Surname Zellhofer - Meaning and Origin
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Zellhofer: What does the surname Zellhofer mean?
The last name Zellhofer is of Germanic origin and has strong roots in Austria, Bavaria, and other Central European countries. It comes from the German words zelle, meaning “cell” or “room” and hof, meaning “court” or “estate”. This name was likely given to someone who had owned or lived on a court or estate which was made up of multiple enclosed rooms or cells. The last name Zellhofer likely was used to describe a powerful family that had governance over an estate with distinguishing features such as housing arrangement.
Today the Zellhofer name is still a very common surname throughout Austria, Bavaria, and much of Central Europe. It often has different spellings such as Zellhofen and Zellhaver. It is a representation of a strong European history in terms of families having control and ownership of land or estates.
It is also worth noting that Zellhofer is a common Jewish name. In the 17th century, the degradation of Jews in Central Europe led to the adoption of surnames. The Jewish family of Loew eagerly chose the name of “Zellhofer” derived from the Yiddish phrase “Seelhofer”, as it means “cell-owner”. Thus the Jewish family attached their own name to define and differentiate themselves from their Christian counterparts.
Order DNA origin analysisZellhofer: Where does the name Zellhofer come from?
The last name Zellhofer is a German name that is believed to have originated in Austria. Today, the Zellhofer surname is most commonly seen in Austria itself, as well as in neighboring Germany. In Austria, the Zellhofer last name is most commonly seen in the states of Styria and Upper Austria, with Styria being the most heavily populated area of the two. In Germany, the Zellhofer surname is spread out more evenly, with a presence in almost every state.
While the Zellhofer name is still more common in Austria and Germany, a diaspora of this name can be found in other parts of the world. This is due to several waves of Germano-Austrian immigrants who settled in the United States, Canada, Australia, and some parts of South America. In the United States, for example, the Zellhofer family can be found in several states including California, New York, Texas, and Ohio.
Overall, the Zellhofer surname is still most commonly associated with Austria and Germany, however, its presence in other parts of the world shows that it has slowly but surely become a global phenomenon.
Variations of the surname Zellhofer
The surname Zellhofer is an old surname that dates back to medieval German-speaking areas. It is derived from the Latin term cella and the German words hove, hofer, and hofman, which mean “cellar,” “farmhand,” and “homestead dweller,” respectively. Over time, this variations of this surname have changed, so there are several variants and spellings in existence.
The most commonly seen variant of Zellhofer is the spelling Zellhoefer. Other variants include Zehllhoefer/Zehllhofer, Zellhuber, Zellhovel, Saelhoefer, Saelhofer, and Sellhoefer. All of these are derived from the same origin, however, there are some exceptions.
Surnames derived from the same origin but differ slightly in spelling include Sellhof, Salhof, Sallhof, Sollhof, and Cellhof. All of these are derived from the Latin cella and German hove, hofer, and hofman.
Additionally, some surnames may be derived from the same origin but are modified to different spelling such as Zehllhefer/Zehllhofer, Zehllhaber, and Zehllhaus.
Because of the numerous variants and spellings of the Zellhofer surname, it is important to research and document all of the variants and spellings associated with the original surname. Doing so allows for a better understanding of the surname’s history and will also make the tracking of the surname over time easier.
Famous people with the name Zellhofer
- Christian Zellhofer: an Austrian drummer and producer.
- Aleksandr Zellhofer: a musician from St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Michele Zellhofer: an Italian actress and television presenter.
- Mark Zellhofer: an American producer and engineer.
- Tony Zellhofer: a former Major League Baseball player.
- Herbert Zellhofer: an Austrian film director and actor.
- Bernadette Zellhofer: an Austrian pianist and composer.
- Wolfgang Zellhofer: an Austrian conductor and pianist.
- Matthias Zellhofer: an Austrian entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Jane Zellhofer: a German actress and singer.