Surname Middelsdorf - Meaning and Origin
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Middelsdorf: What does the surname Middelsdorf mean?
The last name Middelsdorf is of German origin. The name is derived from the German words "mittel" meaning middle, and "dorf" meaning village or town, and thus is thought to refer to the inhabitant of a particular middle village or town. Alternately, the name could refer to a person of midrange social status in a particular village or town.
The earliest record of the Middelsdorf family dates back to Bavaria in the 14th century. Later, descendants of the first Middelsdorf family started moving to other parts of Germany and eventually Europe. Some of these families went on to settle in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The Middelsdorf name continues to be found in many countries today. In Germany, Middelsdorf is still a common name, as are its variant spellings Mittelsdorf, Mittelsdorff, and Middelsdorff. In the United States, many immigrants with the Middelsdorf name live mainly in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, North Carolina and Indiana.
The Middelsdorf name is a reminder of days gone by for many families. It is a reminder of a time when many families left their homeland in search of a better life, and a reminder that even though they travelled far, the journey never took them too far from home.
Order DNA origin analysisMiddelsdorf: Where does the name Middelsdorf come from?
The last name Middelsdorf is a relatively rare surname, although it can still be found scattered across the globe. Originating in Germany and various parts of central Europe, the last name is particularly common in the United States and Canada. It is likely that most Middelsdorfs in the US and Canada have descended from German immigrants who arrived from the early 19th century onwards.
In the US, the surname can be found concentrated around the city of Detroit. There are also significant populations with Middelsdorfs living in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and California. Familysearch.org also reveals that there are Middelsdorfs in Australia, the UK, and South Africa, although the numbers are comparatively smaller.
Researching the distribution of the surname further reveals that the most German-speaking countries still tend to have the most Middelsdorfs, with Germany and Austria having the highest concentration of the last name.
Given its origin in German and central European countries, Middelsdorf can also be found in various spellings across Europe, such as Middelsdorff in Sweden, or Midel-Dorff in Germany.
Variations of the surname Middelsdorf
The surname Middelsdorf has many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Middelsdorff, Middelsdorfer, Middelsdorf, Middelsdorfen, Middelsdorver, Middesdorf, Middesdorff, Middesdorfer, Middesdorfen, and Middesdorver.
Middelsdorf is an old German name, derived from a combination of the words ‘mittle’ and ‘dorf’, which translates to ‘the middle village’. This indicates that the original ancestors of the Middelsdorf ancestry were likely farmers or other members of the nobility who lived in a mid-sized village.
The name has featured prominently in Germany and other European countries since medieval times. It has also featured prominently in Central and Eastern European countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
The surname variants of Middelsdorf are split into two distinct branches: the old Germanic branches and the Latvian branches. Latvian Middelsdorfs often have a slightly variable spelling, such as Middelsdorfs or Middelsdorfer. The old German Middelsdorfs tend to retain the traditional spelling, while the Eastern European branches may add extra letters to the name (e.g. Middelsdorver).
The Middelsdorf surname is still widely used in many areas throughout Europe, and many members of the Middelsdorf family are still living and proud of their heritage.
Famous people with the name Middelsdorf
- Bill Middelsdorf, former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League
- Mette Middelsdorf, Danish international badminton player
- Robby Middelsdorf, former member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery
- Erich Middelsdorf, German singer and actor
- Esther Middelsdorf, German writer
- Cora Middelsdorf, German novelist
- Wayne Middelsdorf, former mayor of the City of Galt, Ontario
- John Middelsdorf, American dramatist
- Vickie Middelsdorf, American classicist
- Brian Middelsdorf, Canadian actor and writer