Find out how popular the last name Volke is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Volke.

Volke, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Volke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Volke in America

Volke is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Volke surname appeared 128 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Volke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Volke to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Volke

The surname Volke is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "volk," which means "people" or "nation." The name likely originated as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who was closely associated with the common folk or the general populace.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries in regions such as Bavaria and Saxony. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include Johannes Volke, a merchant from Leipzig who was mentioned in a trade record from 1346, and Hildegard Volke, a landowner from Nuremberg whose name appears in a land deed from 1382.

The name Volke was also found in several historical manuscripts and records from the Holy Roman Empire, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, which dates back to the 15th century. This indicates that the name had gained prominence and spread across various regions of what is now modern-day Germany.

One notable bearer of the Volke surname was Hans Volke, a prominent theologian and scholar from the 16th century. Born in 1492 in Wittenberg, he was a contemporary of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. His writings and teachings on biblical exegesis and church reform were widely influential during his time.

Another historically significant figure with the Volke surname was Friedrich Volke, a German military officer and strategist from the 18th century. Born in 1712 in Hanover, he served in the Prussian army during the Seven Years' War and is credited with developing innovative tactics that were widely adopted by other military leaders of the era.

In the realm of literature, the name Volke is associated with the 19th-century German writer and poet, Karoline Volke. Born in 1826 in Hamburg, she was known for her lyrical works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her collection of poems, "Blumen aus dem Tal," published in 1859, earned her widespread acclaim and recognition within literary circles of the time.

The Volke surname also has connections to various place names and older spellings. For instance, the town of Volkershausen in Thuringia, Germany, is believed to be derived from the name Volke, suggesting a historical presence of the surname in that region. Additionally, the variant spelling "Folke" was commonly found in historical records from parts of Saxony and Brandenburg.

Throughout history, the Volke surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, ranging from scholars and writers to military leaders and landowners. While the exact origins of the name remain shrouded in the mists of time, its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Volke

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Volke.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Volke was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Volke has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Volke was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Volke, please contact us.

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