limburg, while in the Netherlands, the name is most often found in the region of Friesland.
The Folken surname appears to have split in various ways, resulting in multiple variations of the surname. Variations of the name include Foulke, Folch, Folk, Fauld, Falken, Falke and Fulke. All of these variations reflect the same root origin, which is that of Prussian Flemish.
Overall, the surname Folken is still relatively common throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The name has undergone various splits and spellings, which are all traceable to its original Prussian-Flemish roots.
Variations of the surname Folken
The surname Folken is a variation of the Germanic surname "Volckmann" and can take many forms. It is commonly seen in American records, but can also be seen across many other countries in Western Europe.
Among the common variants of Folken are Folkers, Folker, Folcker, Folkner, and Folkens. Other spellings include Volken, Volken, Volcker, Valkers, Valkers, Valkens, Valckner, Valckers, Valkenner, and Volckers.
In the Netherlands, the most common alternative spelling of Folken is Volken. In the US, it's commonly seen as Volckmann. It is also seen as Volken in France, and Falchur, Falken, and Falkner in Germany.
Various other spellings also exist such as Falkenrhirter, Falckenhagen, Volkensen, and Velcken. These different forms of the surname Folken can trace their origin back to the same source.
It is interesting to note that the surname Military surname variation, Volckmann, came into use during the early 1700s when people spelled their surname with a "V" instead of a "F." This was likely due to military documents as recruiters would have difficulty understanding what the surname of the person was.
In Scotland, the surname Folken can be found as Forsyth, which is a variant of the original surname. It is also seen in Wales as Volvo, and in Ireland as Faull, Faulken, and Faulkner.
The surname Folken has many variants, spellings, and other surnames derived from the same origin. No two people with the surname Folken are likely to have the same spelling or origin story.
Famous people with the name Folken
- Elin Folken Krogsveen: Norwegian assistant director and film producer
- Kristin Folken Matmark: Norwegian business journalist
- Callum Folken: Australian actor
- Andre Folken: Brazilian entrepreneur and investor
- Ida Folken Waller: Norwegian actress
- Liv Folken Hjelde: Norwegian illustrator, cartoonist and graphic novelist
- Jull Folken: Norwegian soccer player
- Eirik Folken Andreassen: Norwegian journalist
- Johannes Folken Forle: Danish painter
- Catarina Folken Olesen: Danish fashion content creator, TV personality and influencer
- Henrik Folken Leskovitz: Danish musician
- Sander Folken Alme: Norwegian actor and TV personality
- Gustav Folken Jacobsen: Norwegian record producer and audio engineer
- Markus Folken Sandvig: Norwegian singer, songwriter and artist
- Jens Folken Tegerstrøm: Danish composer and musician
- Frode Folken Foss: Norwegian singer, songwriter and producer
- Luca Folken Blanco: Argentine comic book artist
- Henrik Folken Olafsen: Norwegian radio host and producer
- Erik Folken Wellejus: Danish classical composer
- Sommer-Beth Folken Eskeland: Norwegian singer and songwriter