Wolff is used as a family name or surname in Germany, England. It is 5 characters long in length.

Family Name / Last Name: Wolff
No. of characters: 5
Origin: Germany, England
Meaning:

Lastname is form of Wolf. Throughout the middle ages the wolf was regarded with a sort of mysterious awe, from his association with the unseen world—perhaps in the first instance in consequence of his constant attendance on Woden. The semi mythology of those times invested this cruel beast with many remarkable attributes, some of which are still remembered in our nursery literature. Hence many of the old pagan personal names, which descended to Christian times, allude to him; and his name is largely compounded with our local nomenclature, a source in later times of family names. Grimm has collected a large number of Old German proper names compounded with wolf in his 'Deutsche Grammatik,' and it would be equally easy to do the same for the English, and other languages. In France a St. Lou, Lupus, succeeded a St. Ursus in the see of Troyes the V century, and there were several church dignitaries under Charlemagne who were called Lupus. The kinglet Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, is well-known as the kinsman and chief subject of the Conqueror. Lupellus, the diminutive, became softened into Lovell and Lovett, still to be found as English surnames; and there are some curious compounds of the word. Pel-de-leu, for instance-wolf's skin-is an ancient family name mentioned by Ducange, and both Vis-de-Lew and Viso Lupi- wolf's face, occur in Domesday—the former as a tenant-in-chief in Berkshire. In the Roll of Arms of temp. Edward II, Sir William Videlou bears three wolves' heads. Fosbroke mentions a man whose sur name represents him as worse than a wolf" —Archembaldus Pejor-Lupo. See Wolfhunt in this Dict - Anglo-Saxon wolf and hunta, wolf-hunter. A family of this name held lands in Derbyshire, by the service of keeping the Forest of the Peak clear of wolves. Nothing can be more erroneous than the popular opinion that King Edgar succeeded, by the peculiar impost of wolves' heads, which he levied upon his Welsh tributaries, in exterminating this villanous quadruped. That it existed at the time of the Norman Conquest, and even so late as the reign of Edward I, is evident from the following authorities. The Carmen de Bello Hastingensi states that William the Conqueror left the dead bodies of the English upon the battle-field, to be devoured "by worms, and nolres, and birds, and dogs"—(vermibus, atque lupis, avibus, canibusque voranda.) In the year 1851 many skulls of wolves were taken out of a disused medieval well at Pevensey Castle. In the time of Edward I. John Engayne held lands in Huntingdonshire by the tenure of maintaining dogs for the King, for the purpose of hunting the wolf, fox, cat, badger, wild-boar, and hare, in several specified counties. In the Patent Rolls of 9th of the same monarch, John Gifford of Brymmesfield is empowered to destroy the wolves in all the king's forests throughout the realm; while in the same year Peter de Corbet has a similar permission to catch wolves in the royal forests in several counties

as a surname derived from a useful employment. Woolf and Woolfe are among naturalized German Jews in this country.

The wolf.

A variant form of the Wolf. The wolf.

Wolff is variant of the Wolf. Dweller at the sign of the wolf; one with the characteristics of a wolf; descendant of Vulf, a pet form of names beginning with Wolf, as Wolfbrand, Wolfgang and Wolfgard.

Dweller at the sign of the wolf; one with the characteristics of a wolf; descendant of Vulf, a pet form of names beginning with Wolf, as Wolfbrand, Wolfgang and Wolfgard.

Wolff is variant form of Woolf. Equivalent of Wolf that means wolf or dweller at the sign of the wolf.

Lastname Wolff is variation of Wulf. Descendant of Vulf, a pet form of names beginning with Wolf, as Wolfbrand, Wolfgang and Wolfgard; dweller at the sign of the wolf; one with the qualities of a wolf.

