Surname Ortolf - Meaning and Origin
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Ortolf: What does the surname Ortolf mean?
The last name Ortolf is of German and Swiss-German origin, derived from the Middle High German personal name "Ortolf". It is thought to have derived from the root element “orz”, which means “edge”, combined with “wolf”, meaning “wolf”. This suggests that the original bearer of the name Ortolf was someone who lived near or on the edge of a forest.
As an occupational name, the last name Ortolf is believed to have been given to people who were hunters, trappers, or makers of hunting equipment. It is a likely derivative of the German words “ort”, meaning edge, and “wolf”, meaning wolf.
The name Ortolf is rare, however variants of the name include Ortolfa, Ortolff, Ortolfus and Ortolfa. Variations of the name recorded in history and documents include Oudorff (1569), Overwolf (1571), Ortolf (1620), Ortolfin (1700), and Ortolfe (1840).
The surname Ortolf is known in early records in various parts of Germany and Switzerland, and is still relatively common in both areas today. Those with the surname Ortolf are believed to be descended from a powerful family or family group of Germanic stock, distinguished by their status and wealth.
Order DNA origin analysisOrtolf: Where does the name Ortolf come from?
The last name Ortolf is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau, there were 450 individuals with the surname Ortolf living in the United States in 2020. Most of these individuals were located in Pennsylvania, where approximately 140 people with the surname Ortolf resided. Other states with particularly large Ortolf populations include Michigan (approximately 46 individuals) and Florida (approximately 45 individuals). The surname is also surprisingly widespread in Georgia and California, with roughly 25 and 43 individuals with the surname living in each of those states, respectively.
A similar family name, Witholf, is also present in the United States but is extremely rare. Only 18 individuals with the surname Witholf were recorded in the most recent census.
Outside of the United States, the surname Ortolf is also present in countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic, with just over 100 individuals sharing the surname in both countries combined.
Overall, the surname Ortolf is still quite common in the United States today. Though the numbers in the US are not as great as some other surnames, its presence in other countries suggests the likelihood of the surname's growth in the US in the future.
Variations of the surname Ortolf
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ortolf include Ortolt, Ortloff, Ortolfe, Ortolfo, Orttolff, Orttolft, and Hortolf. Each of these variants can be traced back to a single original surname, Ortolf, which has its roots in the medieval German forename Ortolf. The spelling of the surname was first recorded in Oberallgäua in 1316 when Ortolf von Gomeringen was mentioned in a court record.
Since then, the Ortholf/Ortolf name has spread across Germany and other parts of Europe. Ortolt was an especially popular variant in 17th and 18th-Century Germany and was first documented in 1643 in the Grand Duchy of Pomerania. This spellings initial spread was likely caused by the influx of emigrants who had escaped from war-torn regions in Central and Eastern Europe.
Ortolfe can be traced back to 1537 in Renfrewshire, Scotland, where a Leonhard Ortolfe appeared in the records of the Abbey at Paisley. Since then, it has spread to other parts of Europe, eventually making its way to the United States in the 19th century.
Ortolfo, another variation of the original Ortolf name, was particularly popular in the Italian Alps during the 1500s. One of the first documented uses was in 1537 when a man named Claudius Ortolfo was recorded as being a farmer in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.
The variant surnames Orttolff, Orttolft, and Hortolf are rare and are typically only found in records from the 16th and 17th centuries. They were borne by farmers and craftsmen in areas of Germany such as Thuringia and Bavaria.
Generally speaking, all of these variants of the Ortolf surname share a common origin and meaning, which is likely derived from the Old German words Ort and Wolf, meaning "point of the wolf". This has led some researchers to claim that the original bearers of the name were descended from loyal followers of Wolf, a legendary Germanic chieftain. Thus, it is possible that the variants of the Ortolf surname represent a single bloodline with a common shared ancestor.
Famous people with the name Ortolf
- Emma Ortolf: Emma Ortolf is a German singer-songwriter from Berlin. She is currently signed to Sony Music Germany and has released two singles from her debut album, “Treading Water”.
- Corinna Ortolf: Corinna Ortolf is a German actress and television presenter based in Berlin. She is best known for her roles in the television dramas Die Kommissarin and Inga Lindström.
- George Ortolf: George Ortolf is an American professional basketball player who has played in the NBA, ABA, and D-League. He is currently playing for the Austin Spurs.
- Franz Ortolf: Franz Ortolf was an Austrian educator, school inspector, and author who wrote several books on pedagogy. He was one of the founders of the "Ortolf Circle", a group of progressive educators who sought to implement modern teaching techniques.
- Simon Ortolf: Simon Ortolf is a German photographer and filmmaker who has produced several short films and documentaries. He is currently working on a documentary about the human desire for connection in a digital age.
- Mylene Ortolf: Mylene Ortolf is a French singer-songwriter from Paris who recently released her first album, Nuit Elyzée. She is currently signed to Universal Music France and her music has been featured in several television shows.
- Konrad Ortolf: Konrad Ortolf is a German composer and music producer who is best known for creating the soundtrack for the 2012 video game Back to the Future: The Game. He also produces music for German television.