Surname Folkerts - Meaning and Origin
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Folkerts: What does the surname Folkerts mean?
The last name Folkerts is a patronymic name derived from the Dutch personal name Folkert, which itself originated from the name Frederick. The etymology of Frederick comes from the Germanic Frithurik, literally translating to “peaceful ruler”, combining frithu meaning “peace” and ric meaning “leader”, “ruler” or “king”.
The Folkerts last name is associated with early Dutch immigration to the United States in the 1600s and 1700s. Those bearing the Folkerts surname can be found mainly in the midwestern states of America, such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan.
Historically, Folkerts’ were often associated with the duty of providing for their families and communities, oftentimes taking up occupations such as stand farmers, laborers, or tradespeople. They were also known as hardworking and humble people, often doing whatever was necessary to support their families.
The Folkerts surname has evolved to be a proud and noble one, now not only representing strong work ethics but also a deep-rooted tradition of family. It continues to be a symbol of strength and commitment, and to evoke a sense of loyalty, pride, and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisFolkerts: Where does the name Folkerts come from?
The last name Folkerts is most common in Germany, but can also still be found in The Netherlands and Belgium. Since those three countries have been so closely intertwined over the centuries, it also stands to reason that the Folkerts surname might have spread to other countries.
In Germany, Folkerts is concentrated mainly in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, and Bremen. It's also fairly widely distributed throughout the remaining provinces.
In The Netherlands, the last name is primarily found in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, and Overijssel. Some families living there may have migrated from Germany, but many of them moved in from other parts of The Netherlands too.
Finally, in Belgium, it is mainly concentrated in the Provinces of Flanders and Limburg. A small number may live in Wallonia as well.
The Folkerts surname is also present in the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, France, Finland, and Switzerland. While it’s less common there, it can still be found if you look hard enough.
Overall, the Folkerts name is fairly widely spread, but the greatest concentrations can be found in Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium.
Variations of the surname Folkerts
The surname Folkerts has several variants, spellings, and associated surnames of the same origin.
Folkerts is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of the father of the original bearer. As a patronymic, it is derived from the common Germanic given name ‘Folkert’. That name in turn is derived from the Old German first name ‘Folhart’, which is composed of two elements - ‘folc’ meaning ‘people’ and ‘heri’, meaning ‘army’, so literally ‘Folhart’ translates as ‘people-strong’.
The different spellings and surnames associated with Folkerts include Fulkerd, Volkerts, Volkers, Folkerd, Folkers, Folkard, Volkersen, Folkersen, Vollkerse, Folkertse, Volkersohn, Folkerdson, Folkardssen, Folkertsen, Volkersz, dep Folkerdt, Folker, Fulkerts, Fulder, Fulker and Folkert.
For most of the variants, the spelling is a result of changes in pronunciation. For example, Folkerdson, a combination of the first name plus ‘son’, is the spelling associated with the pronunciation of the surname without any of the ‘s’ sounds. Similarly, for other variants such as Fulkerts and Fulder, ‘erk’ has been spelled as ‘ulk’ and ‘eld’ respectively.
The associated surnames include Volkersen, Volkersohn, Volkersz, and Volkerdt, which are all the same derivative of Folkerts. Here, the suffix ‘sen’ denotes a ‘son’, while ‘son’ is the spelling of ‘son of’. Lastly, ‘dt’ for ‘dep’ is a shortened form of ‘de’ meaning ‘the’, denoting a ‘son of’.
In summary, the surname Folkerts has several associated surnames, spellings and variants, due to changes in pronunciation or the adoption of other forms derived from the common Germanic given name ‘Folhart’. All of these associated surnames, spellings and variants are of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Folkerts
- Daniel Folkerts: American actor best known for his roles in the television series The Vampire Diaries and Cobra Kai.
- Aaron Folkerts: Professional American baseball pitcher.
- Ahren Folkerts: Former Australian rules footballer.
- Robert “Bob” Folkerts: Former American football tight end.
- David Folkerts-Landau: Chief economist for Deutsche Bank.
- Ed Folkerts: American boxer who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
- Kathi Folkerts: Former German handball player.
- Kay Folkers-Bender: former American volleyball player who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Felix Folkerts: German singer and composer.
- Jennifer Folkerts: Manager in the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.