Surname Soldau - Meaning and Origin
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Soldau: What does the surname Soldau mean?
Soldau is a German surname derived from the Middle High German term “solthouwe”, which refers to a building consisting of a system of rooms used for storage of grains and crops. It was given to someone who worked in such a storage house, or owned one.
The name is particularly well-attested in East Prussia, where it was likely first used. It is believed to be the surname of several noble families in this region, and some of them smoothed it to “Soldow” or “Soldau” when they emigrated to other parts of Europe.
Today, there is a Soldau, a village in Saxony Anhalt, Germany. The village was first known in the early 12th century, when a chapel devoted to Saint Sylvester was built there. The name Soldau didn’t appear until 1648, when the area was first settled by German Colonel Gottfried Witz.
Distribution of the name is scarce even in Germany, although it has been used for centuries. People with the last name Selldown are also believed to hail from the same stock as the Soldaus. It appears to be a relatively uncommon name, but understanding its origin often gives a clue to a family’s history.
Order DNA origin analysisSoldau: Where does the name Soldau come from?
The last name Soldau is most commonly found in Germany today. In particular, the surname is concentrated around the southwestern corner of the country, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
In relation to the rest of Europe, Soldau is a relatively rare surname. Data from the 1990 US Census Bureau states that only 0.0002% of the population had this surname, with a total of only three individuals.
The earliest occurrence of the name found to date is from the year 1567, during the Holy Roman Empire. It is thought to have originated in the Saarland, a region of southwestern Germany. The name is derived from a place name, implying that Soldau may have been the name of the original family's hometown.
The Soldau surname is also found in countries of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Estonia and Slovenia. It is believed that the name was first brought to these areas by German emigrants in the late 19th century.
In the United States, the surname is even rarer than it is in Europe. The 2000 US Census reported only five individuals with the name Soldau living in the US. It is most commonly found in the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City.
Based on current geographical information, it is safe to say that the last name of Soldau is most commonly found in Germany today, having travelled from its origins in the Saarland to other parts of Europe and the United States over the years.
Variations of the surname Soldau
Soldau is a locality in eastern Germany and is also the source of one of the original German surnames.
Soldau is also spelled as Soldow, Soldowen, Zoldau, Sold (Rare) and Soldou (Rare).
The surname Soldau is derived from the Old German word "sonthov" which is derived from the Old High German word "sun-thova" meaning "men of the Sun God".
It is thought that the Soldau family originated in Germany's Hessen region during medieval times and slowly migrated north and east into what is now the state of Brandenburg.
The earliest records of the Soldau surname are found in the regions of Hessen, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringen, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern where records of the Soldau name can be found in ancient census records, church records, and land records.
Variant surnames of Soldau include Soldner, Sonday, Sanders, Sanson, Sondej, Sonntag, Sonntag, Zandal, Sohndel,Sontam, and Zondlo. These surnames would have evolved as the family migrated to other regions of Germany.
Many descendants of the Soldau family did not remain in Germany, but migrated to the United States and other countries during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Thus, names such as Saunders, Sanders, and Sonntag are derived from Soldau, but are found in other countries.
The Soldau surname is comparatively rare in the United States today, but many people with this surname can still be found in Germany.
Famous people with the name Soldau
- Michael Soldau: A Danish artist who is known for surrealistic expressionism
- Lucia Soldau: A German actress who is best known for her work in films like Sing Now or Never (1981) and scarcely forgotten TV series like Gartenzwerge (1992).
- Franjo Soldau: German racing driver who won the 1980 French Grand Prix
- Tristan Soldau: American professional ice hockey player from Minnesota
- Jens Soldau: Danish rower who was part of the Danish team that finished 7th in 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- Richard Walter Soldau: German World War II flying ace with 72 total air victories
- Helene Soldau: German entrepreneur and businesswoman who owns the fashion label Lilou & Co.
- Thomas Soldau: German born American architect, engineer, and design scientist
- Martha Soldau: American artist and art professor at Yale
- Karl Soldau: Cryptologist and artist who produced various art installations and sculptures in the early 1970s