Surname Ullman - Meaning and Origin
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Ullman: What does the surname Ullman mean?
The last name Ullman is of Germanic and Jewish origin. It is derived from the personal name Ulrich and means "power" and "prosperity". Ulrich was a popular name in Germany due to Saint Ulrich, a 10th-century bishop of Augsburg, who was a leader during the Hungarians' invasions. The name made its way to the Ashkenazic Jewish community, possibly through converts to Judaism or it could have been adopted for its positive connotations. Therefore, Ullman is both a patronymic surname and a status surname. It could have also served as an ornamental surname, a common practice among Ashkenazic Jews. Ornamental surnames were adopted for their symbolic or ornamental value and didn't necessarily have any association with the professions, places, or paternal names of the bearers.
Order DNA origin analysisUllman: Where does the name Ullman come from?
The last name Ullman is commonly found in countries that were historically part of the German Empire, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. It is most common in Germany, with an estimated 116,000 people using the last name in the country according to the year 2020.
The surname is derived from the German word "ull," meaning "wolf," making it an occupational surname relating to someone who trained or kept wolfhounds. As German emigrants migrated to other countries, this name spread throughout Europe and even to the U.S.
In the U.S., it is most common in states with a large German population. This includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Illinois, as well as Ohio and Indiana. There are an estimated 12,500 people with Ullman as their last name in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau, most living in these states.
Overall, Ullman appears most prominently among countries with large German populations. But with the trend of immigration worldwide, it has established its roots in many other countries.
Variations of the surname Ullman
The surname Ullman is a name of German origin, deriving from 'Oelman' which means 'nobleman.' It is spelled in a variety of ways, depending on the region, dialect, and language of origin. The most common variant spellings are Ullmann, Ullman and Ullmen. Other less common variations include Ullan, Oellman, Oelleman, Oellemans, Ulimann, Ulman, Ullmaan, Ullmanns, Ullmann, Ullmanns, Ulamann, Ullahman, Ullamon, Oliman and Ulmann.
Other variations of the surname Ullman include the German surname Uhlman and Uelmen, which is found mainly in Austria and Switzerland. The surname Oelman can also be found in some cultures.
Various combinations of the 'Ullman' surname can be found in other languages. In Czech, for example, Ullman may be spelled as 'Ullmann' or 'Ulman'. In Danish, the 'Ullman' surname may be spelled as 'Ulman' or even 'Ulsman'. In Swedish, 'Ullman' may also appear as 'Ulman' or 'Ulsman'.
The surnames Uhlman and Uelmen, which are both variants of Ullman, are also associated with anglicized versions such as Ulman, Uelman, Ullen, Ollman, Ollmann, and Ollen.
In the United States, the Ullman surname can be found in various forms. In some cases, the prefix 'von' was adopted to denote nobility, resulting in variant spellings such as 'VonUllman' or 'VonUllmann'. The 'Ullen' spelling can also be found throughout North America.
Other variations of the Ullman surname may also exist, depending upon ancestral origins and their proximity to certain languages or dialects.
Famous people with the name Ullman
- Tracey Ullman: British-American actress, comedian, singer, author, and director.
- Alexis Ullman: American actor, writer, and producer best known for the 2014 feature film 'To Dust'.
- Sir Frank William Ullman: British-American international banker and prominent art collector.
- Malcolm Ullman: Canadian former human resources professional, author, and politician.
- Mogens Ullman: Danish Olympic silver medalist in sailing.
- Richard Ullman: American political scientist and professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University.
- Marcus Ullman: American actor and composer.
- Murray Ullman: Canadian former architect and politician.
- Sasha Ullman: Canadian singer-songwriter.
- Kathleen Ullman: American Olympic swimmer.