Lastname is the variant of the Woolf. See Wolf - Throughout the middle ages the wolf was regarded with a sort of mysterious awe, from his association with the unseen world—perhaps in the first instance in consequence of his constant attendance on Woden. The semi mythology of those times invested this cruel beast with many remarkable attributes, some of which are still remembered in our nursery literature. Hence many of the old pagan personal names, which descended to Christian times, allude to him; and his name is largely compounded with our local nomenclature, a source in later times of family names. Grimm has collected a large number of Old German proper names compounded with wolf in his 'Deutsche Grammatik,' and it would be equally easy to do the same for the English, and other languages. In France a St. Lou, Lupus, succeeded a St. Ursus in the see of Troyes the V century, and there were several church dignitaries under Charlemagne who were called Lupus. The kinglet Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, is well-known as the kinsman and chief subject of the Conqueror. Lupellus, the diminutive, became softened into Lovell and Lovett, still to be found as English surnames; and there are some curious compounds of the word. Pel-de-leu, for instance-wolf's skin-is an ancient family name mentioned by Ducange, and both Vis-de-Lew and Viso Lupi- wolf's face, occur in Domesday—the former as a tenant-in-chief in Berkshire. In the Roll of Arms of temp. Edward II, Sir William Videlou bears three wolves' heads. Fosbroke mentions a man whose sur name represents him as worse than a wolf" —Archembaldus Pejor-Lupo. See Wolfhunt in this Dict - Anglo-Saxon wolf and hunta, wolf-hunter. A family of this name held lands in Derbyshire, by the service of keeping the Forest of the Peak clear of wolves. Nothing can be more erroneous than the popular opinion that King Edgar succeeded, by the peculiar impost of wolves' heads, which he levied upon his Welsh tributaries, in exterminating this villanous quadruped. That it existed at the time of the Norman Conquest, and even so late as the reign of Edward I, is evident from the following authorities. The Carmen de Bello Hastingensi states that William the Conqueror left the dead bodies of the English upon the battle-field, to be devoured "by worms, and nolres, and birds, and dogs"—(vermibus, atque lupis, avibus, canibusque voranda.) In the year 1851 many skulls of wolves were taken out of a disused medieval well at Pevensey Castle. In the time of Edward I. John Engayne held lands in Huntingdonshire by the tenure of maintaining dogs for the King, for the purpose of hunting the wolf, fox, cat, badger, wild-boar, and hare, in several specified counties. In the Patent Rolls of 9th of the same monarch, John Gifford of Brymmesfield is empowered to destroy the wolves in all the king's forests throughout the realm; while in the same year Peter de Corbet has a similar permission to catch wolves in the royal forests in several counties

as a surname derived from a useful employment. Woolf and Woolfe are among naturalized German Jews in this country.

How popular is Wolff?

Wolff is common in Germany, United States, France, Brazil, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Australia, Poland, Luxembourg, England, South Africa, Austria, Switzerland, Argentina, Belgium, Sweden, Suriname, Norway, Chile, Spain, Thailand, Aruba, Mexico, New Zealand, Guatemala, Indonesia, Paraguay, Finland.

Wolff is ranked 4502 on our list.

Despite the fact that the number of Wolff bearers increased by 2.32 per cent in 2010 US census to 21815 since 2000, the surname slipped by 107 spots and ranked at 1650. The last name was found in around 7 per hundred thousand population. Please refer to following table for race and ethnicity.

Race 2010 2000
White 94.47 95.66
Hispanic or Latino 2.32 1.69
Others 1.37 1.24
Asian and Native Hawaiian
& Other Pacific Islander		 0.74 0.51
Black 0.72 0.55
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.39 0.36
Wolff is quite popular family name mostly used in Germany while Luxembourg is ahead in terms of density. Around 124821 person has been found who wears Wolff as their family name. Wolff is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below:
RankCountryCount
Countries with ten thousands of Wolff:
104 Germany59,154
1,355 United States32,890
Countries with thousands of Wolff:
591 France9,568
1,290 Brazil7,067
899 Netherlands2,253
312 Denmark1,583
3,251 Canada1,543
3,148 Australia1,183
4,944 Poland1,183
Countries with hundreds of Wolff:
46 Luxembourg956
7,003 England953
7,450 South Africa920
2,277 Austria554
2,445 Switzerland554
6,844 Argentina528
3,921 Belgium464
2,027 Sweden395
180 Suriname332
2,835 Norway236
3,286 Chile211
16,413 Spain180
77,308 Thailand160
97 Aruba143
12,385 Mexico138
5,713 New Zealand138
3,218 Guatemala126
76,344 Indonesia126
1,663 Paraguay119
6,087 Finland109
Countries with low frequency i.e., 50 - 100:
23,044 Romania83
7,910 Venezuela81
5,426 Dominican Republic77
121,498 Russia75
5,918 Uruguay64
13,968 Hungary63
Countries with very low frequency i.e., 10 - 50:
5,657 Ireland43
8,251 Scotland40
10,086 Portugal38
1,667 French Polynesia37
87,725 Italy32
43,532 Czechia29
10,313 Singapore26
12,125 Ecuador24
160,165 Philippines24
21,725 Peru23
12,893 Colombia21
12,771 Estonia19
14,725 Qatar19
6,545 Northern Ireland17
3,072 Costa Rica17
4,719 New Caledonia16
14,239 Wales13
32,084 Croatia12
2,098 Guam12
390 Liechtenstein11
Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 6 - 10:
6,837 Cuba10
7,955 China9
1,868 Mali9
4,985 Hong Kong7
9,437 Panama7
51,006 United Arab Emirates7
89,472 Belarus6
144,247 Turkey6
Show Full Last Name Distribution

