Surname Retzlaff - Meaning and Origin

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Retzlaff: What does the surname Retzlaff mean?

The last name Retzlaff is a German surname derived from the old German personal name Rezlaf, which was composed of the elements raz, meaning “advice,” and laf, meaning “heir,” and translated into English as “counselor of the heirs.” The name Retzlaff is believed to have originated in the medieval kingdom of Bavaria during the 13th century, and today is a fairly common surname in Germany of predominantly Bavarian origin.

Retzlaff is typically found in areas of northern and central Germany including parts of Berlin, Saxony, and Thuringia. It is also found among German immigrants in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The Retzlaff surname features several variations around the world, including Rezlaff, Retzlaf, and Retzlaft. It can also be found in various spellings with the prefix of von, “of,” which denotes aristocratic nobility.

The name Retzlaff is associated with many prominent figures, including Egon Retzlaff, a retired East German mid-distance runner; Oskar von Retzlaff, a famous German industrialist; and Ren Straight, a celebrated American artist.

The Retzlaff surname reflects an influential past and ongoing legacy of strong family values and leadership – reminding us of the importance of passing down sound guidance and wisdom from generation to generation.

Retzlaff: Where does the name Retzlaff come from?

The last name Retzlaff is common today throughout Germany, as well as in many other parts of the world. The majority of Retzlaffs today live in Germany where the name originates from. In Germany, Retzlaff is the 389th most common surname. It is especially common in the eastern part of the country, particularly in the states of Saxony and Brandenburg.

Outside Germany, the Retzlaff name is also common in the United States. In the US, it is the 59,217th most common surname. The peak periods of German immigration to the US occurred in the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. This means that many Retzlaffs in the US today originated in Germany in the 19th century, although some may have since migrated elsewhere.

Retzlaff is also quite common elsewhere in Europe as well as in South America, especially in countries with significant German immigrant populations such as Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Furthermore, the Retzlaff name can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other countries. In these countries, Retzlaffs may have descended from German immigrants, or they may have originated elsewhere and simply adopted the Retzlaff surname.

Variations of the surname Retzlaff

The surname Retzlaff is a variant of a Germanic name. It is derived from the Middle High German term ‘ Narzelaff’ meaning 'proud one'. This name, Retzlaff is found throughout Germany, Scandinavia, North America and Britain.

Variants of this surname are Retzlof, Retzloff, Retzlaff, Razlaff, Raizlaff and Ratzlaff.

Alternate spellings for the name Retzlaff are Retzloff, Retzloof, Retzlof, Ratzelaff, Ratzloff, Raszlaff, Retzlaw, Ritzloft, Retslaw and Razlawf.

Surnames related to Retzlaff include Rechtloff, Reizloff, Riedelaff, Rietzlaff, Riedleaff, Retzeloff, Reutloff, Reulzaff, Riezloff, Razoloff and Razeloff.

All of these variants, spellings and surnames are derived from the same origin, essentially meaning 'proud one' in Middle High German. Even though they have different spellings, each is a form of the same name and can indicate generations of descent from the same family line. As Retzlaff is a relatively rare surname, it is likely that individuals with any of the variants, spellings and surnames have a common ancestry.

Famous people with the name Retzlaff

• Reinhard Retzlaff: German luger who competed in the mid-1970s
• Paul Retzlaff: American military officer and the father of Reinhard Retzlaff
• Richard Retzlaff: three-time Olympic gold medalist in the 4x7.5 km relay in biathlon at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France
• Tobias Retzlaff: German footballer who plays for FC Magdeburg
• Stephen Retzlaff: Canadian singer/songwriter from Montreal
• Christa Retzlaff: German speed skater who competed in the late 1980s and early 1990s
• DeWayne Retzlaff: American singer/songwriter
• Ilya Retzlaff: German ice hockey player
• Kimberly Retzlaff: American artist and illustrator
• Kirsten Retzlaff: German artist and sculptor
• Maria Retzlaff: German soprano opera singer
• Wilhelm Retzlaff: German sculptor and painter from the late 19th century

Other surnames

RetzlafRetzlavRetzlaw