Surname Ratzlow - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Ratzlow: What does the surname Ratzlow mean?
The last name Ratzlow is of German origin, most likely coming from the region of Prussia. It can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when Germanic surnames were used to identify individuals who bore the same given name.
The origin of the name Ratzlow is thought to have originally been derived from the Middle High German word "radt," which was either an occupational name for someone who worked in a wheel-maker's trade, or a toponymic name to denote someone who had come from a place called Ratzlow. Variations of the surname, including Ratzloff, Ratzlav, Ratzlaff, and Radtke, are common in countries like Germany, Poland, Sweden, and the United States.
In more recent times, the surname Ratzlow has become associated with the Ratzlow family of historians, a group of related writers whose best known family member is the 19th century Prussian politician and historian Hermann Ratzlow. Other relatively notable members of this literary family include Konrad Ratzlow-Wolke, Ferdinand Ratzlow, and Jan Arnowius Ratzlow.
The Ratzlow family believed in education and the preservation of knowledge, advancing the cause of learning through both their writings and their work with institutions like the University of Marburg. It is through their work that the long-standing legacy of the Ratzlow family has been preserved, as well as the name that continues to live on in the 21st century.
Order DNA origin analysisRatzlow: Where does the name Ratzlow come from?
The last name Ratzlow is primarily associated with Germany, where it is thought to have originated. According to some sources, the family name was first found in Württemberg. It is believed to be derived from the medieval German word “rat” or “rez”, which means counsel or advice.
In modern times, the Ratzlow surname remains most common in Germany, although it is known to exist in the United States as well. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that approximately 500 people bear the last name Ratzlow in the United States. The most active states are Texas, New York, California, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
The Ratzlow name has long been associated with Germany, although the family is thought to have originally come from the area of Silesia, which is now modern-day Poland. The surname is quite distinct, and is rarely seen in other countries around the world. Nonetheless, it has managed to survive for centuries and continues to be found in Germany and the United States today.
Variations of the surname Ratzlow
The surname Ratzlow has various variants, spellings, and surnames originating from the same root. The most common variant of Ratzlow is Ratzlaff, most commonly found in the United States. Ratzloff is a common variant in Prussia. According to the Prussian name book, Ratzloff is derived from the German word Rattenlauf, which means to run like a rat. Other variants include Ratslaff, Ratslove, Ratslaff, Ratzlauf, Rätzlauf, Radsloff, Ratzlowe, and Ratslauf. These variants all reference running or fleeing, as in running away from something or someone.
Ratslove is likely an Americanized version of Ratzloff and Ratslaff. It may have been used to indicate a name that was anglicized, likely by German immigrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ratslauf is the original writing of Ratzlaw in German and Ratzlowe is a more modern spelling.
Surnames with the same root include Ratcliff, Ratsch, Ratch, Ratzlaffen, Ratzlaff, Ratzel, Ratzloff, Ratslee, Ratslauf, Ratzlauf, Radsloff, Ratzlowe, and Ratslove. These all likely originate from Ratzloff, the German term meaning to escape or flee, indicating the family descendants had once fled or escaped their old homeland and adopted the surname Ratzlow.
Famous people with the name Ratzlow
- Allen Ratzlow: a film producer and business executive in Hollywood
- Amy Ratzlow: a photographer and actress
- Arthur Ratzlow: a former professional basketball player
- August Ratzlow: a former German politician
- Bruce Ratzlow: a former NFL quarterback
- Dov Ratzlow: an Israeli poet
- Eli Ratzlow: a former American football player
- Ernst Ratzlow: a former German politician
- Lowell Ratzlow: a former MLB player
- Saul Ratzlow: a former Nazi official
- Wyatt Ratzlow: a former professional baseball player