Immigrants to US

From Germany

11 years old laborer Catherine Wolff who was residing in Germany migrated to USA on June 18, 1852 by Argo put out from Liverpool. H. Wolff (26) Farmer, 36 years old H.Netz Wolff, Farmer Louis Wolff, Farmer Michael Wolff, R--- Wolff, aged 9, Laborer Regina Wolff, Therse Wolff (21) Farmer, Wilhelm Wolff, aged 7, and 4169 other Wolff around 35.53% of whom were farmer while others worked as blacksmith and miller, joiner, servant, doctor of medicine, mechanic, tailor, merchant, cabinet maker, seamstress, clerk, smith, miner, undefined code, mason, butcher, bricklayer, daughter, weaver, baker, tinman, coachman, shoemaker, spinster, sailor, paper maker, architect, peasant, farmer and mechanic, tanner, economist, watchmaker, stone cutter, locksmith, brewer, artist, gardener, master, gentleman, carpenter, chaser, machinist, peddler, cigar maker, seaman, tourist, goldsmith, barber, bookbinder, waiter, saddler, matron, musician, engineer, manservant, landlord, dealer, shepherd, inn keeper, furrier, soldier, painter, glazier, teacher, coach builder, cooper, consul, army officer, domestic, cook, photographer, dyer, tiler, dressmaker, traveler, bookmaker, printer, evangelist, privateer, housekeeper, agent, trader, lawyer, sculptor migrated to US.

Wolff Namesakes

  • Henry Drummond Wolff, English diplomat and Conservative Party politician
  • Joseph Wolff, a Jewish Christian missionary
  • Thomas Wolff, noted mathematician, working primarily
  • Francis Wolff, record company executive
  • Betje Wolff, Dutch novelist who, with Agatha "Aagje" Deken
  • Patrick Wolff, American chess Grandmaster
  • Stefan Wolff, German political scientist
  • Gerry Wolff, German actor
  • John Wolff, {{Citation
  • Geoffrey Wolff, American novelist, essayist, biographer
  • Bobby Wolff, American bridge player, writer, and administrator
  • Madeleva Wolff, third President of Saint Mary's College
  • Hugh Wolff, American conductor
  • Ernst Victor Wolff, German-born concert pianist and harpsichordist
  • Carl Gustaf Wolff, prominent Finnish shipowner and businessman during his time
  • Hellmut Wolff, German academic, mystic, Germanic revivalist
  • Louis Wolff, American cardiologist
  • Janet L. Wolff, key figure at J. Walter Thompson Co
  • Virginia Euwer Wolff, American author of children's literature
  • Bernard de Wolff, Dutch painter of contemporary cityscapes, cows
  • Wilhelm Wolff, German schoolmaster
  • J. Scott Wolff, U.S. Representative from Missouri
  • Robert Paul Wolff, American political philosopher and professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Caspar Friedrich Wolff, German physiologist and one of the founders of embryology
  • Heinz Wolff, German-born British scientist as well as a television and radio presenter
  • Toni Wolff, Swiss Jungian analyst and a close collaborator of Carl Jung
  • Christoph Wolff, German-born musicologist
  • Nelson Wolff, State Senator
  • Karl Wolff, high-ranking member of the Nazi SS
  • Josh Wolff, retired American soccer player
  • Tobias Wolff, American short story writer, memoirist, novelist
  • Freddie Wolff, British athlete
  • Roger Wolff, professional baseball player
  • Francis de Wolff, English character actor
  • Sula Wolff, prominent British child psychiatrist
  • Bob Wolff, American radio and television sportscaster
  • Rikard Wolff, Swedish stage and screen actor and singer
  • Michael A. Wolff, dean emeritus of Saint Louis University School of Law and a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri
  • Tilo Wolff, German musician who currently lives in Switzerland
  • Ingrid Wolff, former Dutch field hockey forward
  • Gustav Wilhelm Wolff, Germanshipbuilder and politician
  • Lester L. Wolff, American politician and former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
  • Richard D. Wolff, American Marxian economist, well
  • Susie Wolff, British former racing driver
  • Maritta Wolff, American author
  • Enrique Wolff, Argentine journalist and former football defender
  • Carlo Wolff, prolific freelance journalist and author
  • Alejandro Daniel Wolff, American diplomat
  • Alex Wolff, American actor and musician
  • Egon Wolff, Chilean playwright and author
  • René Wolff, Olympic and world champion track cyclist
  • Antonio Navarro Wolff, engineer
  • Dennis Wolff, The role is Wolff's first job coaching a women's team
  • Milton Wolff, American veteran of the Spanish Civil War

