Surname Döpfner - Meaning and Origin
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Döpfner: What does the surname Döpfner mean?
The last name Döpfner is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "dopfen" which translates to "to tap". This is a figurative term referring to an instrument for cutting wood or metal, which was used with a hammer to carve shapes. This name is found mostly in the northern regions of Germany, especially in the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The name is also found in other countries with a German-speaking population, such as Austria, Switzerland and the United States. It is likely derived from an occupational surname, referring to a person who worked with a hammer and chisel as a wood or metal cutter, creating shapes. People of this surname were respected craftsmen and were held in high regard in their local communities.
In modern times, the Döpfner name is still found in Germany and its surrounding countries. People of this name are not limited to a single profession, but can be found in a variety of roles, from finance and business, to politics and the arts. The popularity of the name has continued to grow throughout the years, with many successful members of the Döpfner family, from CEOs of some of Germany’s largest companies to the world-famous architect, Stephan Döpfner.
Overall, the name Döpfner is a strong German surname that has withstood the test of time. With many successful members of the family, and a proud history as skilled craftsmen, it is a fine example of a classic German name.
Order DNA origin analysisDöpfner: Where does the name Döpfner come from?
The last name Döpfner is most common today in Germany. It is estimated that at least 40,000 people in Germany alone share the last name. Additionally, there are small pockets of Döpfner families in Austria, Switzerland, and France, as the name originated in those countries centuries ago.
The name Döpfner means "pot maker" in German and is derived from the profession of making clay pots. People who bore the name would have likely lived in rural, farming-focused areas. Evidence indicates today that the majority of people with this last name live in the south and east parts of Germany, which was once home to larger portions of the population living in agricultural settings.
The highest concentration of Döpfner people is in the state of Bavaria in south-east Germany, with other large populations in Thuringia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony. Smaller populations are found scattered around Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Most Döpfner people today have found themselves adopting professions in skilled trades, given that this was the case for generations of Döpfner people before them.
The Döpfner family name is part of a larger cultural phenomenon of shared place names amongst Europe's Second Name Basins. Families, clans, and lineages often chose the same generic, descriptive names that later became part of the tradition of retracing one's family tree. This is why people of vastly different backgrounds and locations can have surnames that, whilst rare, are nevertheless shared across language boundaries.
Variations of the surname Döpfner
The surname Döpfner is a Germanic common surname, means "son of Döpf." Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
-Döpfner
-Dopfner
-Depfner
-Deppner
-Deppfner
-Doppfner
-Depner
-Doepfner
-Doepner
-Dopf
Other variations of the surname found in Germany and Austria include, Döpffer, Döpfferle, Döpffers, and Döpffner while variants in Switzerland comprise Döpfner and Döpfen.
In North America, variations to the original Döpfner surname include: Depfner, Doepfner, Dopfner, and Doppfner.
People with the variant surnames of the same origin also include:
-Döp fl (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Döpfle (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Döpfling (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Döpfel (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Döpfeler (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Döpfler (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Döppfel (meaning "son of Döpf";
-Dpfner (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Doepfel (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Doepflin (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Doepfling (meaning "son of Döpf");
-Doepfner (meaning "son of Döpf").
Many of these variants date back centuries in Europe, being first mentioned in Germany in the 1500s and in Austria as far back as 1398 in the records of Nürnberg. As such, they have no doubt been used by members of numerous families throughout many generations.
Famous people with the name Döpfner
- Mathias Döpfner, German media executive and businessman
- Ingrid Döpfner, German classical singer
- Sepp Döpfner, German sports shooter and Olympic competitor
- Jürgen Döpfner, German physicist and astronomer
- Uwe Döpfner, German former footballer
- Günter Döpfner, German footballer
- Viola Döpfner, German actress
- Karsten Döpfner, German handball player
- Joachim Döpfner, German author and theologian
- Bronis Döpfner, German ski jumper