Wolfgang
PronunciationEnglish: /ˈwʊlfɡæŋ/
German: [ˈvɔlfɡaŋ]
GenderMale
Language(s)German
Origin
Word/namewulf (wolf) + gang (path)
MeaningPath of the Wolf
Region of originNorthern Europe

Wolfgang is a German male given name traditionally popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The name is a combination of the Old High German words wolf, meaning "wolf", and gang, meaning "path", "journey", "travel". Besides the regular "wolf", the first element also occurs in Old High German as the combining form "-olf". The earliest reference of the name being used was in the 8th century.[1] The name was also attested as "Vulfgang" in the Reichenauer Verbrüderungsbuch in the 9th century.[2] The earliest recorded famous bearer of the name was a tenth-century Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg. Due to the lack of conflict with the pagan reference in the name with Catholicism, it is likely a much more ancient name whose meaning had already been lost by the tenth century. Grimm (Teutonic Mythology p. 1093) interpreted the name as that of a hero in front of whom walks the "wolf of victory". A Latin gloss by Arnold of St Emmeram interprets the name as Lupambulus.[3]

Royalty and nobility

Given name

Middle name

Art, entertainment, and media

References

  1. ^ Förstemann ibid., Col. 596
  2. ^ "dMGH | Band | Antiquitates [Dichtung und Gedenküberlieferung] | Libri memoriales et Necrologia, Nova series (Libri mem. N.S.) | 1: Das Verbrüderungsbuch der Abtei Reichenau | Titelblatt: Das Verbrüderungsbuch der Abtei Reichenau Zentralbibliothek Zürich Ms. Rh. hist. 27". Mgh.de. 2011-04-04. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  3. ^ E. Förstemann, Altdeutsches Namenbuch (1856), p. 1347.
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