Surname Poldauf - Meaning and Origin
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Poldauf: What does the surname Poldauf mean?
The last name Poldauf is of German origin and is derived from the given name Wolfgang. The German word wolf denotes “wolf” and gang denotes “traveling” or “traveller”. Thus, Poldauf literally means “wolf-traveler” or “wolf-traveller”.
This name can be traced back to the medieval period in Central Europe. It originated in Bavaria and Austria where it was used to refer to a wolf hunter or one who hunted wolves. The Poldauf family began as a profession, not a surname. However, as Central European culture developed, the profession of wolf hunter became associated with a family name. Over time, the last name of Poldauf spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe.
The meaning and history of the Poldauf name are intertwined with the profession of a wolf hunter, making it a unique and interesting surname to have. As a surname, Poldauf is filled with symbolism and speaks to one's roots in the German culture and history. It is also a reminder of the importance of hunting and the skill required to do so. Being a part of this last name carries a sense of pride and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisPoldauf: Where does the name Poldauf come from?
The last name Poldauf is a Slavic name that is mostly found in Central and Eastern European countries. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have the highest concentration of people with this name. In the Czech Republic, the largest concentration of people with the last name Poldauf is in the Moravian-Silesian Region and the South Moravian Region. Slovakia shows the highest concentration of the Poldaufs in the country in both Bratislava and Trnava regions.
The name Poldauf is also found in Germany, where the highest concentrations are in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Poland has a smaller presence of the Poldaufs, although the name is most prominent in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, and in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.
In Austria, the name Poldauf is mainly found in the Austrian states of Styria, Lower Austria, and Vienna.
The name is also found in the United States, primarily concentrated in Minnesota, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York.
Overall, the last name Poldauf is a Central and Eastern European last name that is most common in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Austria, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Poldauf
The surname Poldauf is a variant of the German surname Poldof, which is derived from the Middle High German word “poldov” or “poldaw,” both meaning “foolish man.” Other spellings of the name include Poldow, Poldoff, Poldolf and Poldovf.
The mentioned surnames are often found with regional variations in countries that used to be part of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, such as Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
In some parts of Austria and Hungary, the surname took on different forms due to their presence in both countries before the borders of those places were fixed. For example, in some Hungarian-speaking areas, the name can be found spelled as Poldaf and in some Czech provinces, it is spelled as Poldovszky.
In Austria, a common alternative form of Poldauf is Polzauf. There is also a small cluster of related names in Austria which include the professions “Hofrat” (Court Councillor) and “Hofmeister” (Court Master). Hofrat Poldauf, for example, could be a variant of the same name.
In Germany, the variant “Polthauf” and the spelling of “Pollethauf” can be found in some regions. Maybe this is due to the influence of German dialects such as Bavarian and Swabian.
In the United States, the name may have been shortened after immigration from Europe and can be found in different forms such as Pold, Pole, Pull and Poll.
Generally, all of these spellings and variants of the surname Poldauf can be considered to have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Poldauf
- Peter Poldauf: an Austrian journalist and visual journalist based in Vienna.
- Klaus Poldauf: a German economist and professor at the Institute for the World Economy at the University of Kiel.
- Laurenz Poldauf: an Austrian mathematician who specializes in algebra and number theory.
- Gabriele Poldauf: an Austrian illustrator and potter with a specialty in ceramic figurines.
- Pavel Poldauf: a Czech-German painter and sculptor who lived in Prague.
- Isaiah Poldauf: an American actor, writer and comedian, best known for his roles on the television series House and Ugly Betty.
- Karel Poldauf: a Czechoslovakian architect best known for his modern designs, which have become iconic symbols of the former communist regime in Prague.
- Wilhelm Poldauf: an Austrian physician and professor of medicine, specializing in ophthalmology.
- Konrad Poldauf: a German theologian and professor of dogmatics at the University of Würzburg.
- Marian Poldauf: a Polish-Austrian psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, who was also the director of the psychiatric clinic at the University of Vienna.