Surname Zintgraf - Meaning and Origin
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Zintgraf: What does the surname Zintgraf mean?
The last name Zintgraf is of German origin. It is a combination of two elements, with 'zint' meaning 'sintered' in Old German and 'graf' meaning count or Marquis.
Originally, the Zintgraf family held land or rights in a number of places and several members were part of the House of Welfen who reigned from the 8th century through to the 19th century. The Zintgraf family was particularly influential within the 12th and 13th centuries and was closely connected to the royal family of the ruling House of Lüneburg.
It is possible that the family's name evolved as a result of its numerous land holdings that were spread out across the area, and eventually became Zintgraf. Those who bore this name were likely owners of large estates in rural areas, and while they were affluent and educated members of society, their main occupations are believed to have been in farming and land managing.
In modern times, the Zintgraf family remains prominent in Germany and there are numerous notable individuals throughout recent history who have born the surname. These include several watchmakers, a medical professor, a doctor, and numerous politicians.
In brief, the last name Zintgraf is an ancient German name, associated with the powerful House of Lüneburg and with land-owning and land management of small estates. In modern times it remains common and is the name of numerous associated prominent individuals in various fields.
Order DNA origin analysisZintgraf: Where does the name Zintgraf come from?
The last name Zintgraf is most popularly found in Germany, where it is estimated to be shared by over 1,600 people. It is believed to have first been used in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein in the early 1600s and is thought to have been taken from the old Germanic personal name Zintrich.
The surname is thought to have acquired its meaning as a reference to somebody who lived near or on a fence (graff), and may have originally been used as a nickname for somebody who worked in either construction, or agriculture.
Today, the Zintgraf surname is mostly found in Germany and its nearby territories, such as the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland and Belarus. Smaller concentrations may be found in Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Israel, and the UnitedStates.
The United States holds a notable concentration of those with the Zintgraf surname, as many German immigrants came to the country in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the last 80 years, many former German citizens came to the U.S. after the Second World War, resulting in a significant growth of Germans with the last name Zintgraf in the United States.
In sum, the Zintgraf surname is most prevalent in Germany and its broader area, while there is a notable concentration of the surname in the U.S. as well, primarily due to 20th century migrations.
Variations of the surname Zintgraf
The surname Zintgraf is a German name that originated from the Middle Ages and has several variants, spellings and surnames of its own origin. These include Zintgraff, Zintgrafft, Zintgrafte, Zintgrafft, Zenntgraf, Zantgraf, Sentgraff and Zentgraff. It is derived from the German words "Zint" and "Graf" which mean tithing and count, respectively.
The early spelling of the surname was Zenntgraff, which was derived from the Middle High German word "zennt" which was used to describe the payment of taxes to a landowner or superior. The spelling later changed to Zintgraff and eventually Zintgraf, which is the most common spelling used today.
In many instances, a family tree may contain the same given name spelled in different ways, due to the changing nature of languages. Several Zintgraf family members have adopted names such as Zingraf, Zintgrafft and Zantgraft.
The Zintgraf surname can also be found in other countries, such as England and Austria, where it has been adopted and used by families with different ancestries, including Jewish-Austrian and Irish-English ancestry. The spelling and pronunciation may differ slightly in these countries.
In some parts of the United States, the spelling Zintgraff has become popular. This spelling is thought to have originated in America, where it was possibly adopted by immigrants from Germany or Austria.
The Zintgraf surname is a part of German history, and its variants and spellings are living reminders of the rich heritage of German-speaking countries. While the surname is typically associated with German ancestry, its different variants and spellings are found all over the world and are often the source of links between families of different ancestries.
Famous people with the name Zintgraf
- Ronny Zintgraf, German Yokozuna Sumo Wrestler
- Rudi Zintgraf, German painter
- Klaus Zintgraf, German doctor
- Eliza Zintgraf, German multimedia artist
- Michael Zintgraf, German film director
- Geza Zintgraf, Hungarian theatre actor
- Dan Zintgraf, American soccer player
- Marlene Zintgraf, German actress
- Julian Zintgraf, German photographer
- Henrik Zintgraf, Swiss banker
- Gigi Zintgraf, American Eye Surgeon
- Vera Zintgraf, German author
- Dieter Zintgraf, Dutch entrepreneur
- Ernst Zintgraf, German theologian
- Hildegard Zintgraf, German opera singer
- Willem Zintgraf, Dutch artist
- Jannis Zintgraf, German photographer
- Philipp Zintgraf, Austrian historian
- Lena Zintgraf, German athlete
- Matilda Zintgraf, German musician