Surname Middelhoff - Meaning and Origin
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Middelhoff: What does the surname Middelhoff mean?
The last name Middelhoff is an old Germanic name which has its origins in the Low German language. The name translates to ‘Middle Court’ and is believed to refer to the family’s ancestral home. Historically, the Middle Court was situated around a central area of gathering or a manor house and was where family events such as baptisms, weddings and other community activities would take place. It is likely that the family descended from a landed person who owned these lands, and passed the name down through generations.
The origin of the name Middelhoff remained relatively obscure until a German surname dictionary from 1901 revealed the meaning, noting it as a 'very old name’. Today, the Middelhoff name is spread throughout Germany, with many members of the family being spread across the country and beyond.
Various members of the Middelhoff family have gone on to forge successful careers in business, media and politics, such as Hartmut Middelhoff, the former CEO of Bertelsman AG who is now a consultant and public speaker, and Thomas Middelhoff, the former CEO of Metro and Arcandor AG. Despite the family’s diverse professions, each member is proud of the Middelhoff name which carries with it a circumstantial air of prestige.
Order DNA origin analysisMiddelhoff: Where does the name Middelhoff come from?
The surname Middelhoff is a German name derived from Middle English and is of locational origin. It is most commonly found in the western province of Germany – North Rhine-Westphalia. This region has seen a large influx of immigrants from across Europe in the past few centuries, and as such the Middelhoff surname is also found in other countries like Poland, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Today, the Middelhoff surname is mainly concentrated in Germany and the surrounding countries, although there are also some families of this name in the US and Canada. The first people carrying the Middelhoff name arrived in the US in the late 19th century and were mainly from Germany. The surname has continued to grow in popularity as German immigrants from all backgrounds, including those of Jewish heritage, continue to populate the US and Canada.
In recent times, the Middelhoff name can also be found in many other parts of the world, including Latin America, Australia, Malaysia, China, and India. This is a reflection of how the world has become more interconnected, and how some surnames, like Middelhoff, have spread around the globe.
Variations of the surname Middelhoff
The Middelhoff surname is a German name. It is derived from the words "middle" and "haufen," which mean hill or hilltop. Variants of the surname include Middlehoff, Mittelehoff, Middelof, Middeloff, and Middleof.
The origin of the Middelhoff surname is from a town called Middlehof, located in the former county of East Frisia in Germany. This area is now part of the modern-day Netherlands. The name was first recorded in the early 1500s.
Over time variant spellings of the Middelhoff surname were created. Some of the most common variants include Middlehoff, Mittelehoff, Middelof, Middeloff, and Middleof. In some cases, the spelling of the name changed depending on which part of Germany or Europe the family was from. For example, in the northern areas of Germany, the -hoff ending was most commonly used, while families in the south typically used the -of suffix.
When the Middelhoff surname moved to the United States and other countries, the spelling changed further. Some of the surnames that families adopted were Middlewood, Mittelhausen, Middelhaus, Middelhau, and Middelhefe.
Today, families with the Middelhoff surname can be found in Germany, the United States, as well as many other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Middelhoff
- Thomas Middelhoff: Former CEO of Arcandor AG and previous CEO of Bertelsmann.
- Henrik Middelhoff: Former Dutch professional football player who had a successful career in the Dutch Eredivisie, playing the majority of his career for Feyenoord Rotterdam.
- Peter Middelhoff: German radio and television moderator.
- Ivo Middelhoff: Dutch orienteer and cross-country skier who competed in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Carsten Middelhoff: German entrepreneur and publicist.
- Jens Middelhoff: German contemporary digital artist.
- Robert Middelhoff: German author and journalist.
- Gerd Middelhoff: German politician and former mayor of Bad Homburg, Germany.
- Heinz Middelhoff: German music composer who had his work featured in numerous films.
- Karl Middelhoff: German banker and economist.
- Friedhelm Middelhoff: German professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder in the German Bundesliga.
- Ernst Middelhoff: German politician who was a member of the German Bundestag from 1969-1972.