Wolff Namesakes

  • Henry Drummond Wolff, English diplomat and Conservative Party politician
  • Joseph Wolff, a Jewish Christian missionary
  • Thomas Wolff, noted mathematician, working primarily
  • Francis Wolff, record company executive
  • Betje Wolff, Dutch novelist who, with Agatha "Aagje" Deken
  • Patrick Wolff, American chess Grandmaster
  • Stefan Wolff, German political scientist
  • Gerry Wolff, German actor
  • John Wolff, {{Citation
  • Geoffrey Wolff, American novelist, essayist, biographer
  • Bobby Wolff, American bridge player, writer, and administrator
  • Madeleva Wolff, third President of Saint Mary's College
  • Hugh Wolff, American conductor
  • Ernst Victor Wolff, German-born concert pianist and harpsichordist
  • Carl Gustaf Wolff, prominent Finnish shipowner and businessman during his time
  • Hellmut Wolff, German academic, mystic, Germanic revivalist
  • Louis Wolff, American cardiologist
  • Janet L. Wolff, key figure at J. Walter Thompson Co
  • Virginia Euwer Wolff, American author of children's literature
  • Bernard de Wolff, Dutch painter of contemporary cityscapes, cows
  • Wilhelm Wolff, German schoolmaster
  • J. Scott Wolff, U.S. Representative from Missouri
  • Robert Paul Wolff, American political philosopher and professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Caspar Friedrich Wolff, German physiologist and one of the founders of embryology
  • Heinz Wolff, German-born British scientist as well as a television and radio presenter
  • Toni Wolff, Swiss Jungian analyst and a close collaborator of Carl Jung
  • Christoph Wolff, German-born musicologist
  • Nelson Wolff, State Senator
  • Karl Wolff, high-ranking member of the Nazi SS
  • Josh Wolff, retired American soccer player
  • Tobias Wolff, American short story writer, memoirist, novelist
  • Freddie Wolff, British athlete
  • Roger Wolff, professional baseball player
  • Francis de Wolff, English character actor
  • Sula Wolff, prominent British child psychiatrist
  • Bob Wolff, American radio and television sportscaster
  • Rikard Wolff, Swedish stage and screen actor and singer
  • Michael A. Wolff, dean emeritus of Saint Louis University School of Law and a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri
  • Tilo Wolff, German musician who currently lives in Switzerland
  • Ingrid Wolff, former Dutch field hockey forward
  • Gustav Wilhelm Wolff, Germanshipbuilder and politician
  • Lester L. Wolff, American politician and former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
  • Richard D. Wolff, American Marxian economist, well
  • Susie Wolff, British former racing driver
  • Maritta Wolff, American author
  • Enrique Wolff, Argentine journalist and former football defender
  • Carlo Wolff, prolific freelance journalist and author
  • Alejandro Daniel Wolff, American diplomat
  • Alex Wolff, American actor and musician
  • Egon Wolff, Chilean playwright and author
  • René Wolff, Olympic and world champion track cyclist
  • Antonio Navarro Wolff, engineer
  • Dennis Wolff, The role is Wolff's first job coaching a women's team
  • Milton Wolff, American veteran of the Spanish Civil War

Related Family Names: