Surname Detlef - Meaning and Origin
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Detlef: What does the surname Detlef mean?
The last name Detlef is a German name derived from the German given name Dietlief, which itself is composed of two parts, “diet” and “lief”. The first part of this name, “diet”, can be translated to “people” or “tribe” and the second part, “lief” can be translated to “beloved”. Therefore, the meaning of Detlef can be interpreted to mean “beloved people”.
Detlef as a given name was popularly used among German-speaking lands in the Middle Ages. It's likely that it became a surname in the same way other last names developed, when people began to take the name of their father, grandfather, or other people in their family line and added it to their own name, marking the start of family lineages.
The Detlef surname is most often found in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is not a particularly common name, however it is said to be especially popular in the German state of Saxony. It is also found in other European countries, such as Denmark, as well as in some areas of the United States.
The Detlef surname may also be associated with the Jewish community of Central Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Jews were persecuted, fleeing to other lands for safety, often adopting new last names for their security. It is possible that some of the Detlef surnames come from Jewish immigrants who adopted this name in order to escape the persecution they faced.
The name Detlef is a reminder of the diverse cultures and histories of the people who bear it. It symbolizes the coming together of different people from different lands, united under the common name of Detlef.
Order DNA origin analysisDetlef: Where does the name Detlef come from?
The last name Detlef is a German surname that is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed to originate in the north of Germany, particularly in the East Frisian region of the country. It is thought to have originated from a personal name, with the original spelling of Dietlef. It is likely to have referred to a ruler at some point in history, as the original meaning of this name is ‘ruler of the people”.
The surname is particularly common in the states of Bavaria, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony. It is likely to have been spread further afield during the 17th century, as this was a period of migration in Germany. The last name Detlef can also be found in parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
In the US Census of 2010, it was listed as having a population of about 15,553 people. In the UK, it ranked among the top 600 most popular surnames in 2018, with its highest concentration in the East Midlands region. It appears to be slightly more popular in urban areas, likely due to the widespread Continental European immigration to the UK over the last century.
Though originally from Germany, the surname Detlef is now quite widespread, with people bearing the name living in many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Detlef
Detlef is a German surname that has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of Detlef is Detlaff, which is an older spelling of the name. The name Detlev and Detlof are also derived from the name Detlef.
Another common variant of Detlef is Dettlaff. This variant is a combination of the name Detlef and the older German name 'Laff'. This variation of the name is popular in many parts of the former German Empire.
Detler is another variant of the name that has the same origin as the name Detlef. This particular variant of the surname is more common in the modern day. It is believed to have been created by combining the old German names Detlef and Erlich. The name Dettering is also derived from the same origin.
The surname Dettinger is another variant of the same origin as Detlef. This particular variant is more common in parts of South Germany. It is believed to be a combination of the old German names Detlef and Singer.
In addition to these variants of the name Detlef, there are also some surnames of the same origin. These include Detlich, Dethloff, Detlefsen, Detling, Detzloff, and Detzler. All of these surnames are derived from the original German name Detlef and have become popular among people living in various parts of Germany.
Famous people with the name Detlef
- Detlef Schrempf: Retired German-American basketball player and three-time NBA All-Star who played 16 seasons in the NBA.
- Detlef Dsoost: German Electronic music producer and DJ who has been described as the "godfather of techno".
- Detlef Janzik: Professional Football player who currently plays for Union Berlin.
- Detlef Lauenstein: German sprint canoer who won two gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
- Detlef Kwaschik: Retired German football player who played 112 Bundesliga matches for Bremen, Dortmund and Gladbach.
- Detlef Drewes: German Astronomer and former director of the observatory at the University of Heidelberg.
- Detlef Soost: Professional dancer and choreographer, featured in numerous musicals, films, television programs and as a judge on the German version of 'Dancing with the Stars'.
- Detlef Buck: German film director, producer and screenwriter who is best known for his comedy films.
- Detlef Bensig: Retired German footballer who achieved over 100 pro appearances for FC Stern and MSV Duisburg.
- Detlef Krause: Retired German alpine skier who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics.