Surname Zapfe - Meaning and Origin

Zapfe: What does the surname Zapfe mean?

The last name Zapfe is of German origin and derives from the Middle High German word "zaphae" meaning "to plow". This surname most likely originated with a profession, and was likely taken on by someone who was a farmer. It is likely that this surname was given to families who lived in rural areas and worked as farmers.

Zapfe is a common and widespread surname which can be found in parts of Europe and across the world in areas which were settled by German immigrants. In Germany, Zapfe can be found in the states of Saxony, Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria and Thuringia.

The Zapfe surnames has a number of variants, including Zupf, Zupfe, Zabf, Zappe, Sappe and Sapf. These variations of 18th Century dialect words highlighting how the surname was pronounced in different parts of Germany.

Today, the Zapfe surname is still widely found across Germany and the rest of the world, with notable family members including Willy Zapffe who was a Norwegian philosopher and mountaineer. Given how widespread the surname is, it is likely that there may be many more Zapfes in the world unknown to each other.

Zapfe: Where does the name Zapfe come from?

The last name Zapfe is a surname of German origin. Today, the name is most commonly found in Germany and other parts of central Europe. According to data from the World-Names Germany Database, the Zapfe surname is most prevalent in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

The name Zapfe was likely derived from a physical attribute as many German names are. It is thought that the name Zapfe was used to describe someone who was “long-limbed” or “tall and thin”. This is supported by its English translation of “sparrow” which is associated with a thin, long-legged bird.

In addition to Germany, the Zapfe name is also present in other parts of central and eastern Europe such as Austria, Czech Republic and Poland. It may have been brought to these countries when the German language immigration occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Today, people bearing the Zapfe name are widely dispersed around the world. It is no longer concentrated in Germany but can be found throughout Europe, North America, and even Australia. Although not as common as other surnames, the Zapfe name is still a testament to the Germanic heritage of many people in the world today.

Variations of the surname Zapfe

The surname Zapfe is a Germanic name originating from Eastern Germany, predominately found in Hesse and Bavaria. It is related to the similar-sounding surname Zapf and its variants.

Spelling variants of Zapfe include:

• Tsapf (Hesse)

• Sapf (Hesse)

• Zaph (Hesse)

• Tsaph (Hesse)

• Zappfe (Bavaria)

• Tsappf (Bavaria)

Surnames of the same origin as Zapfe include:

• Zapp (Hesse)

• Zappe (Hesse)

• Zapfel (Hesse)

• Tsapfel (Hesse)

• Zaffel (Hesse)

• Zapifl (Hesse)

• Tsoppf (Bavaria)

• Zoppf (Bavaria)

• Zopf (Bavaria)

• Zobf (Bavaria)

The spelling variations and surnames may also come with different prefixes, such as "van", "von", and "de". For instance, the surname "von Zapfe" is a variant of "Zapfe" found in the Hesse region of Germany (van is the Dutch version, and von is the German version of this prefix).

Those bearing the Zapfe surname are known to be a part of Lauffen and Nideggen Hanseatic Guilds. While the Zapfe name is rare, its variants and related surnames remain common throughout Eastern Germany.

Famous people with the name Zapfe

• Christian Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Vicky Zapfe (Switzerland, Model)
• David Zapfe (Canada, Retired Hockey Player)
• Patrick Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Christiane Zapfe (Switzerland, Actress)
• Fritz Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Guido Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Carlo Zapfe (Germany, Former Professional Football Player)
• Velina Zapfe (U.S., Yoga Instructor)
• Marianne Zapfe (Switzerland, Former National Alpine Skier)
• Joseph Zapfe (U.S., Former Negro League Baseball Player)
• Karl Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Ernst Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Rainer Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Raymond Zapfe (U.S., Director and Screenwriter)
• Marius Zapfe (Switzerland, Entrepreneur)
• Alexander Zapfe (Austria/Switzerland, Modern Pentathlete)
• Michael Zapfe (Germany, Professional Football Player)
• Ingo Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)
• Oswald Zapfe (Germany, Former National Football Player)

Other surnames

ZapfZäpfZapfelZäpfelZapffZapffeZapfl