Surname Unterlauf - Meaning and Origin

Unterlauf: What does the surname Unterlauf mean?

The last name Unterlauf is thought to be of German origin and is associated with a specific geographical area within the country. The most likely place of origin for people with this name is in the modern-day German state of Bavaria. Historically, Bavaria was an important centre for trade and commerce and a number of key trading routes have passed through or originated from there.

The literal translation of Unterlauf from German is "under the path," which suggests it was originally derived from a topographic feature of a local landscape, such as a watercourse crossing a road or an area of lower elevation under a hill. Alternatively, some sources believe the origin of the name may be derived from the old German word "laufen," meaning "to run," which may refer to the name being given to a family of runners or travelers.

Regardless, the name Unterlauf is associated with Bavaria and is now a familiar and well-known family name within the region. Despite being a relatively uncommon name elsewhere, many descendants of the original Unterlaufs still inhabit Bavaria today and are proud of their heritage.

Unterlauf: Where does the name Unterlauf come from?

The Unterlauf surname is a current surname that originates from Germany. Today it is a common surname in southern and central Germany, and is also found in Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.

In Germany, the Unterlauf surname is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. In Bavaria, the name is particularly common in the cities of Munich, Bamberg, Würzburg, and Nuremburg. It is also found in Hessian cities such as Frankfurt, Offenbach, and Gießen.

In Austria, Unterlauf is most common in the states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Tyrol. In Upper Austria it is found in the cities of Linz and Gmunden, in Lower Austria in the cities Heidenburg and Pettenbach, and in Tyrol in the cities of Innsbruck and Hall in Tirol.

The name is also found in Switzerland, primarily in the canton of Zurich. In the United States, Unterlauf is a relatively rare name with few bearers. It has been found in small numbers in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois.

Overall, Unterlauf is a currently common name in German and Austrian regions, as well as a few other parts of Europe and the United States.

Variations of the surname Unterlauf

Unterlauf is a German surname of unknown origin. It has multiple variants and is known to appear in different spellings in different countries. Some of the variations and alternate spellings of the surname Unterlauf are Uniterlauf, Unterleuf, Unterlieuf, Unterluf, Unterleuf, Unterlaef, Unterloff, Unterlaff, Unterleufen, Unterlow, Unterlahf and Unterlohf. The surname also has surnames related to the same origin, these are Untermueller, Unterlander, Unterschultz, Untersdorfer, Unterwater, Unterlaufer and Untermarker.

The spelling of the surname Unterlauf is known to vary greatly. It is likely that the spelling of the surname changed over time and was influenced by the particular region the family resided in or the language spoken in that region. Unterlauf is known to have been used as a surname in Germany from as early as the 16th century. It is believed that the regional variations and alternate spellings of Unterlauf are a result of variation in dialects and languages spoken in the different regions of Germany.

It is possible that the surname Unterlauf is derived from the Old German word ‘Lauf’ which translates to run or stream. If this is the case, the surname could refer to someone who lived near a running stream or river. It is also possible that the surname is linked to the word ‘Underlauf’ which means ‘low, unhurried run’ and could refer to someone who was a slow runner or lived near a slow river or stream.

Many of the variants and surnames of same origin as Unterlauf are still in use today, not only in Germany but also in other parts of the world. Families with the surname Unterlauf can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of Europe.

Famous people with the name Unterlauf

• Dani Unterlauf, the first German male figure skater to win a top-level international competition
• Stefan Unterlauf, German professional football goalkeeper
• Joe Unterlauf, a former right handed Major League Baseball pitcher
• Jürgen Unterlauf, a German international football goalkeeper
• Andi Unterlauf, a former German professional ice hockey goaltender
• Mario Unterlauf, a Swiss professional football striker
• Priska Unterlauf, a Swiss theatre and television actress
• Barbara Unterlauf, an actress from Germany who has appeared in many films
• Reiner Unterlauf, the German State Secretary of Science, Research and the Digital Society
• Ursula Unterlauf, a German-American lyric soprano
• Peter Unterlauf, producer and sound engineer of albums from Joan Armatrading and other artists
• Johann Unterlauf, a German-American painter
• Wilfried Unterlauf, an Austrian television presenter and actor
• Kurt Unterlauf, a German football goalkeeper
• Martin Unterlauf, a German classical photographer and artist who has become recognized for his work throughout Europe.

Other surnames

UnterländerUnterlassUnterlaßUnterlauffUnterlauft