Surname Thirolf - Meaning and Origin
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Thirolf: What does the surname Thirolf mean?
The surname Thirolf (pronounced “tée-ralf”) originated in Germany and is thought to be derived from an Old High German term meaning “one who works with wood.” This suggests that the initial bearers of this surname were most likely woodworkers.
The first known occurrence of the Thirolf name was in 1278, when a person by the name of Lodewig Thirolf was documented in the village of Sankt Paulen in Württemberg, Germany. From this area, the name spread throughout Germany and into other parts of Europe. In the 16th century, many Thirolf families emigrated to North America, particularly to the United States.
The Thirolf surname is not widely known and relatively rare. According to the 2000 United States Census, there were only 639 people with the Thirolf surname living in the United States. Most of the people with this surname live in Pennsylvania and New York.
The Thirolf surname is an interesting example of a name with a clear occupational root. It reflects the profession and skills of the first people to carry the name, making it a valuable part of one's family history.
Order DNA origin analysisThirolf: Where does the name Thirolf come from?
Today, the last name Thirolf is commonly found in Germany. It is an uncommon but documented German surname, originating from Bavaria (the southernmost state in the country). There are documented records of people with this unique last name as early as the 16th century.
Today, the population of people with the last name Thirolf in Germany is relatively low. The most recent and updated population records from 2018 show that the global population of the Thirolf last name is approximately 2,867. Most of the population of this last name is found in Bavaria, where knowledge of the name is slightly more widespread than other German states.
Out of the total 2,867 people with this last name, most are located in Munich, Straubing, and Regensburg in Bavaria; these three municipalities make up the vast majority of the population.
Apart from Germany, the Thirolf last name can also be found in other countries, including the United States, Switzerland, Austria, France, and the United Kingdom, though the population is much lower than that of Germany.
Overall, the Thirolf last name is undeniably German in origin; however, this unique surname is still thriving and can be found in small pockets throughout the world in the 21st century.
Variations of the surname Thirolf
The surname Thirolf is thought to be of German and Swedish origin. The German spelling of this surname is Thierolf, Thirlof, Thirloff and Thirtsolf, as well as the variant Thirloff. The Swedish variant of the surname is Thyrhäll.
In Germany, the surname Thirolf is often found in Bavaria, and the surname is associated with the German language word 'Tier', meaning 'animal'. This could indicate an occupational name of an animal keeper, or someone who tamed or bred animals. Additionally, there are regions of Saxony and Prussia where the variant Thirlof is found.
In Sweden, the surname Thyrhäll is most often found in the southeastern part of the country. It is derived from the word 'Þyrill', which in Old Norse meant 'wolf'. Whether this was an occupational name for a wolf hunter, or if the surname meant the bearer was courageous, strong and fierce, like the wolf, is unclear.
Variations in spelling for this particular surname could result from a lack of education or even a simple mistake by the recorder of a past event. Furthermore, when a family moved from one region to another, the spelling of the surname could have changed due to a difference in dialect or pronunciation.
Therefore, it is very likely that all variants of the surname Thirolf are of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Thirolf
- Ruth Thirolf: American basketball player from the 1930s
- Max Thirolf: German Bodybuilder, holder of two Mr. Universe titles
- Tricia Thirolf: Canadian Olympic snowboarder
- Ray Thirolf: American National Football League (NFL) player
- Charles Thirolf: American actor
- Kurt Thirolf: Austrian footballer
- Bill Thirolf: American/Spanish painter
- Paul Thirolf: American architect
- Geralyn Thirolf: American professional tennis player
- Joe Thirolf: German competitive bodybuilder
- Sylvia Thirolf: German-Australian Television presenter
- Dale Thirolf: American professional golfer
- Pat Thirolf: American dancer and choreographer
- Renee Thirolf: American actress
- Mike Thirolf: Canadian football player
- Kenneth Thirolf: American politician
- Edmund Thirolf: German chess grandmaster
- Bernd Thirolf: German physicist
- Will Thirolf: Australian publisher
- Lawrence Thirolf: American lawyer