Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

Notes on tije iFatniflff of Mt Wiolf
Following the suggestions of Dr. James Ratchford De Wolf of
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, who has most efficiently cooperated with us in
the preparation of this paper, we may begin by saying that " Wolf," with
or without prefixes, or its equivalent, is found very extensively used as a
surname, in different nations having different languages. Not being taken
from any name of place, but suggested by the intimate association of
primitive man with other animals, and by fancy's seeing,, of resemblances
in nature between the higher and the lower, we might, indeed, expect the
name to be ubiquitous. One distinction of usage, however, must be
noticed here—that, while in all Teutonic languages the name is traceable
back to a Teutonic original, the Romance languages have equivalent
derivatives from the Latin.
"Among the Romans," says Dr. De Wolf, "Lupus stood not only
for the beast which suckled the mythic founders of the State, but also
designated individuals of the human family. In the earliest records of
Saxon England we find Wulf, Beowulf, Cuthwulf, Ethelwulf and Eadwulf
as names of men of renown. The house of the Guelphs is traced to a
German family of Welf or Wolf. The German Wolfensbllrgher, i. e.
Dweller in Wolf's Fort, and Weissenwolf, i. e. White Wolf, are surnames.
The Spanish name Lopez, and the Portuguese Lopes, both have relation
to Wolf ; at all events, the Lords of Biscany, whose family-name is Lopez,
bore wolves on their shield. The Scandinavian form of the same name is
Ulph, Ulv.
" But to follow out this attractive research would carry us too far
from our subject.
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