Volk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Volk is one of the names carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is based on the Norman personal name Fulco. The line of this name descends from the noble house of Fulco Nerra, who held the title of Count of Anjou, Normandy. 1 Guido Fitz-Fulco of Normandy was listed in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae (1180-1195.)
Early Origins of the Volk family
The surname Volk was first found in Norfolk where they were granted lands by William de Warrene. The first confirmed record of the family was Folco or Fulco who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2
"Thomas Fouque occurs on the Exchequer Rolls of the Duchy about 1198. Robert Fulco was one of the Justiciaries in 1267." 3
Rotuli Curiae Regis rolls list Robert, Geoffry, Theobald, William F. Fulco in England, 1199.
The mix of forename and surname entries continued for some time as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists Folkes (without surname) in Cambridgeshire; John Folke in Cambridgeshire; and Matilda Folkis in Buckinghamshire. 4
The ffolkes variant was first coined by Sir Martin Browne ffolkes, 1st Baronet, FRS (1749-1821.) He was born Martin Folkes but chose to use the "ffolkes" spelling later in life. His descendants continued the tradition.
Early History of the Volk family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Volk research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1538, 1589, 1596, 1597, 1616, 1638, 1644, 1652, 1653, 1662, 1685, 1690, 1710, 1754 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Volk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Volk Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Volk have been found, including Folke, Folk, Folkes, Fulke, Fooke, Fooks, Foolk, Fowke and many more.
Early Notables of the Volk family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Fowke (c. 1596-1662), an English merchant and politician, Sheriff of London in 1644 and Lord Mayor of London in 1652; Phineas Fowke, M.D. (1638-1710), an English physician from Bishop Burton, Yorkshire; and Lieutenant General Thomas Fowke (ca. 1690-1765), a British Army officer, appointed Governor of Gibraltar...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are 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 5,469th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5 However, in Russia, the name Volk is ranked the 556th most popular surname with an estimated 30,284 people with that name. 6
Migration of the Volk family to Ireland
Some of the Volk family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Volk migration to the United States +
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Volk were among those contributors:
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 7
- Johan Wilhelm Volk, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 7
- Johannes Volk, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 7
- Hans Jurg Volk, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1755 7
- ... (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 7
- Nicholas Volk, aged 32, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1842 7
- 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 8
- John J. Volk, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1906-08 8
- 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 8
- David Volk, American Republican politician, South Dakota State Treasurer, 1973-91; Candidate for U.S. Representative from South Dakota at-large, 1988 8
- Anthony J. Volk, American Republican politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for New Jersey, 1912; Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1932 8
- Igor Petrovich Volk (1937-2017), Soviet cosmonaut and test pilot in the Soviet Union
- Volk Gebhardt, 16th century politician in Slovenia
The Volk Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Qui sera sera
Motto Translation: Whatever will be.
Suggested Readings for the name Volk +
- The Volk Family, 1700-1972 From Pfullingen, Wurttenberg, Germany by Bernice Close Shackelton.
Citations +
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "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