Wolf is a given name and a surname. It is common among Germanic-speaking peoples, alongside variants such as Wulf. Names which translate to English "

wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, includin ...

" are also common among other nations, including many

Native American peoples In the Americas, Indigenous peoples comprise the two continents' pre-Columbian inhabitants, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with them in the 15th century, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with the pre-Columbian population of ...

within the current or former extent of the habitat of the grey wolf (essentially all of North America).

Geographical distribution

As of 2014, 53.2% of all known bearers of the surname ''Wolf'' were residents of Germany (frequency 1 out of 413), 27.4% of the United States (1 out of 3,608), 3.9% of Austria (1 out of 596), 2.5% of Brazil (1 out of 21,995), 1.4% of Switzerland (1 out of 1,622), 1.2% of the Netherlands (1 out of 3,735) and 1.0% of France (1 out of 17,534). In Germany, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1 out of 413) in the following states:Wolf surname distribution
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Saxony Saxony, officially the Free State of Saxony, is a landlocked state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Bavaria, as well as the countries of Poland and the Czech Republic. Its capital is Dresden, and ...

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Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; ; ; ) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the sixteen states. Mainz is the capital and largest city. Other cities are ...

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Hesse Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...

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Thuringia Thuringia (; officially the Free State of Thuringia, ) is one of Germany, Germany's 16 States of Germany, states. With 2.1 million people, it is 12th-largest by population, and with 16,171 square kilometers, it is 11th-largest in area. Er ...

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Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

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Brandenburg Brandenburg, officially the State of Brandenburg, is a States of Germany, state in northeastern Germany. Brandenburg borders Poland and the states of Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. It is the List of Ger ...

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Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg ( ; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a states of Germany, German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million i ...

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Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt ( ; ) is a States of Germany, state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of and has a population of 2.17 million inhabitants, making it the List of German states ...

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Given name

Wolf Biermann Karl Wolf Biermann (; born 15 November 1936) is a German singer-songwriter, poet, and former East German dissident. He is perhaps best known for the 1968 song " Ermutigung" and his expatriation from East Germany in 1976. Early life Biermann was ...

(born 1936), German singer-songwriter *

Wolf Blitzer Wolf Isaac Blitzer (born March 22, 1948) is an American journalist, television news anchor, and author who has been a CNN reporter since 1990, and who currently serves as one of the principal anchors at the network. He has been a host of ''The ...

(born 1948), American journalist *

Wolf Burchard Wolf Burchard, PhD FSA is a British-German art historian and museum curator. He joined the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 2019. Life and career Burchard held curatorial positions at the Royal Collection Trust (2009–2014) and ...

, British-German art historian * Wolf Heckmann (1929–2006), German journalist *

Wolf Henzler Wolfgang Henzler (born 5 April 1975) is a former Germans, German Porsche in motorsport, Porsche factory racing driver. He began racing in 1991 with a win in the German Junior Karting, Kart championship. Born in Nürtingen, Baden-Württemberg, he ...

(born 1975), German racing driver * Wolf Hilbertz (1938–2007), German architect * Wolf Hoffmann (born 1959), German guitarist *

Wolf Howard Wolf Howard (born 7 April 1968)Evans, p.36. is an English artist, poet and filmmaker living in Rochester, Kent and was a founder member of the Stuckists art group.Milner, p.80. He is also a drummer who has played in garage and punk bands, cu ...

(born 1968), English artist and musician *

Wolf Kahler Wolf Kahler (born 3 April 1940) is a German character actor in stage, film, television, and voice actor. Early life Kahler was born in Kiel in Germany. Career With blue eyes, sculpted jawbone, and height of , Kahler was often chosen to play ...

(born 1946), German actor * Wolf Kahn (1927–2020), German-born American painter * Wolf Karni (1911–1996), Finnish football referee *

Wolf Larson Wolf Larson (born December 22, 1959) is a German-Canadian former actor, screenwriter, and producer. Biography Larson was born in West Germany to Gunther and Ingeborg, he has a younger sister. In his teens he worked as a waiter at the Chippend ...

(born 1959), Canadian actor * Wolf Mail (born 1972), Canadian guitarist * Wolf Mankowitz (1924–1988), English writer * Wolf Mendlin (1842–1912), Russian economist * Wolf Ruvinskis (1921–1999), Mexican actor * Wolf Schäfer (born 1942), German-American historian *

Wolf Curt von Schierbrand Wolf Curt von Schierbrand (31 January 1807 – 20 February 1888) was a German zoological scientist and member of the Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. His report of his travels in Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. ...

