Surname Butzlaff - Meaning and Origin
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Butzlaff: What does the surname Butzlaff mean?
The last name Butzlaff is German in origin and comes from the Middle Low German word ‘butzelaff’, which literally translates to ‘potter’s apprentice’. It likely originated as a German occupational surname; a term of endearment given to the assistant of a potter in a village.
In the feudal system of earlier Europe, pottery and claymaking were common trades and the ‘Butzlaff’ surname likely denoted a young apprentice who worked in the workshop of the potter and helped the potter with their daily tasks. Records from the council books of German villages at the time show that many apprentices paid their training fees with the sale of pots, plaster, and tiles, or by helping out with the firing of ceramics.
The name can also be found in Prussia, where many German settlers moved in the 1800’s. As Germany was divided into many small areas at that time, people used their surnames to indicate the area where they came from.
The original spelling of the surname has been simplified over time and generations. The variant spellings of the name today include Butzloff, Butzlorf, Butzkaff, Butzkoff, Butzlav, and Buschlaff. The current distribution of the Butzlaff surname is primarily in Germany, the US, and the Czech Republic.
Despite its roots in German pottery, today the Butzlaff name continues to be a unique and meaningful reminder of the family’s long history and heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisButzlaff: Where does the name Butzlaff come from?
The surname Butzlaff is most commonly found in Germany today. The name dates back to at least the early 18th century and originates from the northeastern region along the Baltic Sea.
The highest concentration of the surname Butzlaff is in the German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Berlin. There are also some instances of the name in the Lower Saxon area of Germany in the states of Niedersachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Sachsen.
In the United States, the surname Butzlaff is less common. According to US Census records, there are only about 63 individuals bearing this name. Most of these individuals are living in Wisconsin, with an additional few living in neighboring states including Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio.
The origin of the surname is likely derived from the Old German "buzzel" (little bee) and "lawe" (law, custom). This lends the meaning of "a person who follows the customs of bees." This can refer to following the regulations of the beekeeper or being a beekeeper himself.
Regardless of its origin, the last name Butzlaff is still a relatively uncommon one, even in the regions of Germany from which it came. Those fortunate enough to have the surname will likely share a common heritage from the German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Berlin.
Variations of the surname Butzlaff
The surname Butzlaff has a number of variants, spellings and other surnames that share a common origin. The most common variant of the Butzlaff surname is Butzloff, which is generally found in the United States. Other variants include Butzlaf, Butzlaff, Butzlaaf, Butzlav, Butzlavf and Butzlavff.
The Butzlaff surname is also widely recorded in the forms of German and Dutch patronyms, such as the Dutch Butzelaar and the German Butzleff, Butzlow, Butzlowe and Butzler. Other related surnames include the German Buslaff, Buszaff and Butenschoen.
The surname Butzlaff most likely originated from the German and Dutch names butzloof, meaning “clod-breaking”, and bushloof, meaning “woodland” or “forest land”. It is thought that these names derived from the Middle High German word buz, meaning “field”, and loub, meaning “clearing” or “opening”.
The Butzlaff surname is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands and the United States. It is also found in other countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Butzlaff
- Gunter Butzlaff (1910-2003), German Luftwaffe general
- Spear Butzlaff (born 1981), American musician in the jam rock band moe.
- Harvey Butzlaff (born 1932), American professional golfer
- Robert Butzlaff (born 1967), German football player
- Katharine Butzlaff (1933-2010), British textile artist
- Mary Butzlaff (1884-1966), American stage actress
- Kris Butzlaff (born 1969), American voice actor
- A. Carl Butzlaff (1916-2010), American professor of industrial engineering
- Bruce Butzlaff, American football player 10.David Butzlaff, American police officer and Chief of the Ironton Police Department in Ohio