Surname Unterlauff - Meaning and Origin
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Unterlauff: What does the surname Unterlauff mean?
The last name Unterlauff is of German origin and is derived from the Old German words ‘unter’ which means ‘under’ and ‘lauf’ which refers to a ‘meadow’. This may refer to a family that lived ‘under the meadow’ or in a valley below. It is believed to have been mainly a regional surname located in what is now known as the modern day country of Germany.
In the U.S, the Unterlauff surname is most common in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Minnesota and its frequency is gradually decreasing. This indicates that many members of the Unterlauff family have moved away from these regions.
Those of the Unterlauff name are believed to be Nicolaus Unterlauff who arrived in America in 1691 from the Palatinate and Christopher Unterlauff in 1749. It is recorded that on the 12th August 1813, Carl Friedrich Unterlauff was the first Unterlauff to be born in the United States.
The Unterlauff surname can now be found around the world, usually in descendants of the original German family, or in those who are a descendant of a Unterlauff immigrant. This surname and its variants are more commonly found in Germany, Denmark and the United States with smaller numbers found in other countries.
Despite their success, the Unterlauff family has preserved its distinct identity and is proud of its German roots. Unterlauffs are a hardworking, close-knit family who are significant contributors to their communities.
Order DNA origin analysisUnterlauff: Where does the name Unterlauff come from?
The last name Unterlauff is common in several parts of Europe today, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to be an occupational surname which originated with someone who worked as a “lower lauffer” or “under leaper” - a type of craft that made leather or metal straps and bands. From there, the surname spread throughout the region.
Today, the last name can be found in many areas including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic. In some cases, it has even evolved into different spellings, such as Unterloff and Unterluf.
In Germany, Unterlauff is especially common in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also one of the more popular last names in the Netherlands.
In the United States, the name is less widespread, but can still be found in various parts of the country, particularly the states of Texas, California, Connecticut, and New York. It is believed that some of those bearing the name emigrated from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries to escape religious persecution, poverty, and war.
Overall, the last name Unterlauff remains a distinct part of the name landscape in many parts of Europe today.
Variations of the surname Unterlauff
The surname Unterlauff is a German surname, originating from the region of Lower Saxony and Bavaria. It is derived from the Middle High German words ‘unter’ (under) and ‘lauf’ (run). The variants of the Unterlauff surname can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Unterlauf, Unterluf, Unterloff, Unterluff, Unterloof, and Unterlouf.
The family name Unterlauff is derived from a Middle High German bridge called “Unterlauf”, which was located at the end of an old road in Lower Saxony. Those who worked at this bridge, provided assistance to travelers coming from Bavaria, were given the name “Unterlauff” or some variation of it as a surname.
The surname is also found with the pre-fix “von”, indicating that the family were of Noble status. Variations of this surname can also be found with the spelling “Unterlauff von” as well as “Von Unterlauff”.
The Unterlauff surname is also found with some variations in other countries such as Sweden and Belarus. In Sweden, “Underlöf” is a variation of the Unterlauff surname. In Belarus, the surname appears as “Unterlov” or “Unterlovski”.
Additionally, there are a few surnames derived from the Unterlauff name, including Uterlauf, Ultlerlauf, Utterlauf, and Uterluff. Uterlauf is derived from the Latin “uter” meaning further, while Ultlerlauf is derived from the German “ult” meaning very. The Uterluff surname is derived from a locative term, and Utterlauf is a variant of the Uterlauf surname.
Overall, the Unterlauff surname is an old German surname with a variety of spellings and variations. These include Unterlauf, Unterluf, Unterloff, Unterluff, Unterloof, Unterlouf, Unterlauff Von, Von Unterlauff, Underlöf, Unterlov, Unterlovski, Uterlauf, Ultlerlauf, Utterlauf and Uterluff.
Famous people with the name Unterlauff
- Tim Unterlauf: former German footballer who played for MSV Duisburg, Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Eintracht Braunschweig.
- Julian Unterlauf: Austrian fashion designer, based in Vienna.
- Taras Unterlauf: Austrian actor, singer, and hip-hop artist.
- Mathias Unterlauf: German politician, member of the Green Party and the Bundestag since 2013.
- Martin Unterlauf: Special Operations Forces veteran and author.
- Jürgen Unterlauf: German jazz musician and composer.
- Sabine Unterlauf: Austrian journalist and radio presenter.
- Amelie Unterlauf: German journalist and media correspondent.
- Kay Unterlauf: German football coach and sporting director.
- Markus Unterlauf: German musician from Berlin.
- Heinrich Unterlauf: German baritone singer.
- Philipp Unterlauf: Swiss football manager and the current manager of FC Schaffhausen.
- Arnulf Unterlauf: German mountaineer and climber who took part in numerous expeditions in the Alps and the Himalayas.
- Wofgang Unterlauf: German theologian, professor at the University of Tübingen.