Wolff

Wolff is a surname of German origin, derived from the word wolf and historically used as a byname for someone who was perceived as wolfish or as a toponymic reference to a place associated with wolves. The spelling Wolff (with two f’s) is common in German-speaking regions and among descendants of German immigrants; anglicized forms include Wolfe and Woolf.

In science and medicine, several terms carry the name Wolff. Wolff's law describes the remodeling of bone in response to mechanical stress, a concept attributed to the 19th-century anatomist Julius Wolff. The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a congenital heart condition characterized by an abnormal electrical conduction pathway; it is named after physicians with the surname Wolff and colleagues who described it.

The surname occurs across many countries and is borne by numerous individuals who have contributed to politics, science, arts, and sports. Because of its broad use, 'Wolff' may refer to people, or concepts associated with the name, and is typically clarified by context in encyclopedic references.