Surname Dolff - Meaning and Origin

Dolff: What does the surname Dolff mean?

The surname Dolff is a derivative of the Germanic personal names "Dolf" or "Dulf." It is thought to have originated as a diminutive of "Dolfrich", which means "powerful wolf" or "wolf ruler." The surname can be found in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The surname was likely a nickname given to someone with the physical characteristics of a wolf or someone who embodied the qualities of the wolf — courage, strength, and leadership. It could also have been a reference to a hunter or a warrior who was brave in battle.

The Dolff surname is found in various spellings, including Dolf, Dole, Doll, Dahl, Dahlh, Dall, Dalh, and Doelf. The popularity of the Dolff surname follows a similar pattern to that of other common German names and is distributed throughout villages and towns in western and northern Germany.

The word "Dolf" also means "woodman" in Middle Low German, so the surname in some cases could have been a nickname for someone who worked with wood.

Overall, the surname Dolff is associated with brave, strong individuals who may have hunted, fought, or worked with wood. Those who carry this last name can feel proud of their ancestor’s courage and strength.

Dolff: Where does the name Dolff come from?

The last name Dolff is common in various European countries, primarily in Germany. It is especially common in the northern and eastern German states, such as Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Saxony.

In other European countries, such as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, the name Dolff is less common. However, it is still a common surname in these countries.

In the United States, Dolff is relatively uncommon. There are only an estimated 100-400 people with the surname currently living in the country. It is primarily found in the Midwest, such as Illinois, and the Northeast, such as New York. It is also fairly common in states with high German-American immigrant populations, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The name Dolff is not often found elsewhere in the world. As such, if you want to find others who share the last name Dolff, your best bet is to look at regions with a high German-speaking population.

Variations of the surname Dolff

The surname Dolff is most commonly originated in Germany. It is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Dolff" derived from Low German or Middle Low German word "dolf," meaning "wolf." Variants and other spellings of this surname include: Dolf, Dolp, Dollf, Delff, Dolfe, Dolphe, and Dolph.

In some cases, Dolff may have developed as an alternate spelling of the well-known German and Dutch surname Dahl. This variant comes from the word “dhal” meaning “valley” in Old German. Other variants of the Dahl surname include: Dall, Daal, Dahlh, Daal, Dael, and Daall.

The German name may also have been derived from the Dutch variant, Dolphijn, meaning "dolphin," referring to a person from the area of Drenthe and Overijssel, Netherlands. Variants of this surname include: Dolphijn, Dolphen, Dolfijn, Dolfen, and Dolfing.

In some cases, Dolff may have developed as a nickname or given name adopted from a Viking byname, referring to a person who was brave and fierce like a wolf. Variants of this include Dolf, Rolf, and Rudolph.

Overall, the surname Dolff is a patronymic surname from the German words for wolf and/or valley, and it has many variants found in various cultures. If the origin of your surname is not quite certain, further research may be required to determine if any of the variants are applicable to your family.

Famous people with the name Dolff

• Karl Dolff-Krockow, a German WWI fighter ace credited with six aerial victories.
• Beppo Dolff, a German musician, songwriter and producer.
• Magnus von Dolff, a Swedish noble.
• Robert Dolff, a Dutch designer and industrialist.
• Richard Dolff, a German politician.
• Richard Dolff-Nepel, a German composer.
• Wilhelm von Dolff, a German knight in the 14th century.
• Johann Christoph von Dolff, a renowned 17th century German doctor and botanist.
• Alexander von Dolff de Köndersdorf, an 18th century German archaeologist.
• Johanna Dolff, a 19th century German opera singer.
• Erik von Dolff, a 20th century German World War I fighter ace who was credited with six aerial victories.
• Wolfgang Dolff, a German doctor and Holistic Health expert.
• Sylvia Dolff, a German actress.
• Bettina von Dolff, a German businesswoman.
• Henrik Dolff, a Swedish astronomer.
• Martina Dolff, a German singer and actress.
• Christoph von Dolff, a German jurist and lawyer.
• Christian Friedrich von Dolff, a German philosopher.
• Kelsie Dolff, an American actress and model.
• Richard Dolff, a German composer and performer.

Other surnames

DolfDölfelDolfenDölfesDolffenDölfs