Volk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The surname Volk appears to be of patronymic origin, that is, a surname derived from the first name of the father or other ancestor of the eponymous bearer. It is based on the Germanic personal name Volz, which was very popular in former times, and simply means "son or descendant of Volz or Folz." Its etymology may be traced to the German word "volk," meaning "people," or "folk." Like many of the old Germanic personal names, its exact significance as a name is unclear; however, it was often used as an element in a compound name such as Vol(k)mar, or Vollbert.

Early Origins of the Volk family

The surname Volk was first found in the regions of the Rhineland-Palatinate and also further south to the area near Wurttemberg, where the ancestors of those bearing the name Volk contributed to the feudal society of the early Middle Ages. Early records of the surname are found in the city of Worms, where one Johann filius quandam Volzonis was a citizen in 1316 (Urkunden zur hessischen Landes, Orts, Familiengeschichte, II-601). A record of one Wernherus Voltzo can be found earlier still, in 1226 (Wurttembergisches Urkundenbuch, III-188).

Early History of the Volk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Volk research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1620 is included under the topic Early Volk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Volk Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Folz, Foltz, Volz, Voll, Volk, Volsch, Fols and many more.

Early Notables of the Volk family

More information is included under the topic Early Volk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Volk Ranking

In the United States, the name Volk is the 5,469^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Russia, the name Volk is ranked the 556^th most popular surname with an estimated 30,284 people with that name. 2

Volk migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Volk Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Volk, who arrived in New York in 1709 with his wife and child
Gottlieb Volk, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 3
Johan Wilhelm Volk, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 3
Johannes Volk, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 3
Hans Jurg Volk, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1755 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Volk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Eberhart Volk, who landed in America in 1831 3
Nicholas Volk, aged 32, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1842 3
Mr. George Volk, aged 19, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Alberdina"
Mr. Georg William Volk, aged 22, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Washington"
Mrs. Elisabeth Volk, aged 23, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Washington"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Volk migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Volk Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Christian Volk, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
Dorothea Volk, aged 23, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
Johann Volk, aged 27, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
Joseph Volk, aged 20, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
Mathias Volk, aged 2, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902

Contemporary Notables of the name Volk (post 1700) +

Lester David Volk (1884-1962), American Republican politician, Physician; Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 6th District, 1913 4
John J. Volk, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1906-08 4
Herman Volk, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 16th District, 1920, 1922, 1923; Candidate for New York State Senate 18th District, 1924 4
David Volk, American Republican politician, South Dakota State Treasurer, 1973-91; Candidate for U.S. Representative from South Dakota at-large, 1988 4
Anthony J. Volk, American Republican politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for New Jersey, 1912; Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1932 4
Igor Petrovich Volk (1937-2017), Soviet cosmonaut and test pilot in the Soviet Union
Volk Gebhardt, 16th century politician in Slovenia

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Russia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/russia/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html