Surname Bortzlaff - Meaning and Origin

Bortzlaff: What does the surname Bortzlaff mean?

The last name Bortzlaff is of German origin. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name Bortz or Bortzen. The German given name “Bortz” is a diminutive of “Bert,” which is the short form of “Berthold” or “Albert.” The word ”laff” (or “lof”) in German denoted a man-servant, or retainers among the landed gentry. Therefore, the surname Bortzlaff literally translates to “Bert’s Servant.”

The change in spelling of the surname from Bortz to Bortzlaff likely occurred during the Middle Ages when most people were not literate and wrote the name as it sounded. As more and more individuals began to read and write, the spelling of the names also began to be corrected. In the early 1900s the spelling of Bortzlaff, which can also be seen as "Bortzloft" or "Bortzlord", could also be found in the Prussian provinces, especially in the kingdom of Prussia and in the states of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Bortzlaff is in 1536, when a William Bortz was a witness at the baptisms of his two sons in Weissenfells, Germany. Today, Bortzlaffs can be found living in Germany and in other parts of Europe. In the United States, the surname is most common in Ohio.

Bortzlaff: Where does the name Bortzlaff come from?

The last name Bortzlaff is derived from a Germanic language and is believed to have originated from northern Germany. Today, the last name Bortzlaff can be found in Germany, Poland, and the United States. It is most commonly found in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York.

In Wisconsin, the name is most heavily concentrated in Calumet and Manitowoc counties, which have a combined population of over 560,000 people. In Michigan, the most populous counties with the name Bortzlaff are Jackson and Oakland, with an overall population of over 2 million people. Lastly, in New York, locations such as Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx have the most Bortzlaffs, with a combined population of over 5 million people.

In addition, modern immigration means that Bortzlaffs can also be found throughout other countries of the world. For example, one might find the name Bortzlaff in Brazil, Norway, or even Argentina.

Nonetheless, it appears that the greatest concentration of the last name Bortzlaff is still located in the United States. People with this surname who trace their roots back to Germany and northern Europe in general can still be found in the countries mentioned above, particularly in Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York.

Variations of the surname Bortzlaff

The surname Bortzlaff is a Germanic name composed of two parts ‘Bortz’ and ‘Laff’. The ‘Bortz’ part of the name is derived from an old German word meaning ‘birch’, while the ‘Laff’ part has its roots in the Low-German or Anglo-Saxon term for ‘wolf’. Together, these parts of the name refer to someone who came from a place where birch trees and wolves were plentiful.

Variations of the name Bortzlaff include Börtzlaff, Börzlaff, Bortelaff and Börtelaff. Other spellings include Bortzlloff, Boortzlloff, Bortzllolf and Boortzllolf.

Common surnames that share the same origin as Bortzlaff are Bortz, Bortzgraf, Bortfeld, Bortgraf, Bortfeldt, Börtzgraff and Börtzgraf. All of these surnames are based on the original name, although they have been adapted over time to fit the local spelling conventions.

The less common variations of the name, such as Boortzlaff, Boortzlloff, Bortzllolf and Boortzllolf, can also be encountered in some parts of Germany.

Overall, the variations and spellings of the surname Bortzlaff are numerous. Whether you are looking for your family history, or just curious, you will find that the surname can be found in many forms and spellings all across the world.

Famous people with the name Bortzlaff

• Jan Bortzlaff- professional American soccer player
• Bruce Bortzlaff: noted Minnesota entrepreneur
• Willy Bortzlaff: award winning German composer
• Renate Bortzlaff: successful German artist
• Nate Bortzlaff: American football player
• Jake Bortzlaff: American baseball player
• Wendy Bortzlaff: French renowned performer
• Karl Bortzlaff: Award-winning American filmmaker
• John Bortzlaff: prominent Brazilian diplomat
• Barbara Bortzlaff: acclaimed British teacher and author

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