Surname Baldauf - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Baldauf: What does the surname Baldauf mean?
The last name Baldauf originates from Germanic languages and is a topographic name for someone who lived on a patch of bare, open ground, deriving from the Middle High German 'bal(d)', meaning bare or bald and 'Auf', meaning hill or rise.
Baldauf is thought to have originally been an occupational name, used for people who worked outdoors in the fields, most likely as agricultural labourers, cultivating and managing land for landowners.
The Baldauf surname may also refer to people from Bavaria, a region in the south of Germany, due to its prevalence in the surrounding area. This would suggest the name being used as a regional identifier, as medieval people often named themselves based on the area they came from.
Throughout its history, the Baldauf name has been found in records dating back to the 12th century in Bavaria, as a ‘Graf’ (lord of the manor) called Michel Baldawf. The name has since spread around the world and has taken many different forms, such as Beldow, Beldauf, and Baldof.
Today, the Baldauf name is still quite common in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and other German-speaking countries and carries with it its historical roots and meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisBaldauf: Where does the name Baldauf come from?
The last name Baldauf is most commonly found in Germany and the countries of Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Poland. It is also found in some parts of the United States, particularly in areas where immigrants from these countries have settled.
The origins of the Baldauf surname have been traced back to the area around the Bavarian Alps, where it was used as a first name in the Middle Ages. The German version of the surname Baldauf is "Baldow". Since then, the surname has spread across several countries, with differing spellings in each country.
In Germany, there are several large communities with the Baldauf last name. According to 2010 figures, there are nearly 85,000 people who show up as bearing the name. The most densely populated places in Germany where you can find the Baldauf surname are in the area of Bavaria, although it can also be found in other areas such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Rheinland-Pfalz, and parts of Berlin.
Other countries where the Baldauf surname is most commonly found today are Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Poland. In Austria, for example, the highest concentrations of the last name occur in Tyrol and Vorarlberg. In Hungary, the regions of Budapest and Pest are where the largest number of Baldaufs can be found. Likewise, in Switzerland, the cantons of Zurich and Graubünden tend to have higher concentrations of the name than other parts of the country.
Overall, the Baldauf name is spread throughout several countries in Europe and the United States, all of which have their own unique take on the surname.
Variations of the surname Baldauf
The Baldauf surname has a variety of different variants, spellings, and surnames that are derived from it. The most common variant spelling is Baldauf, which is the most historically employed version of this family name. Other variant spellings of Baldauf include: Baldof, Baldov, Baldovf, Baldaw, Bawdaw, Baldawf, Balder, Bald, Boldauf, and Baudauf.
The surnames that are of similar origin to Baldauf are: Balluff, Balduff, Bälz, Bödl, and Boldewin. Each of these names was likely adopted at some point during the migration of the Baldauf family in their diaspora.
The Baldauf family is believed to have originated in Germany, and it is likely that the earliest Baldauf individuals resided in Bavaria or the surrounding area. It is also worth noting that the name Baldauf is derived from the Germanics word "bald" which means "bold" or "brave". This nomenclature has likely been kept throughout the centuries and continues to live on in every Baldauf family today.
Famous people with the name Baldauf
- Hanne Baldauf: German actress and model who has appeared in over thirty films.
- Martin Baldauf: Austrian composer and multi-instrumentalist who has won numerous awards for his music.
- Michael Baldauf: German classical cellist and musical director who has performed with the Bavarian State Opera, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Miami Symphony Orchestra.
- Helmut Baldauf: Austrian politician and Member of Parliament for the Austrian Social Democratic Party.
- Dietrich Baldauf: Austrian actor best known for his work in various television series.
- Wolfgang Baldauf: Austrian chemist and physicist who is best known for his work on intermolecular forces.
- Hans-Josef Baldauf: German theologian and Catholic priest.
- Paul Baldauf: German-American pilot and engineer who served in the United States Air Force.
- Johann Baldauf: German classical organist and composer.
- Georg Baldauf: Austrian architect and sculptor whose works include the Lucerne Opera House and the Tyrolean Museum of Natural Logic.