Surname Detlof - Meaning and Origin

Detlof: What does the surname Detlof mean?

The last name Detlof is an uncommon German surname that is believed to have originated in the region now known as Brandenburg in north east Germany. The name might have originated as a descriptive name for someone who was a leader or ‘Elder’ of the village or local area. It might also have referred to a person who was ‘from Telof’ which might have been the name of a small village or district in Brandenburg.

The name is derived from the German word ‘Totlof’ which means ‘Elder’ or ‘ Leader’. The prefix ‘de’ added to the name makes it a Test name which is often referring to an individual person who descended from the original person named ‘Totlof’. Thus, it can be safely speculated that the original ‘Totlof’ was a ‘leader’ and Detlof is an evolved version of his name.

It is also believed that the Detlof surname might have been derived from elements of two German surnames, firstly ‘Teut’ which means ‘people, nation, race’ and secondly ‘Lud’ which means ‘brightness, splendour, fame’. Thus, Detlof can be translated to mean ‘people of fame’ or ‘the magnificent people’.

The Detlof family name is not particularly common in modern times, however, families with the surname can be found in Germany as well as in other parts of Europe and some parts of the United States.

Detlof: Where does the name Detlof come from?

The surname Detlof is a fairly rare last name, but it is one that can be found in many countries around the world. Where exactly this surname originated is up for debate as records going back far enough to pinpoint a specific area do not exist.

It is believed that the surname originates from Germany where it is most commonly found, though it may have Danish roots. The German suffix “Lof” means “praise” or “glory” which has lead to the current form of the name. There may also have been Anglicization of the name.

Today, the surname Detlof can still be found throughout many parts of Europe, though predominantly in Germany. In Germany, the largest concentration of the surname is found in the east in the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg.

In the United States, the name is somewhat rare but not unheard of. The states with the most occurrences of the name today are Massachusetts, California, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. Outside of the US, the surname can be found in Canada, and other parts of Europe, including Norway, Scotland, and France.

Overall, the Detlof last name is not a particularly common one, but it can be found in many locations around the world. Though its origins remain a mystery, the origins of the name may offer insight into its current prevalence and its geographic distribution.

Variations of the surname Detlof

The surname Detlof is derived from an Old Scandinavian personal name meaning "ancestral land," a combination of the words "dette," meaning "heritage," and "loft," meaning "land or sky." This name has many different variants and spellings, including: Dettloff, Detloff, Detlaff, Detlef, Detlev, Deitloff, and Deltloff.

The German and Dutch forms of Detlof include: Detloff, Detlaff, Detlef, Detlev and Deitloff. These are all derived from the Old Norse "Ditlof," which combines "det," meaning “inherited,” with "loft," meaning "land or sky."

The Dutch and English versions of this name typically spell it as "Detlof" or "Dettloff." It can also be spelled "Dettlief," "Dettliefs," or "Dettliefe." Some English versions include "Detlaff" or "Detloff."

The Swedish version of the name is spelled "Deltlof" or "Deltloff." It may also be spelled "Deltlaff" in some cases.

Variants of Detlof include: Detlow, Detlo, Detlau, Detlam, Detlams, Detlefsen, Detlefsohn, Detlefson, Detley, Detliff, and Detloff.

Surnames connected to the Detlof family name include: Detlofson, Detloffson, Detlofse, Detloffen, Detlefsen, Detlo, Dettlo, Detteloff, Detlauf, Detloffroth, Detleffson, Detlauff, Detlam, Detlofsen, and Detlefsohn.

Famous people with the name Detlof

• Hans Detlof von Feilitzen: Swedish politician, courtier and diplomat
• Mogge Detlof: Swedish actor and film producer
• Arvid Detlof: Swedish stage and film actor
• Lars-Eric Detlof: Swedish professor of art and professor of economic geography
• Olov Detlof: Swedish lawyer and businessman
• Sverker Detlof: Swedish politician
• Robert Detlof: Swedish historian
• Lars Detlof: Swedish former footballer
• Jan Detlof: Swedish former ice hockey player
• Ulf Detlof: Swedish former ice hockey player

Other surnames

Detloff