Surname Zielsdorf - Meaning and Origin

Zielsdorf: What does the surname Zielsdorf mean?

The last name Zielsdorf is an occupational surname indicating a person involved in the metalworking trade. The name derives from the Germanic elements “ziegel” meaning “bricks” and “dorf” meaning “village”, so the name Zielsdorf could have originated from a small village in Germany where there were brick makers. It could also have been a person who worked in the construction of brick building or was a skilled craftsman in metalwork.

The records of the Zielsdorf family show that this is a long-lived and established family. It has been traced back as far as medieval times, when a family of this name lived in the village of Schwarzenbein in the Holy Roman Empire. In the mid-1700s, the family immigrated to America and settled mainly in Pennsylvania. The Zielsdorf family has produced a number of prominent members over the years, including a Senator, two US Representatives, teachers, professors, scientists, authors, and businessmen.

Today the Zielsdorf surname is still found throughout the world, with numerous offshoots of the family scattered across the United States and Europe. The original symbolism of the name remains the same, connecting the Zielsdorf family to a long tradition of hardworking individuals whose craftsmanship and ambition have helped shape the world we live in.

Zielsdorf: Where does the name Zielsdorf come from?

The last name Zielsdorf is an uncommon German surname, which still exists today mostly in Germany but is also found in the United States of America and Canada. It is believed to have started in the early 16th century in the Brandenburg region of Prussia, when it was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It is thought that the original meaning of the name is ‘Son of Ziel’.

In modern times, the majority of people with the surname Zielsdorf are found in Germany. According to the 1990 census in Germany, approximately 700 individuals were recorded as having the surname Zielsdorf. More recently, in the year 2000, the name Zielsdorf was found in several regions of Germany, including Berlin, which appears to have the highest density of individuals with the last name Zielsdorf in all of Germany.

In the United States and Canada, there are approximately 250 to 300 individuals with the last name Zielsdorf. It appears that the majority of these individuals live in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Wisconsin. In Canada, Zielsdorf is primarily found in the province of Ontario.

The last name Zielsdorf is likely to have decreased in population since its arrivals in the USA and Canada owing to immigration. Nevertheless, it is a rare but existing surname, with approximately 900 to 1000 people estimated to share the same name today.

Variations of the surname Zielsdorf

The surname Zielsdorf is of German origin, and its variants include Selzer, Selzerdorf, Zelzert, Zielzer, Selzerdorff, Selzerdorff, Zeilsdorf, Zielesdorf, Zielsdorff, Zielzerdorff, and Zilzdorf. All of these variants share the same root: ziel, meaning ‘aim’ or ‘goal.’

The first variant, Selzer, is derived from the Middle High German word ‘selze’ which meant ‘salt’, and the addition of the suffix ‘-er’. This formed the name Selzer and it may refer to someone from a place where salt was produced or stored.

Selzerdorf is the combination of Selzer and the German place-name ending ‘dorf’, meaning ‘village.’ The name may refer to someone who lived in a village where salt was produced or stored.

Zelzert and Zielzer are derived from the Middle High German words ‘selze’ and ‘zil’ which refer to salt and aim or goal, respectively. The suffix ‘-er’ was then applied to the words to form Zelzert and Zielzer. The names may refer to someone who intended to produce or store salt.

Selzerdorff is the addition of the suffix ‘-dorf’ to the Selzer variant, and like Selzerdorf, may refer to someone who lived in a village where salt was produced or stored.

Zeilsdorf and Zielesdorf are forms of Zelzert and Zielzer, respectively, with the addition of the suffix ‘-dorf’. They may refer to someone who came from a village where salt and aim were important.

Zielsdorff is the combination of Ziel and the German suffix ‘-dorf’. It may refer to someone who lived in a place connected to the concept of an aim or goal.

Zielzerdorff and Zilzdorf are derived from Zielzer and Selzer, respectively, with the addition of the ‘-dorf’ suffix. These forms of the surname may refer to someone who came from a village or place connected to matters related to an aim or goal and/or salt production or storage.

Famous people with the name Zielsdorf

• Taylor Zielsdorf: American soccer player who plays college soccer at Stanford University.
• Daniel Zielsdorf: German national athlete who competed in the 400 and 800 meter races in several European and World Championships.
• Harvey Zielsdorf: American football player who played as a defensive lineman in the NFL and CFL for six seasons during the 1960s.
• Chris Zielsdorf: American snowboarder and world class competitor, who won gold medals at the 2013 Winter X Games, 2015 US Snowboarding Grand Prix, and 2016 US Snowboarding Grand Prix.
• Peggy Zielsdorf: Award-winning American mixed media artist, specializing in landscape and cityscape paintings.
• Kurt Zielsdorf: American Skateboarder who won multiple skateboarding championships during the early 2000s.
• Pat Zielsdorf: Canadian photographer, specializing in advertising, corporate, editorial, and industrial photography.
• Kristy Zielsdorf: Professional dancer who started her career in the Czech Republic and is now based in the United States.
• Jan Zielsdorf: American athlete and coach, most notably coaching the US volleyball team in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Mark Zielsdorf: Retired professional golfer who won several tournaments on the PGA Tour.

Other surnames

Zielsdorff