Wulff

Wulff is a surname of German origin, derived from the given name Wulf, from the Old High German word for "wolf." The spelling with two fs (Wulff) is a common variant, and the name has been borne by numerous individuals across German-speaking regions and beyond.

In science, the term Wulff also appears in crystallography and materials science as the Wulff construction (also called the Wulff shape). The construction provides a geometric method to infer the equilibrium shape of a crystal from the anisotropic surface energy, γ(n), as a function of crystal orientation. By plotting γ(n) on a polar diagram and drawing planes normal to the corresponding directions, the inner envelope yields the theoretical crystal shape that minimizes total surface energy. The concept, introduced by Georg Wulff in the early 20th century, is widely used to interpret observed crystal morphologies and to model growth processes.

The surname Wulff and its variants appear in various cultures and languages, and the name is associated with individuals across fields such as science, politics, and the arts. Beyond its use as a family name, Wulff has become linked in particular to the crystallography concept that bears the name of the person who formulated it.