Wolter as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Wolter

What is the meaning of the name Wolter ?

The baby name Wolter is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced WOL-ter (IPA: /ˈwɔltər/; Dutch: /ˈʋɔltər/).

Wolter is Dutch in Origin.

Wolter is the Low German and Dutch form of Walter, ultimately from Old High German Walthari (Proto-Germanic *wald- “rule, power” + *harjaz “army”). The name therefore means “ruler of the army” or “commander of warriors.” In sound and spelling it reflects northern Germanic and Dutch phonology, where initial Wa- often alternates with Wo- in medieval records.

Medieval charters of the Hanseatic and Baltic regions attest Wolter as a given name among merchants and knights; a notable bearer is Wolter von Plettenberg, Master of the Livonian Order. Today it survives more often as a surname in German- and Dutch-speaking areas, though it remains a recognizable, traditional given name (e.g., Dutch singer Wolter Kroes). Close variants and cognates include Walter, Walther, Wouter, Valter, Gauthier/Gautier (French), Gualter (Portuguese), Gualtiero (Italian), and Gualterio (Spanish). Nicknames sometimes include Wolle in German and Wout in Dutch.