Surname Ortlauf - Meaning and Origin
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Ortlauf: What does the surname Ortlauf mean?
The last name Ortlauf is of German origin, coming from the towns of Ortau and Lauf in Bavaria. The literal translation of Ortlauf is “short-run”, but it can also mean “well-run” or “smart lane”, depending on the context.
Ancestors of those with the Ortlauf last name are likely to have worked as builders or laborers in some capacity. This may be due to the name’s connotations of “short-run” or “well-run” activities, suggesting speed and efficiency.
The earliest recorded Ortlauf family members were likely part of the Free Imperial City of Nördlingen, a historic city in Bavaria, as far back as the 1500s. Nördlingen was one of only a handful of free cities in the region at the time, and Ortlauf family members were likely prominent builders and craftsmen, leading to the building of a number of notable churches and buildings.
Today, those with the Ortlauf surname are still connected to their German heritage, and may still reside near the towns of Ortau and Lauf. Ortlauf family members have traditionally worked in roles involving manual labor such as construction and maintenance, as indicated by the origin of their name.
Order DNA origin analysisOrtlauf: Where does the name Ortlauf come from?
The last name Ortlauf is found most commonly in German-speaking countries, specifically Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It appears to be a relatively rare name, though there are some occurrences in various parts of the U.S.
In Austria, the name is primarily concentrated in Vienna, Graz, and Linz. In Germany, it is most often found in Bavaria and Berlin. In Switzerland, the name may be found mostly in Zürich.
In the U.S., the name is generally more spread out. It is found in small numbers within many states, including California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The states with the highest population of individuals with the last name Ortlauf are Ohio and Wisconsin.
The name may have originated from a combination of German roots, consisting of the root ort (meaning “place or homestead”) and the root lauf (meaning “runner”). When combined, they could mean “runner of the place” or “settler”. Additionally, the name could be associated with a homestead or residential area.
Considering the rarity of the name today, it is not uncommon to stumble across a namesake with distant relations. Those who carry the Ortlauf name may trace their family history back to its origin in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Ortlauf
The Ortlauf surname originates from Germany and there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The German spelling of Ortlauf is Ortlaub, and other phonetic spellings of the surname include Ardlauf, Ortloeff, Ortleoff, Ortloeffel, Ortlow and Ortlobe. Surnames of French origin associated with Ortlauf are Ortleau and Orteau.
Variants and spellings of this surname that originated from Germany during the medieval period are Ortloef, Ortleauf and Ortlow. The suffix of -lauf in the surname denotes an inhabitant of a certain place, i.e. a person associated with or living near a certain body of water.
Ort(e)loef, Ortloefel, Ortlow and Ortloff are variants and spellings derived from the Silesian dialect of German. The suffix -lauf refers to a path alongside a body of water in the Silesian dialect. Ortlaub is an Old German variant, and the name was often modified during the migration period when families traveled abroad.
In South Germany, the alternate spelling of the surname is Ortleauf or Ardlauff. The Ardlauf variation is found mainly in the south of Germany and was often pronounced as Ardeloof. This usage of the word Ardlauf is German-Dutch and was actually derived from Ortlaub.
The French spelling of Ortleau is found mainly in northern France. The French version of the name is a more common alternative variation of the spelling, but the French spelling has also been applied to names that sound similar, such as Artigue or Orteau.
Ortloeb is a variant of the Ortlauf surname found mainly among Jewish communities in Central and East Europe. This was likely to be a later adaptation of the name chosen by families during their migration to these areas, but the meaning of the suffix remains the same.
Famous people with the name Ortlauf
- Janina Ortlauf (German heptathlete)
- Charlotte Ortlauf (German handball player)
- Franz Ortlauf (Austrian sculptor)
- Walther Ortlauf (German gymnast)
- Franz Ortlauf (Catholic Archbishop of Trier and Cardinal)
- Tony Ortlauf (German football player)
- Ludwig Ortlauf (German art historian and writer)
- Herbert Ortlauf (German philosopher)
- Georg Ortlauf (German politician)
- Edwin Ortlauf (German industrial designer)
- Fritz Ortlauf (German literary translator)
- Siegfried Ortlauf (German entrepreneur)
- Johann Joseph Ortlauf (Austrian architect, engineer, and cartographer)
- Julius Ortlauf (German clergyman)
- Wolfgang Ortlauf (Austrian chemist and historian of science)