(1807–1888), German zoologist * Wolf Van Halen (born 1991), American bassist * Wolf V. Vishniac (1922–1973), American biologist * Wolf Wigo (born 1973), American water polo player and coach

Surname

* Aaron Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Abraham Wolf (1876–1948), Russian-born English historian, writer, philosopher, and rabbi * Alfred Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Alice Wolf (1933–2023), American politician * Aliya Wolf (born 1975), American model *

Allan Wolf Allan Wolf is an American poet and young adult author. His books are primarily multi-perspective historical fiction in verse, but he has also published several poetry books for children. He is also an accomplished Poetry slam, slam poet. Perso ...

, American author * Amnon Wolf (born 1971), Israeli actor and dubber * Ann Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Armin Wolf (born 1966), Austrian journalist and television anchor * Austin Wolf (born 1981), American pornographic actor * Benno Wolf (1871–1943), German judge, speleologist, and Holocaust victim * Carrie Wolf, American officer and judge advocate * Charles Wolf (disambiguation), several people *

Christa Wolf Christa Wolf (; Ihlenfeld; 18 March 1929 – 1 December 2011) was a German novelist and essayist. She is considered one of the most important writers to emerge from the former East Germany.Christie Wolf (born 1966), American bodybuilder and wrestler * Christopher Howard Wolf (born 1979), American game and comic book creator * Clarence Wolf (1860–1937), American banker, businessman, and politician * Dale E. Wolf (1924–2021), American politician *

Daniel James Wolf Daniel James Wolf (born September 13, 1961 in Upland, California) is an American composer. Studies Wolf studied composition with Gordon Mumma, Alvin Lucier, and La Monte Young, as well as musical tunings with Erv Wilson and Douglas Leedy an ...

(born 1961), American music composer * Daniel Wolf (born 2004), American-Israeli college basketball player for the

Michigan Wolverines The Michigan Wolverines comprise 29 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA's NCAA Division I, Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except wo ...

* David Wolf (disambiguation), several people *

Dick Wolf Richard Anthony Wolf (born December 20, 1946) is an American billionaire and television producer, best known for his ''Law & Order'' franchise. Since 1990, the franchise has included six police/courtroom dramas and four international spinoffs. ...

(born 1946), American television producer * Diego Wolf, Argentine water polo player * Dragutin Wolf (1866–1927), Croatian industrialist *

Dustin Wolf Dustin Wolf (born April 16, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL entry draft, 214th overall, by the Flames. Wol ...

(born 2001), American ice hockey goaltender * Edwin Wolf (1855–1934), American manufacturer and banker * Eli Wolf (born 1997), American football player * Emil Wolf (1922–2018), American physicist * Emma Wolf (1865–1932), American novelist *

Eric Wolf Eric Robert Wolf (February 1, 1923 – March 6, 1999) was an anthropologist, best known for his studies of peasants, Latin America, and his advocacy of Marxist perspectives within anthropology. Early life Life in Vienna Wolf was born in Vi ...

(1923–1999), American anthropologist * Ernst Wilhelm Wolf (1735–1792), German composer * Ethan Wolf (born 1995), American football player * Frank Wolf (disambiguation), several people * František Wolf (1904–1989), Czech mathematician * Franz Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Fred Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Friedrich Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Gary Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Guido Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Gusti Wolf (1912–2007), Austrian actor * Hanna Wolf (1908–1999), East German historian and politician * Hannes Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Hanns Wolf (1894–1968), German composer and pianist * Harry Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Heinrich Wolf (1875–1943), Austrian chess player * Henry Wolf (disambiguation), several people *

Hugo Wolf Hugo Philipp Jacob Wolf (; ; 13 March 1860 – 22 February 1903) was an Austrian composer, particularly noted for his art songs, or Lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Romantic music, so ...

(1860–1903), Austrian composer * Jack Keil Wolf (1935–2011), American computer scientist *

Jackson Wolf Jackson David Wolf (born April 22, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization. Amateur career Wolf attended Lincoln High School in Gahanna, Ohio, where he played baseball. He went unselected in the ...

(born 1999), American baseball player * James Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Jenny Wolf (born 1979), German ice speed skater * Jeremy Wolf (born 1993), American-Israeli baseball player * Jim Wolf (born 1969), American baseball umpire * Jimmy Wolf (1862–1903), American baseball player * J. J. Wolf (born 1998), American tennis player * Joan Wolf (born 1951), American writer *

Joe Wolf Joseph James Wolf (December 17, 1964 – September 26, 2024) was an American professional basketball player and coach. Wolf played eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for seven different teams. He played college basketba ...

(born 1964), American basketball player * Johann Christoph Wolf (1683–1739), German Hebraist and book collector * John Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Joseph Wolf (1820–1899), German natural history illustrator * Josh Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Julia Wolf, British mathematician * Julius Wolf (born 1993), German basketball player * Kate Wolf (1942–1986), American folk singer and songwriter * Katie Wolf (1925–2020), American politician * Kati Wolf (born 1974), Hungarian singer *

Konrad Wolf Konrad Wolf (20 October 1925 – 7 March 1982) was an East Germany, East German film director. He was the son of writer, doctor and diplomat Friedrich Wolf (writer), Friedrich Wolf, and the younger brother of Stasi spymaster Markus Wolf. "Koni" ...

