Surname Umlauff - Meaning and Origin

Umlauff: What does the surname Umlauff mean?

The last name Umlauff is believed to be of Germanic and Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from an old Germanic word "umlafer," which literally translates to "around/about runner" or "one who runs around." It was likely given as an occupational surname for a messenger, a town crier, or some other kind of messenger who ran around to bring news or announcements to the local people.

In Germany, Umlauff is a fairly common last name, and many German citizens proudly carry it. In the USA, it is less frequently found, but is still seen in some areas, especially those of German descent.

The Umlauff name is truly an ancient one that has been carried through the generations for centuries, and has likely been an integral part of family histories for many centuries. It is a meaningful and interesting reminder of how our families arrived and created a life that we now call our own. The name gives us a unique link to our past – one that is worth cherishing.

Umlauff: Where does the name Umlauff come from?

The last name Umlauff is commonly found throughout the German-speaking countries of Europe, including Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and parts of Switzerland. The origin of the surname is derived from “umlaufen”, an old German word that means “to go around” or “to encircle”. Historically, the surname Umlauff has been used by various German families as both an occupational name for people who worked with encircling fabric, as well as an identification marker for those Germanic people who were pushed out of their homeland in the Slavic invasions in the Dark Ages.

Today, Umlauff can be found scattered throughout the German-speaking countries, but more common in the higher-density areas such as Berlin and Bavaria. Additionally, the United States holds a sizable population of those of German descent and quite possibly a few of those hold the surname Umlauff as well.

Searching for the Umlauff surname today yields many results for people around the world. Results show that the Umlauff surname holders are influential in all kinds of fields, including politics, sports, journalism, and the arts. Given the long history and wide distribution of the Umlauff name, the presence of the surname is no surprise.

Variations of the surname Umlauff

The surname Umlauff is a variant of the more common German surname Umland, and it is believed to have originated from a place name describing an area ‘around a lake’ or ‘at the edge’ of an area. Variations of the surname include Umland, Umlandt, Umlan, Umlands, Umlands, Umlanf and Umlauffer. Umlauff is also sometimes misspelled as Umloff and other spellings that may be found include Umlonda, Umlondes, Umlond, Umlondo and Umlounth.

In terms of alternative surnames of the same origin, variants of Umland can be found throughout Germany, Austria, and other parts of Europe, including Umeland, Umlandt, Umlanden, and Umlanter. Spelling variations of those names can also be found, such as Umlond, Umlande, Umlondt, Umlanf and Umlanff.

In the U.S. and Canada, many German immigrants adopted Anglicised spellings of their surnames, leading to several different surnames of the same origin including Umlands, Umlandt, Umstead, Umphlett, Umphlet and Umflet. Additionally, the surname could have been Americanized to sound more ‘fit’ with the local accent. For example, Umloff could have become Umble, Umlauf could have become Umbleauf, and Umlonds could have become Umbleand.

Finally, surname variants of ‘Umlauff’ can be found several countries throughout Europe, including Umlanden in Belgium, and Umlantz in France, Denmark, and Finland.

Altogether, there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the origin for the surname Umlauff. The wide range of variations demonstrates how a single surname can adapt and evolve over time in different countries and contexts.

Famous people with the name Umlauff

• Deitrich Umlauff: German SS Officer who was the chief of the Gestapo and SD in Düsseldorf
• Johan Umlauff: Swedish chess player and five-time Swedish Champion
• Ernst Umlauff: German mathematician, astronomer and physicist
• Joachim Umlauff: German geologist
• Ralf Umlauff: German historian and professor at the University of Marburg
• Thomas Umlauff: German novelist and dramatist
• Luca Umlauff: Swiss Paralympic alpine skier
• Ulf Umlauff: German music producer
• Jan Umlauff: German sculptor
• Joerg Umlauff: German historian and professor at the University of Halle-Wittenberg

Other surnames

UmlaufUmlauft