Wolfe

Wolfe is a surname and, less commonly, a given name. It originates from the Germanic word wolf or the Old English wulf, used as a nickname for someone thought to resemble a wolf in temperament or appearance. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname in English-speaking regions. The spelling Wolfe is one variant among others such as Wolf, Wolff, and Wulf, with regional differences in usage.

The surname is widely distributed across the English-speaking world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Variants reflect linguistic shifts and immigration histories, with some non-English forms anglicized to Wolfe in the diaspora. In addition to its use as a surname, Wolfe occasionally appears as a given name, though less commonly.

Notable individuals with the surname include Tom Wolfe (1931–2018), an American author and journalist known for works such as The Bonfire of the Vanities and The Right Stuff. The name also appears in fiction and media as a surname for various characters, and it is used in geographic and institutional naming in different regions.

Wolfe may also be encountered in place names and in the titles of organizations or buildings, reflecting its continued cultural and historic usage. For further clarification, related names include Wolf, Wolff, and Wulf, as well as Wolfe as a disambiguation term for various people, places, and uses.