(1925–1982), German film director * Lana Wolf (born 1975), Dutch rock singer and radio producer * Laurent Wolf (born 1971), French music producer * Linda Wolf (born 1950), American-born photographer and writer *

Lucien Wolf Lucien Wolf (20 January 1857 in London23 August 1930) was an English Jewish journalist, diplomat, historian, and advocate of rights for Jews and other minorities. While Wolf was devoted to minority rights, he opposed Jewish nationalism as expres ...

(1857–1930), English journalist *

Marek Wolf Marek Wolf (born 30 June 1957) is a Czech astronomer, former head the Astronomický ústav, Univerzita Karlova v Praze (Astronomical Institute, Charles University of Prague). He is a discoverer of several asteroids between 1995 and 2001, mostly ...

, Czech astronomer * Marilyn Wolf, American computer engineer * Marius Wolf (born 1995), German footballer *

Markus Wolf Markus Johannes Wolf (19 January 1923 – 9 November 2006), also known as Mischa, was a German spymaster who served as the head of the Main Directorate for Reconnaissance (), the foreign intelligence division of East Germany's Ministry for Sta ...

(1923–2006), East German intelligence head * Mary Wolf (disambiguation), several people *

Max Wolf Maximilian Franz Joseph Cornelius Wolf (21 June 1863 – 3 October 1932) was a German astronomer and a pioneer in the field of astrophotography. He was the chairman of astronomy at the University of Heidelberg and director of the Heidelberg-K� ...

(1863–1932), German astronomer * Michael Wolf (disambiguation), several people *

Michelle Wolf Michelle Wolf (born June 21, 1985) is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host. She worked as a contributor and writer for ''Late Night with Seth Meyers'' and '' The Daily Show with Trevor Noah''. She spoke as the featured pe ...

, American comedian, writer, producer, and television host * Milton A. Wolf (1924–2005), American real estate developer and diplomat *

Naomi Wolf Naomi Rebekah Wolf (born 1962) is an American feminist author, journalist, and conspiracy theorist. After the 1991 publication of her first book, '' The Beauty Myth'', Wolf became a prominent figure in the third wave of the feminist movemen ...

(born 1962), American author, journalist, and former political advisor to Al Gore and Bill Clinton * Notker Wolf (1940–2024), German Benedictine monk, priest, musician and author * Patrick Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Peter Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Randy Wolf (born 1976), American baseball player * Raymond Wolf (1904–1979), American athlete and coach * Remi Wolf (born 1996), American musician * Robert Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Ron Wolf (born 1938), American football general manager *

Rudolf Wolf Johann Rudolf Wolf (7 July 1816 – 6 December 1893) was a Swiss astronomer and mathematician best known for his research on sunspots. Wolf was born in Fällanden, near Zurich. He studied at the universities of Zurich, Vienna, and Berlin. Encke ...

(1816–1893), Swiss astronomer and mathematician * Scott Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Sebastian Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Sherry Wolf (born 1949), American photorealist painter and designer * Shmuel Wolf (1934–2019), Hungarian-born Israeli actor * Simon Wolf (1826–1923), American businessman, lawyer, diplomat and Jewish activist * Slavko Wolf (1862–1936), Croatian lawyer, chess player and writer *

Solly Wolf Solly Wolf (1949 or 1950 – 4 February 2025) was a British businessman who resided in the United Arab Emirates. He served as the president of the Jewish Community Center of UAE. Life and career Early life Wolf was raised in the English c ...

(1949 or 1950–2025), British businessman residing in the UAE * Steven Wolf (disambiguation), several people, includes Stephen * Susan Wolf (born 1952), American moral philosopher *

Thomas Wolf (disambiguation) Thomas Wolf or Wolfe may refer to: Wolf * Thom Wolf (born 1944), professor at University Institute, New Delhi, India * Thomas Wolf (criminal), German criminal and fugitive * Thomas Wolf, CEO of German company RIB Software * Tom Wolf (born 1948), fo ...

, several people, includes Thom and Tom * Tony Wolf (1930–2018), pseudonym of Italian illustrator and writer Antonio Lupatelli *

Wally Wolf Wallace "Wally" Perry Wolf Jr. (October 2, 1930 – March 12, 1997) was an American attorney, bank director, competition swimming (sport), swimmer, water polo player, and Olympic champion. He competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, 1948, 1952 Su ...

