Wolf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Netherlands 
  England 
  Germany 


The Wolf surname is derived from the baptismal name for the son of Wolfgang, a popular personal name in Germany during medieval times. This personal name was originally derived from the Old German "wolf" which meant "wolf" and "ganc" meaning "battle."

Early Origins of the Wolf family

The surname Wolf was first found in the Rhineland, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on the surname spread to nearly all parts of Germany, and was identified with the great social and economic evolution that contributed to the development of the nation. Chronicles mention Nivelung Wolf of Cologne as early as 1135, and Elbel Wolf of Bruenn in Moravia in 1365, showing the gradual eastward movement of the branches.

Early History of the Wolf family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wolf research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1491, 1498, 1499, 1527, 1573, 1679, 1683, 1739, 1754, 1759, 1786, 1790, 1824 and 1856 are included under the topic Early Wolf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wolf Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Wolf include Wolf, Wolff, Wolfen, Wolfe, Wulf and others.

Early Notables of the Wolf family

Notables with the name Wolf during this period were

Wolf World Ranking

In the United States, the name Wolf is the 524th most popular surname with an estimated 54,714 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Wolf is ranked the 1,931st most popular surname with an estimated 3,210 people with that name. 2 And in Netherlands, the name Wolf is the 342nd popular surname with an estimated 4,520 people with that name. 3


Wolf migration to the United States +

Hundreds of thousands of Europeans, including many Rhinelanders, made the voyage to North America between the 17th and 20th centuries. It was an escape from religious persecution and poverty and also an opportunity for people to start over and own their own land. Most landed at Ellis Island, off New York before moving on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and California. Some also landed in Canada and settled in Ontario, while others headed west to the prairie provinces. A study of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of people bearing the name of Wolf, or one of its variants, reaching North America shores very early:

Wolf Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Wolf Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Wolf Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Wolf Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Wolf migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wolf Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Wolf Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Wolf migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Wolf Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Wolf Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Wolf (post 1700) +


The Wolf 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: Virtutis praemium
Motto Translation: Virtues reward.


Suggested Readings for the name Wolf +
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