Surname Unterlass - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'U'
Unterlass: What does the surname Unterlass mean?
The last name Unterlass is of German origin and is thought to be a topographic surname derived from the German word “unter” which means “below” or “under”. It is thought that it originated as a name for someone who lived close to a particular landmark or distinctive feature, such as a mountain, hill, stream, or grove of trees. The name might also have originally been an occupational name for someone who lived and worked beneath, such as a miner or quarry worker.
The surname Unterlass has spread across the world, with Unterlass families found in countries as diverse as Germany, the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Austria, and France. In Germany today, the name is still most common in the country’s southern regions, with a relatively high frequency in the state of Bavaria.
The name Unterlass is most often found in written form in German-speaking countries, although many German-speaking emigrants may also have adopted anglicized spellings or variations of the name. Anglicized versions of the surname include Unterlitz, Unterlassen, and Onterlaiß.
The meaning of the last name Unterlass can be summarized as “beneath” and typically refers to a geographic or occupational origin.
Order DNA origin analysisUnterlass: Where does the name Unterlass come from?
The last name Unterlass is most common in German-speaking countries, particularly parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. According to research, Unterlass is the 756th most popular surname in Germany, the 2,010th most popular surname in Austria, and the 4,095th most popular surname in Switzerland.
The last name Unterlass is derived from the German word "unterlassen," meaning to omit or leave out. This might imply a family history of someone who was penny-pinching, careful not to leave anything out of their work. The name might also suggest someone who was detail-oriented and thorough in their approach to tasks.
Given its German origin, it is likely that Unterlass is more common among people of Eastern European descent. For example, the first record of the name appeared in 1815 in Germany. Similarly, the 1920 United States Census recorded over 200 people with the last name Unterlass living in the United States, most of whom were born in Germany.
Today, the Unterlass family continues to live in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as well as the United States and Canada. In North America, the name is often Anglicized to sound like “Underwood.”
Variations of the surname Unterlass
The surname Unterlass is of Teutonic origin and is derived from the Old Germanic word “under”, meaning “under” or “below”, and “lassen”, meaning “to leave”. This was an occupational surname for a person who maintained or managed “under,” related to the duties or responsibilities of a steward or servant. The surname Unterlass is sometimes spelled Unterlitz, Unterlech, Unterlohs, Unternanner, or Onderlitz.
Variants of Unterlass include Unterlechner, Unternanner, and Unterlohs, all derived from the same root but with slight orthographical variations. Unterlechner is derived from German “Underlehrer”, meaning “teacher” or “instructor”, while Unternanner is derived from German “Undernener”, meaning “servant” or “underling”. Unterlohs is derived from German “Unterloh”, a type of prison.
Surnames that are derived from the same root include Onderlitz, which is derived from the Germanic personal name “Onderloot”, meaning “under” or “below”. Other surnames derived from the same root include Unterlassen, derived from the German “Underlosen”, meaning “to knot” or “to tie”; Unterlast, derived from the German “Underlast”, meaning “load”; and Unterlatz, derived from the German “Underlatz”, meaning “support” or “prop.”
In the English speaking world, the surname Unterlass may be seen as Underlass. Although the meaning and origin is identical to the Teutonic variant, the spelling is modernized to make it more easier to pronounce by English speakers.
Overall, the surname Unterlass is an occupational surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Examples of these include Unterlechner, Unternanner, Unterlohs, Onderlitz, Unterlassen, Unterlast, and Unterlatz. In the English speaking world, the surname may also be encountered as Underlass.
Famous people with the name Unterlass
- Bob Unterlass- American major-league baseball player
- Paul Unterlass: German water polo player
- Arno Unterlass: Austrian author and playwright
- Robert Unterlass: American film and television producer
- Phillip Unterlass: American composer and arranger
- Richard Unterlass: Austrian composer
- Herwig Unterlass: Austrian politician
- Mario Unterlass: Austrian footballer
- Gunter Unterlass: German film producer and director
- Irmgard Unterlass: German ski jumper and athlete
- Axel Unterlass: German drum and bass producer
- Frans Unterlass: Dutch singer and musician
- Wolfgang Unterlass: Austrian journalist and banker
- Peter Unterlass: Croatian architect
- Henk Unterlass: Dutch film director
- J Wonders Unterlass: American politician
- Sabrina Unterlass: German singer and musician
- Mike Unterlass: American sports photographer
- Erich Unterlass: German journalist
- Patrick Unterlass: Austrian entrepreneur