Surname Doerffel - Meaning and Origin
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Doerffel: What does the surname Doerffel mean?
The last name Doerffel is a German surname that derives from the Middle High German words "dörfel" or "düfel", meaning "ferryman" or "little troll". This suggests that the original bearer of the name either worked as a ferryman on a river, or was known to be a prankster.
The Doerffel surname is relatively uncommon and is concentrated mainly in Bavaria, Germany, as well as in the states of Thuringia, Lower Saxony, and Berlin. It is also found in the United States, mostly among the descendants of German immigrants from the 19th century.
The name may have originally referred to the occupation of one of the first Doerffels, or it could be derived from the German word "dürfel" meaning "little village" or "hamlet". This could suggest that the original bearer of the name once lived in a small village.
Doerffel is a name with a long history, and bearer of the name can take pride in its origins. Its connotations of ferrying and good humor can be seen as positive traits to aspire to.
Order DNA origin analysisDoerffel: Where does the name Doerffel come from?
Today, the surname Doerffel is most common in and around Germany, particularly in the northwestern part of the country. It is also often spelled Dörffel, Dörrfel, or Dorffel.
Doerffel is a fairly uncommon surname in the U.S., but is present in several states, including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York, Florida, and Washington. The surname has also been found in Canada.
Doerffel is believed to be a nickname variant of the Germanic name Dörfer, meaning a small village. The name may have originally been given to individuals who came from a small village or whose ancestors had come from such an area. It is possible that the original bearers of the name may have been originally temporary settlers, but were so well settled in their area that the name was adopted by later generations as a permanent surname.
Doerffel is also a common name in southern Sweden and in Hungary, where it’s spelled Dörffel. Variations of the name are also found in other central and Eastern European countries, including the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia.
The name first appeared in Germany in the 16th century, and has been a common German surname since then. It is also fairly common in other parts of Europe, particularly in Hungary. Today, the surname is still most commonly associated with Germany, but can be found in several other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Doerffel
The surname Doerffel has a variety of different variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants stem from different countries, since this surname is prominent in both Europe and the United States. The surname Doerffel is likely an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with doves or specifically, someone who hunted doves.
The variants, spellings and surnames most commonly used are Doerfel, Doerfl, Doerfler, Dörfl, Dorfel, Dorfl, Dorfler, Dorffel, Dorfler and Dorffl. All of these spellings are a variation the original surname Doerffel. In Germany, the surname Doerfel is believed to be more popular however, in the United States it is more common to see it spelled as Doerffel.
The surname Doerffel is of Germanic origin and has been throughout the centuries. It is a common name in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and has been for centuries. The Doerffel surname is also seen in the United States, where it has been since the nineteenth century.
It is believed that the surname Doerffel was originally derived from the words Arber, derived from a mountain dweller, and Doef, which is a Middle High German word meaning "dove". This could be a reference to someone who worked with doves or someone who specifically hunted them, thus the occupational origin of the surname.
No matter the variant, spelling or name, the surname Doerffel is used in both Europe and the United States to this day.
Famous people with the name Doerffel
- Lothar Doerffel: Lothar Doerffel was a German aviator who led the East German Air Force from 1975-1976.
- Hubert Doerffel: Hubert Doerffel was a German politician who served as mayor of Munich from 1983-1987.
- Rudolf Doerffel: Rudolf Doerffel was a German airship pilot and pioneer of cabin airship transport.
- Erich Doerffel: Erich Doerffel was a German aviator and one of the first to fly long-distance flights in Germany.
- Karl Doerffel: Karl Doerffel was a German merchant who founded the first post office in the United States in 1743 in Philadelphia.
- Bob Doerffel: Bob Doerffel was an American politician who served as mayor of Milwaukee from 1977-1985.
- William Doerffel: William Doerffel was an American politician who served in the Wisconsin Senate from 1883-1885.
- Willhelm Doerffel: Willhelm Doerffel was a German physicist and astronomer who developed and built a microphone to measure pressure and humidity.
- Landgrave Arnold Doerffel: Landgrave Arnold Doerffel was a German theologian and Catholic cardinal who served as Archbishop of Mainz from 1748-1754.
- Heinrich Doerffel: Heinrich Doerffel was a German botanist and naturalist who studied plant systematics, anatomy and morphology.