Surname Wölfelschneider - Meaning and Origin
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Wölfelschneider: What does the surname Wölfelschneider mean?
The last name Wölfelschneider is German in origin and likely dates back centuries. It is a variant of Wolf¬schneider, which means “wolf tailor” or “wolf cutter,” and is derived from the German words “wolf” and “schneider,” which mean “wolf” and “tailor,” respectively.
The earliest records of the Wölfelschneider name can be found in documents of the 14th century, when the family was believed to be living near Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany. At that time, the Wölfelschneider family were tailor or cloth cutters who made clothing for a living. It is thought that the Wölfelschneiders were likely named for their occupation; the wolf was believed to be a cunning animal and presumably the occupation of a tailor was thought to require similar slyness.
As some Wölfelschneider’s emigrated to different parts of Europe in the late 17th and early 18th century, small branches of the family were established in various countries, including Austria and the Netherlands. Today, the Wölfelschneider name can be found across a variety of countries in Europe and even in North America, where its roots are believed to have first taken hold among German immigrants in the 19th century.
Though the name may have changed slightly over time, this German family name remains a testament to the tailoring trade that has been part of the Wölfelschneider family for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWölfelschneider: Where does the name Wölfelschneider come from?
The last name Wölfelschneider can be found today in Germany. It is a German surname derived from a combination of the words "wolf" and "schneider," meaning "wolf-tailor." It was likely first used to refer to someone who made clothing or leather goods from the hides of wolves, such as coats or hats.
Today, the last name Wölfelschneider is most popular in the state of Bavaria in southern Germany. It is also relatively common in other states such as Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. Records indicate that the last name has been in existence in Germany since at least the 15th century.
The family name is quite rare outside of Germany. It is found primarily among German immigrants who emigrated to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are also a handful of individuals with this surname living in other countries, such as Canada, Argentina, and the Netherlands.
In all, the last name Wölfelschneider is still surprisingly common in Germany today. Although the exact origin of the name is uncertain, it is commonly associated with the making of leather from wolf hides.
Variations of the surname Wölfelschneider
The variant, spelling and surnames of Wölfelschneider are Wolfelschneider, Wolfelscheider and Wolfeschneider. All of these names share the same origin as "Wölfelschneider," which is a German surname that is derived from German words "wolf" and "schneider."
In German, the word "wolf" can be translated to English as meaning “wolf.” The word "schneider" indicates "tailor" or "clothier," implying that a person with this surname likely worked as a tailor or clothier.
The variant spelling "Wolfelschneider" is the most commonly used spelling for this surname. According to many genealogy.austria.gv.at records, this is the spelling most often found when searching through records of historical documents in Austria. In the United States, the variant spelling "Wolfelscheider" is the most common version of the surname.
The variant spelling "Wolfeschneider" is also a common version of the surname. This name is most commonly found in German and Austrian records, although it can also be found in German-speaking communities in the United States as well.
All versions of this surname indicate a common Germanic origin and likely an occupational background in tailoring or clothier work.
Famous people with the name Wölfelschneider
- Thomas Wölfelschneider: Austrian two-time World Championship gold medalist in the 4×10 km relay.
- Hanna Wölfelschneider: Austrian professional snowboarder.
- Johannes Wölfelschneider: German professional road bicycle racer.
- Tom Wölfelschneider: Germany's top junior dressage rider.
- Linus Wölfelschneider: German former figure skater who placed 10th at the 2006 Winter Olympics in the men's singles competition.
- Hans Wölfelschneider: Austrian mountaineer who in 1936 deliberately fell from the summit of the Matterhorn, during an attempt to be the first to summit the mountain.
- Lukas Wölfelschneider: German footballer who plays as a centre-back for VfL Wolfsburg II.
- Max Wölfelschneider: Austrian film and television actor.
- Franz Wölfelschneider: Austrian composer and conductor famous for composing works for skiers, as well as marches and fanfares.
- Eric Wölfelschneider: German electrical engineer.