Surname Retzlow - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Retzlow: What does the surname Retzlow mean?
The last name Retzlow is of German origins. It is derived from the German word "Ratzlauf," which translates to "fast flight," and it appears that this surname was originally associated with a person who was talented at hunting and knew how to escape danger quickly. The surname was likely a nickname or a descriptive name given to somebody with this desirable characteristic.
At one point, the surname evolved into various forms like Rotzlaw, Ratzlow, Rechelauf, Rerclaw, Rottzlauf, and Retzlow. The surname ultimately gained popularity in the city of Prague, where it was recorded during the 1600s. Throughout the years, the surname has appeared several times in the census records of Prussia.
In addition to being associated with hunting, Retzlow is also said to be derived from Niemann (Neyman) through the Prussian spelling of the surname. This could indicate that Retzlow is a reformation of an earlier name, and imply that it may have originated from a noble and wealthy family.
Today, people with the last name Retzlow can still be found throughout Europe. For example, the surname can be found in records from Germany, France, and Switzerland. From these records, it can be seen that Retzlow is still being used as a surname in the same manner as it was hundreds of years ago.
Order DNA origin analysisRetzlow: Where does the name Retzlow come from?
The last name Retzlow is most common in countries with German-speaking origins, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also common in some parts of eastern Europe, including Poland. There are also some people with the surname Retzlow living in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world.
The last name Retzlow is of German origin, meaning ‘thesite of a stream orrow’. It was likely taken on by families of German origin when they migrated to other countries. The spelling of the name may vary in different countries, due to different spelling conventions.
The family name Retzlow first appeared in records in the 13th century in what is now Germany. As people with the surname Retzlow moved around, it became more common in parts of Europe and North America in more recent centuries.
In the last US census, there were 38,753 people with the last name Retzlow living in the United States. Most Retzlow’s currently live in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
The last name Retzlow may not be common in some countries, but those who do bear the name share a common bond, with many tracing their heritage back to a particular region of Western Europe.
Variations of the surname Retzlow
The surname Retzlow is of German origin and is derived from the Old German first name Rōtger, which is composed of the elements hrod meaning "renown" and ger meaning "spear". Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Retz, Reetz, Rets, Retzlaff, Reitze, Reitz, Retzloff, Redloff, Rettel, Redl, Riedel, Reidel, Retzer, Reichl, Rezlaff, Rezlorf, Riddell, and Rother.
The ‘uz’ variant, Retzlau, is actually an independent surname of German origin derived from the Old German first name Rutila, composed of the elements hruod meaning "famous" and il meaning "will”. Its variants include Retzloff, Retzlauf, Rettlau, Rettel, Rettler, Retzlaff, Rettled, and Retzleff.
The ‘ow’ variant, Retzlow, might also refer to the surname Rodlow, of Russian origin derived from the first name Rodion, which is composed of the elements rod meaning "fame" and ion meaning "son". Its variants include Rodlau and Rodlew.
Finally, the ‘a’ variants, and Retzla and Reza, might actually be separate surnames of Spanish origin. Retzla is derived from the Spanish term retar, meaning "to challenge", and Reza is derived from the Spanish word raiz, meaning "root". Their variants include Retzler, Retzle, Razal and Razalman.
Famous people with the name Retzlow
- Norwood Retzlow: professional track and field athlete and Olympian.
- Edmund Retzlow: German Nazi officer and World War 2 veteran.
- Alice Retzlow: renowned American painter, printmaker, and draftsman.
- Shawn Retzlow: former professional American football offensive lineman.
- Jacob Retzlow: founder and president of the Retzlow Funeral Home in Wisconsin.
- Immanuel Retzlow: Dutch mathematician, astronomer, and geologist.
- Tom Retzlow: Former Major League Baseball pitcher from the United States.
- Elizabeth Retzlow: philanthropist, education specialist, and university professor.
- John Retzlow: 19th century American dentist and member of the American Dental Association.
- Gary Retzlow: prominent American architect and the leading designer of mid-century modern homes in California.