An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Markolf

by Friedrich Kluge

Markolf, m., ‘jay,’ first occurs in early ModHG.; it has passed from the fables of animals into general use; liter. Mark-wolf, ‘boundary wolf,’ used in the OHG. period as a proper name (Marcolf). Similarly in Reineke Vos, Marquart is the name of the jay, formed from the OHG. proper name Marcwart, lit. ‘frontier guardian.’