Surname Zulauf - Meaning and Origin
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Zulauf: What does the surname Zulauf mean?
The last name Zulauf is of German origin. It is a topographic surname, which means it is derived from a geographical feature such as a mountain, a river, or a valley. The suffix ‘auf’ translates to ‘on’ or ‘upon’ in German. Therefore, the name Zulauf can be interpreted to mean ‘upon a valley’. It may have been originally used to describe someone who resided or owned land in a particular region.
The surname has become quite widespread in Germany, with the highest concentration of people with the name Zulauf residing in the Bavaria state. It is likely to have been adopted by people in other countries as Germans emigrated outside of Germany and took their surnames with them.
It is still a popular name in modern times, often signifying a strong German heritage in those that bear the name. The German word ‘zulauf’ has become more commonly associated with a bubbling of a liquid, whether it be a hot spring or a river. It is this reference that may have become the inspiration for those who adopted the name Zulauf even in more recent years.
Order DNA origin analysisZulauf: Where does the name Zulauf come from?
The surname Zulauf is most commonly found in Switzerland today. According to Last Names, Zulauf ranks as the 10,218th most common surname in the world. The surname is of German origin, specifically pertaining to the German part of Switzerland, and derived from the Middle High German word "zeller," meaning top, peak, or summit. The majority of people who have the surname today reside in northern Switzerland, including the cantons of Basel, Aargau, Bern, Schaffhausen and Ortenaukreis.
Within Switzerland, Zulauf is the 1,510th most common name. According to the Swiss National Census of 2010, there were 1,904 individuals in Switzerland with the surname Zulauf. Out of the 1,904, 1,331 lived in Bern and 254 resided in Aargau. The remaining 319 were spread between Basel, Schaffhausen, Zurich, and Ortenaukreis.
The surname is also fairly popular in neighboring Germany where it ranks as the 8,325th most popular surname. In the 2000 census, 10,042 individuals in Germany had the last name Zulauf. Most of these individuals resided in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Hesse, and Bavaria. While there are a few other countries with Zulauf as a last name, the population is much smaller than in Switzerland and Germany.
Overall, the last name Zulauf remains most popular in Switzerland and Germany.
Variations of the surname Zulauf
The surname Zulauf is a German occupational surname. It comes from the Middle High German words "zul" which means "to serve," and "louwen" which means "minor." The Zulauf surname is an occupational name often used to describe a servant or a farm worker. It can also be spelled as Zuloff, Zulov, Zuloffe, Zulouff, and Zullauf.
Variations of the Zulauf surname can be found in Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, and even in the United States. Zulauf is typically a patronymic name, so many of its variations can be found as the father's first name followed by the word "zulauf," for example "Hanszulauf" or "Johannzulauf." In some cases, this can even be shortened to just "Zulauf."
Other surnames with the same origin are Zulov, Zuloff, Zuloffe, Zullauf, Zulojević, and Zulouff.
In the United States, some of the variants of the Zulauf surname are Zulow, Szelów, Zuelow, Szuelauf, Zuelauf, Zolow, and Zulouff.
The Zulauf surname has been spelled differently over the years, so the spelling and formation of this surname will vary depending on the country and region in which it is found. It is likely that in more modern times, the name will continue to be adapted, with different variations cropping up in locations around the world.
Famous people with the name Zulauf
- Paul Zulauf: former Chairman of the Board at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre.
- Joshua Zulauf: British actor, television presenter, and musician.
- Boris Zulauf: German football (soccer) player.
- Sarah Zulauf: Professional triathlete and Ironman competitor from the United States.
- Emily Zulauf: Former US figure skater and long-distance runner.
- Vanessa Zulauf: Professional German swimmer.
- Wolfgang Zulauf: German luger who won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics.
- Peter Zulauf: Swiss cross-country skier who competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
- Josué Zulauf: Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Brazilian club Sport Club Internacional.
- Gabriele Zulauf: German figure skater who competed in the Winter Olympics in both single and pairs skating.