Surname Tolstorf - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tolstorf: What does the surname Tolstorf mean?
The last name Tolstorf is an age-old German surname, originating from lands formerly controlled by the German Empire. It derived from the combination of two words; "Tolst," a German word which was used to refer to a 'valley', and "dorf," which means 'hamlet.' The surname Tolstorf is thus believed to have first been used to refer to a settlement that was situated in or near a scenic valley.
One of the most famous bearers of the last name Tolstorf was the Russian novelist, playwright, and philosopher, Leo Tolstoy. Leo was born into the illustrious Russian aristocratic family and was born with the name Levin Nikolayevich Tolstoy. Himself being a writer, he was a master of painting vivid and compelling depictions of the world around him.
Throughout the course of history, the name Tolstorf has been known in both Germany and Russia. In modern day, it is still very much present in Germany and its neighboring countries. In the US, there is a fairly small population of people bearing the last name Tolstorf, likely descended from German and Russian immigrants of the past centuries.
In short, the surname Tolstorf holds with it a connection to a rich and varied cultural history in both Germany and Russia, and it is further associated with the great works of Leo Tolstoy, one of the world’s most influential writers.
Order DNA origin analysisTolstorf: Where does the name Tolstorf come from?
The last name Tolstorf is a historically German surname that is still relatively common in some parts of Germany today. It is more frequently seen in the northern and western parts of the country, particularly in the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein.
This surname may have originated from the north-western region of Germany, where many towns have the suffix "-tol" in their names. Examples include the city of Neustadt an der Tol in Saxony, the village of Willersdorf-Tol in Thuringia, and the Voigtland towns Merschwitz, Oberlauterbach, and Regnitzlosau-Tol. It's possible that the last name Tolstorf may have evolved from the "-tol" suffix found in those place-names.
The Tolstorf surname appears to have been relatively popular between the 17th and 19th centuries in parts of Germany, and several family trees have been created in the Mecklenburg region. However, its use has significantly diminished over the last century and the name is nowhere near as popular today as it once was.
Variations of the surname Tolstorf
The Tolstorf surname has its origins in Germany and is derived from the word “Tollstorf”, which is a German earthwork fortification. This surname has many variations and spellings, including Tolstorff, Tollstorff, Tollstorf, Tolkien, Tolstoc, Tolstoff, Tolstey, Tolsdorff, Tolstaking, Tollstok, Tolersdorff and Tolzedorf.
The Tolstorf surname can also be found spelled differently depending on which region it originated from. Some variations include Tolstoroff, Tollstoroff, Tolsdoroff, and Tolstoff.
The Tolstorf variations are also found in many other languages, such as Dutch (Tolsteef), Polish (Toluszkow), Czech (Tolstoff), Ukrainian (Tolstov), Belarusian (Tolstov), Russian (Tolstov) and Bulgarian (Tolstov).
The Tolstorf surname can also be seen in some cases as a variant of the German surname Toltz. This is believed to be a variation of the word “Toll”, which means “a toll or duty”.
The Tollstorf surname is also an uncommon variant form of the Germanic name Tolso, which means “one who fights with a shield”. Tollso is usually found as a surname in the form of Tollsoff, Tollsoff, Tollsof, Tollesof, Tolsof and Tollsus.
Given the diverse range of spellings and variations, it can be difficult to definitively trace the Tolstorf surname to its Germanic roots. However, it is clear that all of the —storf and –soff surnames likely have a shared ancestry.
Famous people with the name Tolstorf
- Laura Tolstorf: An American research professor in the faculty of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Missouri.
- Gustav Tolstorf: A German writer, explorer and travel photographer.
- Jay Tolstorf: American musician and record producer.
- Dina Tolstorf: Russian model, actress, and presenter.
- Gloria Tolstorf: Former American Broadway actress and singer.
- Edward Tolstorf: Early 20th century Russian baritone who performed with the Bolshoi Opera.
- Cassandra Tolstorf: American actress, artist, and writer known for appearances in the films “Magnolia” and “Stay Tuned”.
- Mark Tolstorf: American stage and voice actor, best known for his roles as “Erwin” in the teen comedy “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “Monstradamus” in the animated movie “The Secret of Kells”.
- Rupert Tolstorf: Canadian actor, producer, director and thespian.
- Eugene Tolstorf: Russian painter and retro artist.