Surname Zeppenfeld - Meaning and Origin

Zeppenfeld: What does the surname Zeppenfeld mean?

The last name Zeppenfeld is of German origin and derived from the German word "Zeppelin," meaning a type of large airship. The word likely originated in the Middle Ages, from the German verb meaning "to simmer." The surname is fairly uncommon, with less than 1,000 individuals bearing the name in Germany alone.

The surname could also refer to a "Zeppenfelder," which was derived from a type of farm located near a river. The German word "zeppe" referred to a sloping terrain near a riverbank, where river water could be used to irrigate progress fields. This name could indicate that an ancestor of the Zeppenfelds had once worked or owned such a farm.

The Zeppenfeld family is believed to be descended from an old family of nobility from Silesia, an area of modern-day Germany, which had its roots in medieval Germany. The first recorded reference to the surname dates back to the 1500s. It is believed that the family would likely have descended from an ancestor who held a noble or prominent position.

The surname is associated with various spellings, including Zeppenfeldt, Zeppenfelder, Zeppenfelt, Zepenfield, and Zeppenfield. It is believed to be related to the surnames Zeppelin and Zepf, which are derived from the same root word.

Overall, the last name Zeppenfeld is thought to be derived from an old German word for a type of riverbank farm, or else associated with an old family of nobility from Silesia. It is associated with various spellings, but remains rare.

Zeppenfeld: Where does the name Zeppenfeld come from?

The last name Zeppenfeld is a common name in Germany. It is thought to be derived from a German locational term for a person who is from Zeppenfeld, which is believed to be a village near the Belgian border. Other variations of the name include Zeppenfelder, Zepenfeld and Zeinenfeld.

The Zeppenfeld family has a long history in Germany. It is documented that the Zeppenfelds have been living in Thuringia since the 14th century. From the 16th century on, the Zeppenfelds lived in towns in the area, such as Römhild and Tettnang. Records confirm that the family was a prominent one in the area, with many families being wealthy landowners.

Today, the Zeppenfeld name is still common in Germany. There is a Zeppenfeld plaza in the city of Frankfurt and at least two towns in Thuringia that bear the name. Additionally, the 2010 German census revealed that there were over 3,000 people with the Zeppenfeld surname living in Germany at the time.

Variations of the surname Zeppenfeld

The surname Zeppenfeld is of German and Dutch origin and has several variants, spellings, and surnames from the same root. Zeppenfeld is seen as a derived form of the word Zappenfeld, and it is recorded in Old German as Zappenveld. Other forms include Sephard, Zeppeneld, Zeppen, Zeppenfield, Zeppenfelt, and Zeppenfell.

The spelling with the double "p" is most common in Germany, while the variants with one "p" are still seen in some regions of The Netherlands. However, these variations can also be seen across Europe. In Germany, the spellings Tschappenfeld and Tschappenfelt are also used.

In America, the spellings of Zeppenfeld have been progessively changed over the centuries, with the Dutch spelling Zeppenfelt increasingly being used, and Zeppenfell becoming increasingly less popular.

The first use of the surname Zeppenfeld is seen in 1272 in Germany. The German placename Zeppenfeld was charted in 1292 as Zeppanvelt and the town of Zeppenfeld is located in the Duchy of Bavaria, where many branches of the Zeppenfeld family still reside.

In America, many of the Zeppenfelds emigrated throughout the 1600s to 1700s and by 2015, the surname was most commonly seen in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Virginia.

In keeping with the German or Dutch spelling of the surname, Zeppenfeld can become Zeppeneld, Zappenfeld, or Tschappenfeld in some governing jurisdictions, and these surnames are all considered to be from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Zeppenfeld

• Chris Zeppenfeld: Chris Zeppenfeld is an American cinematographer and camera operator. He is known for his work on films such as Captain Marvel (2019), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014).
• Carsten Zeppenfeld: Carsten Zeppenfeld is a German politician. He is a member of the CDU Party and has been a member of the Bundestag since 2013.
• Veronika Zeppenfeld: Veronika Zeppenfeld is a German fashion model and beauty pageantry competition winner. She was crowned Miss Germany in 2002.
• Heinz Zeppenfeld: Heinz Zeppenfeld was a German Luftwaffe flying ace in World War II, credited with shooting down 26 enemy aircraft.
• Bernhard Zeppenfeld: Bernhard Zeppenfeld is a German lawyer and a member of the SPD Party, serving as a minister in the Government of Rhineland-Palatinate since 2014.
• Richard Zeppenfeld: Richard Zeppenfeld was an Austrian ski jumper who competed during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He won the National Championship in 1970.

Other surnames

Zeppenfeldt