Surname Folgerts - Meaning and Origin
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Folgerts: What does the surname Folgerts mean?
The last name Folgerts is a Dutch or German surname, derived from the ancient Germanic name Volker. It is a patronymic surname, meaning “son of Volker”. The Volker in this case could refer to a person named “Volker” or to a place-name derived from the Old German word Volker, meaning “people” or “folk”. Either way, the surname Folgerts is a reminder of one’s ancestors, most likely from northern Europe and likely of Germanic descent. Notably, variations of the name Folgerts have also been spelled as Volkerts, Folgers, Folger, Volgers, and others.
The name Folgerts is also associated with a few branches of history, such as the ancient back-and-forth migrations of the Germanic peoples. It is exciting and intriguing to think of one’s ancestors trekking across the continent and keeping their family name alive through the centuries. Another possible association is the early modern era of printing and education. Printing moved quickly across Northern Europe and the Folgerts family would have been a part of that process.
At its heart, the last name Folgerts is a reminder of the past, the Volker of old, the migrations and travels of a people, and the realization of a name that has survived for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisFolgerts: Where does the name Folgerts come from?
The last name Folgerts is most common in Germany and the Netherlands today, where it is most often spelled 'Völgerts'. It is also found in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, under the spelling 'Folgerts' or more rarely 'Völgert'.
The name is derived from the Dutch and German word 'volgert', which means 'guardian'. This reflects the root of the name, its links to guarding either goods or people. It is thought to have originated in the 14th or 15th centuries as a personal name or surname, possibly as a reference to somebody who carried out protection duties.
In the present day, Folgerts is found across northern Europe, although more namesakes are present in Germany and the Netherlands than in other countries. It is not a particularly common name, particularly in England, where it is only present in small numbers today.
Variations of the surname Folgerts
Folgerts is a Dutch patronymic surname, which is derived from the personal name Folger, composed of the Germanic elements “folk”, meaning “people”, and “ghere”, meaning “armed”. The Dutch spelling is “Folgerts” or “Volkerts”, though other spellings are “Folgers”, “Volgers” or “Volgerts”, and sometimes “Folkers”.
In America, it is sometimes shortened to “Folger” or “Volger”. In other countries, it can also be spelled as “Foulger”, though this is often due to the translation of the spelling being mispronounced.
Surnames of similar origin include “Folser”, “Volser”, “Folkes”, “Volkes”, “Folke”, “Volke”, “Folsom”, “Volsom” and “Foulks”. Variantly, it can also be found as “Falkers”, “Falke”, and “Valkers”.
The surnames of the same origin are significant, as they signify a larger family unit or extended family who share the same common ancestor. For the Dutch-American branch of the Folgerts family, ancestry could be traced through Europe to Germany, or even further back in time to the Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Folgerts
- Richard Folgerts: a German TV presenter and reporter known for his work on ARD TV.
- Ewald Folgerts: a German rugby player who competed at the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
- Ariane Folgerts: a Dutch singer-songwriter who has released two albums to date.
- Jan Folgerts: a Dutch footballer who played for Feyenoord and other clubs in the 1970s and early 1980s.
- Andreas Folgerts: a German athlete who represented his country at the Olympic Games of 1976 and 1980.
- Gustaf Folgerts: a Belgian musician and composer known for his work in the jazz genre.
- Chris Folgerts: an Australian actor and voice-over artist featured in shorts, television series, and feature films.
- Gert Folgerts: a German sculptor who works in a variety of mediums.
- Jacob Folgerts: a Dutch artist and illustrator, best known for his work on children's books.
- Rutger Folgerts: a German linguist and author most noted for his work on English and German dialects.