(1930–1997), American swimmer, water polo player, and Olympic champion * Wally Wolf (baseball) (1942–2020), American baseball player * Walter Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Warner Wolf (born 1937), American television and radio sports broadcaster * Warren Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Wilhelm Wolf (disambiguation), several people * William Wolf (disambiguation), several people * Wolfgang Wolf (born 1957), German soccer player and coach *

Yoni Wolf Jonathan Avram "Yoni" Wolf (born April 30, 1979) is an American alternative hip hop and indie rock musician and co-founder of the record label Anticon. From 1997 until 2004, Wolf released music under the stage name Why?. In 2004 he transferred ...

(born 1979), American alternative hip-hop/indie rock artist, best known for WHY? project

Nickname or stage name

*Enzo Coloni, Italian race car driver and founder of the

Scuderia Coloni Coloni Motorsport, also known as Scuderia Coloni, was an auto racing team from Italy. Founded by former racing driver Enzo Coloni in 1983, the team participated in Formula Three between 1983 and 1986, before racing in Formula One as Enzo Coloni ...

racing team, nicknamed "the wolf" *

Gustav Wagner Gustav Franz Wagner (18 July 1911 – 3 October 1980) was an Austrian member of the '' SS'' with the rank of Master Sergeant (''Hauptscharführer''). Wagner was a deputy commander of Sobibor extermination camp in German-occupied Poland, where 2 ...

(1911–1980), Austrian SS officer at Sobibór extermination camp * Michael Van Wijk, known by the pseudonym Wolf on the television series ''Gladiators'' *

Tyler, the Creator Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has been cited as an influential figure in alternative hip-hop during the 2010s. Tyler beca ...

often calls himself in his songs Wolf Haley

Fictional characters

* Wolf Larsen, in the 1904 novel ''The Sea-Wolf'' by Jack London *

Father Wolf This is a list of characters that appear in Rudyard Kipling's 1894 ''The Jungle Book'' story collection, its 1895 sequel '' The Second Jungle Book'', and the various film adaptations based on those books. Characters include both human and talki ...

, in the 1894 novel ''The Jungle Book'' by Rudyard Kipling * Ralph Wolf, in a series of animated cartoons from ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' *Wolf, in the 1984 novel ''The Talisman'' by Stephen King and Peter Straub *The Wolf, the name by which Ezra is known in '' The Night Angel Trilogy'' fantasy series *Wolf, codename for a character in the novel '' Stormbreaker'' by Anthony Horowitz *Wolf, the nickname given to Ze'ev Kesley of

The Lunar Chronicles ''The Lunar Chronicles'' is a series of four young adult science fiction novels, a novella, and a short story collection written by American author Marissa Meyer and published by Feiwel & Friends. Each book entails a science fictional twist on ...

fantasy novel series * Bigby Wolf, in the comic book series ''Fables'' * Wolf (''The 10th Kingdom''), on the television show ''The 10th Kingdom'' *

Wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, includin ...

, from '' Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light'', '' Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem'', and their respective remakes * Wolf O'Donnell, in the ''Star Fox'' series of video games * Claudia Wolf, in the ''Silent Hill'' video game series * Crying Wolf, in the ''Metal Gear'' video game series * Sniper Wolf, in the ''Metal Gear'' video game series * Wolf Hawkfield, in the ''Virtua Fighter'' video game series *Wolf, street name for a character in '' Need for Speed: Carbon'' *Marcus Wolf, from the film '' Deep Impact'' *Marty Wolf, a film producer and the main antagonist of ''

Big Fat Liar ''Big Fat Liar'' is a 2002 American teen comedy film directed by Shawn Levy, and written by Dan Schneider from a story by Schneider and Brian Robbins. It stars Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti and Amanda Bynes, with a supporting cast featuring Am ...

'' *Wolf, a main character in the streaming television series ''

Future Man Roy Wilfred Wooten (born October 13, 1957), also known as RoyEl, best known by his stage name Future Man (also written Futureman and known to fans as Futche), is an American musician, inventor and composer. He is best known as a member of jazz ...

'' *Wolf Stoller, a German banker from Herman Wouk's '' The Winds of War'' book and television miniseries *Wolf, the protagonist of '' Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice'' *Wolf, a main character in the animated television series ''

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts ''Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts'' is an animated science fantasy action television series created by Radford Sechrist and developed by Bill Wolkoff, adapted from Sechrist's 2015 webcomic ''Kipo''. The series is produced by American company Dr ...

'' *Wolf Edmunds, a deceased astronaut in the 2014 science fiction film Interstellar *Lazar Wolf, a prominent supporting character in ''

Fiddler on the Roof ''Fiddler on the Roof'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and musical theatre#Book musicals, book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Russian Empire, Imperial Russia in or around 19 ...

'' *Wolf, a playable character in the ''Payday'' video game series developed by

Overkill Software Overkill Software is a Swedish video game developer based and founded in Stockholm in 2009 by Ulf Andersson (video game designer), Ulf Andersson, Bo Andersson, the founders and owners of defunct game developer Grin (company), Grin, along with Si ...

References