Surname Zilsdorf - Meaning and Origin
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Zilsdorf: What does the surname Zilsdorf mean?
The last name Zilsdorf is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German phrase "zilzdorf" meaning "community of willows". This is due to the presence of willow trees in dense German forests prior to settlement.
A Zilsdorf was likely an early German settler who inhabited such a forest region and it is possible that the original settler was the progenitor of all modern Zilsdorfs. The surname itself can be traced to the Palatinate region of Germany, which today represents the South-western regions of the country.
Since its initial creation, the surname Zilsdorf has come to represent a more general surname that can often be found not just in Germany, but also in Austria and Switzerland. In addition to this, Zilsdorfs have also come to settle in many other countries throughout the world, such as Australia, the United States and most European nations. The main similarities between all these countries is the presence of those with the surname Zilsdorf, each a descendant of an early German settler of the same name.
Although the term Zilsdorf represents a historically German surname, it does not necessarily follow that all members of the Zilsdorf family tree must share a direct link with early German settlers. Due to the population of Zilsdorfs that have emigrated from European countries, the name can also refer to descendants of Zilsdorfs who have come from other origins, such as those of Dutch, Hungarian, British and even Asian descent.
Overall, the last name Zilsdorf is a prominent German surname attached to an immensely diverse range of individuals worldwide, all of whom can trace their heritage back to the early German settlers who named this particular part of the forest.
Order DNA origin analysisZilsdorf: Where does the name Zilsdorf come from?
The last name Zilsdorf is a German surname. It is most commonly found in the areas of western Germany and the Netherlands. In Germany, it is mainly concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The Netherlands is also home to the Ziltsdorf surname, with many individuals bearing the name in areas of Zeeland, Drenthe, and Noord-Holland.
Zilsdorf is additionally found in Switzerland, with most individuals living in the Canton of Thurgau, and in Austria in the states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
Although relatively uncommon, the Zilsdorf last name is also located in the United States, where it is mainly concentrated in the states of North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York.
The Zilsdorf surname originates from the medieval German word "zils" meaning "lozenge". This refers to the ornamental design of the arms of the Zilsdorf family, which were shaped like lozenges. The surname is still in use today, showing that the Zilsdorf family has stood the test of time.
Variations of the surname Zilsdorf
The surname Zilsdorf is an German surname derived from the name of a medieval German town of the same name. Zilsdorf is a variant spelling of Zilsdorff. Both surnames are derived from the Middle High German name meaning “dweller by a bright road or lofty hill.” The earliest record of the name is found in 1190 in documents in Brandenburg, Germany.
Other variations of the surname Zilsdorff include Zilsdorff, Zilsdorf, and Zilsdorf. An alternate spelling of the surname is Zilsdorfen. There are other variations of the Zilsdorf surname that may be due to regional articulation, such as Zilsdorfer or Zilsdorfte.
There are numerous other surnames of the same origin, which may have evolved from Zilsdorf, such as Elsman, Ellsdorf, Ellsberger, Ellsberg, Zilsburg, Silsen, Silsdorf, Zilsen, Selman, Sellman, Selsdorfer, Seltdorf, Selldorf, Sillman, Zillman, Zillmann, and Zilman.
The surnames Zilsdorff and Zilsdorf are still carried by many people today, both in Germany and around the world. In the United States, many people with the surname Zilsdorf settled in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan.
In conclusion, the Zilsdorf surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The variants can be found around the world, with many people in the United States tracing their ancestry back to those with the surname Zilsdorf.
Famous people with the name Zilsdorf
- Jozef Zilsdorf, Slovakian professional footballer
- Ida Zilsdorf, German artist and printmaker
- Karl Zilsdorf, German World War II general
- Francois Zilsdorf, German-born French Army General
- Isidor Zilsdorf, Russian musician and composer
- Barbara Zilsdorf, German political activist
- Joanna Zilsdorf, American actress
- Jan Zilsdorf, German ballet dancer
- Carl Zilsdorf, German neurologist
- Arto Zilsdorf, Finnish diplomat
- Charles Zilsdorf, French military officer