Surname Dörflein - Meaning and Origin
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Dörflein: What does the surname Dörflein mean?
Dörflein is a German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "dorvel" meaning "small village". The name was likely given to someone who was from or lived in a small village, especially a farming village. It could also have been passed from a father to his son in recognition of his profession.
The earliest known record of the German family of the Dörfleins dates back to the 15th century, when they were employed as merchants in Würzburg. Over the centuries, the surname spread to other parts of Germany, including Austria and Prussia, and eventually to the United States and other countries via immigration.
Today, Dörflein is an uncommon but widely dispersed surname throughout Germany and other parts of Europe and the United States. It usually is associated with a German or Austrian background, and may be spelled slightly differently within each country.
Due to its commonality amongst the German and Austrian populations, it can be assumed that those with the Dörflein surname share a common ancestry, a common occupation, as well as similar customs and traditions of their home countries. These may include cuisine, music, art, and language.
Overall, the Dörflein surname is an intriguing reminder of the family's long history and its eventual, international dispersal.
Order DNA origin analysisDörflein: Where does the name Dörflein come from?
The last name Dörflein is a German-language surname, and today is most common in Germany and other countries of German descent. It is also found in countries like the United States, where immigration from Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland is common.
According to the Social Security Administration, the Dörflein surname is most popular in the United States. Of the around 400 people with this last name, most are located in the Midwest region of the U.S., particularly in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. There are also a sizeable number of people with the Dörflein name living in other parts of the country, including California, Pennsylvania, and New York.
In Germany, the Dörflein surname is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony. It is also common in Austria and Switzerland, and amongst German emigrants living in other European countries.
Outside of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the Dörflein name can also be found in the United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, Canada, Hungary, and Poland. The highest concentration of people with this surname outside of these countries is in the United States.
Variations of the surname Dörflein
The surname Dörflein is of German origin. It is also sometimes spelled as Dörflein, Doerflein, or Doerflein. Also, the usage of the umlaut (the double dots) may vary, with some writing Dörflein and some writing Doerflein.
When researching this surname, one may uncover other similar surnames with the same origin derived from the German word "dorf" which means "village". One variant is Doerfler and its variations Dörfler and Dorfler. The spelling difference is simply due to the changing of the "ei" to "er". Another similar surname could be Dorf, Doerf, Dorff, or Dörff. This is the same idea, but the "lein" has been omitted and the "f" has been doubled.
Other alternative spellings are Derflein, Derfler, Derf, Dorflein, Derff and Dorff. Though the spellings are quite different, they all can be traced back to the same German origin.
In terms of surnames that may have derived from Dörflein, one example could be Dorffmann. Other variants of this surname include Dorfmann, Derffmann, or Doerffmann.
For a broader, more thorough search, one could also look for surnames that have a similar meaning to Dörflein, such as Freytag (free day) which is derived from the German word "freitag". One could also look for surnames like Muhl, which is derived from German for "mill".
Therefore, it is possible to uncover a variety of surnames with similar origins to Dörflein. Despite the variations and spellings, the root meaning remains the same: "village".
Famous people with the name Dörflein
- Ralf Dörflein: German actor and television presenter, best known for his role as Grandfather Trude in the Tatort television series.
- Klaus-Dieter Dörflein: German architect and co-founder of the Dörflein & Partner architectural agency.
- Viktor Dörflein: German actor best known for his roles in television series such as Ein Fall für Kommissar Braun and Junior Kommissar.
- Michele Dörflein: German presenter and television editor for the ARD network.
- Katharina Dörflein: German television presenter and actress best known for her roles in television series such as Lieb Vaterland and Schwarz Rot Gold.
- Jürgen Dörflein: German musician and composer, member of the band Jazzkantine and winner of the 1986 Deutscher Rock & Pop Preis.
- Wolfgang Dörflein: German former football player and manager, best known for his tenure as manager of the German national football team in the 1990s.
- Heinz Dörflein: German actor and director, best known for his roles in the television series Großstadtrevier and Marienhof.
- Christine Dörflein: German visual artist and illustrator, active in the fields of painting, drawing, and photography.
- Helmut Dörflein: German art director and author best known for his work on the films Der bewegte Mann and Run Lola Run.