English, Danish, and German: from a short form of the various
Germanic compound names with a first element wolf ‘wolf’, or a
byname or nickname with this meaning. The wolf was native throughout
the forests of Europe, including Britain, until comparatively
recently. In ancient and medieval times it played an important role in
Germanic mythology, being regarded as one of the sacred beasts of
Woden. This name is widespread throughout northern, central, and
eastern Europe, as well as in Britain and German-speaking
countries.
German: habitational name for someone living at a house
distinguished by the sign of a wolf, Middle High German
wolf.
Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish male personal
name Volf meaning ‘wolf’, which is associated with the Hebrew
personal name Binyamin (see Benjamin). This association
stems from Jacob’s dying words ‘Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the
morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the
spoil’ (Genesis 49:27).
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