Surname Pretzlaf - Meaning and Origin
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Pretzlaf: What does the surname Pretzlaf mean?
The surname Pretzlaf is a Germanic surname of German origin. It was likely derived from a locational name, derived from a place where pretzels were produced or sold. It can also be linked to the southwestern German dialect word 'Pretsle' or 'Brezle', which means a twisted or rolled pastry or bun.
The surname can be traced back to as early as the 13th century when it was first found in documents in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. A notable person bearing this surname includes Johannes Pretzlaff (14th century), a town mayor in Freiburg im Breisgau and founder of the great Pretzlaff family of merchants.
The Pretzlafs were an influential family in the Middle Ages and the name is synonymous with wealth, prestige, and power. It is also said that the Pretzlafs provided arms to the imperial army in 1390 when they were needed against the Swiss cantons. Furthermore, some of their family members were among the city's most important financial counsellors of the city of Freiburg.
Today, the surname is much less common than it used to be, but still lives on in a few families in Germany and elsewhere in the world. The Pretzlaf surname is a reminder of the family's long history and the legacy of power they left behind.
Order DNA origin analysisPretzlaf: Where does the name Pretzlaf come from?
The last name Pretzlaf can be found in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and the United States.
In Germany, Pretzlaf is among the 10,000 most common last names. It is more prevalent in the state of Bavaria, with over 1,000 people with the surname living in the region. It is also found in cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg.
In Austria, the Pretzlaf surname is most common in the state of Salzburg, with around 400 people with the last name living in the region. It can also be found in Vienna, Carinthia, and Styria.
In Slovakia, the surname is relatively rare but can be found in the country’s eastern regions such as Presov, Kosice, and Bardejov.
In the United States, the last name is most heavily concentrated in areas such as New York, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This is due to numerous waves of immigration during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Overall, the last name Pretzlaf can be found in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and the United States, most commonly throughout the German-speaking regions.
Variations of the surname Pretzlaf
The surname Pretzlaf originates from a German-speaking area. It is a derived almost exclusively from the geographic feature of a presel or pretzle. A presel is a topographical feature which is like a small hill. The German word for presel is "presel" or "pretzel" which in turn led to various spelling variants of the surname.
The most common variation of the surname Pretzlaf is Pretzlaw. Variations in other Germanic languages can be found such as Pretzloe, Prztlau, Pretslaaf, Pretzlohe, Prztlaw and Prztlaff. The less common variant of Pretzlaff is also a variation form.
Variants of Pretzlaf can also be found in Dutch, Danish and Norwegian. Variations in Dutch include Pretzlaar, Pretzlijer, Pretzlinck and Pretzler. In Danish, the variants include Pretzlav and Pretzlaff. Norwegian variants are Pretzlin and Pretzlo.
Variants of the surname Pretzlaf can also be found in Sweden and Finland. The Swedish variants include Pretzlaff, Pretzlie and Pretzlaar. In Finland, variants include Prätsgåff, Prätslåff and Prätsglåff.
In the United States, variations of the surname include Pretzels, Pretzlaff and Pretzloff.
All of the variants of the surname are derived from the same German geographical feature of a presel. Each variation may have been born out of the need to differentiate between individuals with the same or similar surnames, either by changes in the spelling of a surname or by the addition or alteration of a syllable.
Famous people with the name Pretzlaf
- Richard Pretzlaff: Former Major League Baseball player.
- Laura Pretzla: Actress, model, and fashion designer.
- Judith Pretzlaff: German television journalist.
- Toni Pretzlaff: Miss Earth Austria 2019.
- Laura Pretzel: Argentine singer.
- Julia Pretzlaff: Schalke 04 professional football player.
- Georg Pretzlaff: German politician.
- Geoffrey Pretzlaff: Canadian actor, film director, and producer.
- Justus Pretzlaff: Professional ice hockey player.
- Wolfgang Pretzlaff: Professional soccer player.