Surname Dörfflinger - Meaning and Origin

Dörfflinger: What does the surname Dörfflinger mean?

Dörfflinger is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word Dörfling, which roughly translates as "little village". The name was originally used to refer to someone from a small village or hamlet, typically located in a remote or unpopulated area.

The origins of the name Dörfflinger can be traced back to the Rhineland region of Germany, where the name is believed to have originated before the 15th century. The first known bearer of the name was Johannes Dörfflinger, who was a citizen of Mainz in the year 1401.

The modern spelling of the name Dörfflinger is known to have originated in the 19th century. During this period, the name spread to different parts of Germany and beyond, and even today it can be found across different countries and cultures.

It is believed that the name has multiple meanings. It could be associated with the village-like quality of the name, or it could be derived from the German word for “barn”, indicating someone who lived in a large farming area. Whichever interpretation one takes, the name Dörfflinger is likely to carry with it a sense of peacefulness and a connection to the rural countryside.

Dörfflinger: Where does the name Dörfflinger come from?

The last name Dörfflinger is most common today in Germany, and to a lesser degree in Austria and Switzerland.

The name Dörfflinger is derived from the German word Dorf, which means village. This suggests the surname first began as a toponymic name to identify people who were from particular villages or places. It is likely that the surname could also refer to someone who lived in a defensive structure such as a fortification, as the German word felsen means rock.

The name Dörfflinger is relatively rare today, but is concentrated in a few geographic areas, such as the German highlands and Bavaria. This suggests that it originated several centuries ago, as the name is no longer common in many other parts of Germany.

The Dörfflinger family has a long history in Germany, with the oldest known records dated to 1489. The earliest known family members were from the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, located in the Southwest region of Germany, where the name is still concentrated today.

The surname Dörfflinger is also common in some parts of Switzerland, Austria, and, to a lesser extent, the United States. It is unlikely, however, that these individuals are direct descendants of the German Dörfflingers, and the name likely arrived in these countries via migration.

Variations of the surname Dörfflinger

The surname Dörfflinger has many variants with different spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The German version of the surname is spelled as "Doerfflinger" and its variants include "Doerfliger," "Doerflinger," "Doerffleger," "Doerflinkler," "Doerfflenger," "Dorfflinger," and "Dorflinger." In other countries, the surname might be spelled differently due to different cultures and language rules. For example, in the United States, the German surname has been Picarderized to "Turfflinger," while in Austria, it might appear as "Durflinger."

Other surnames of the same origin as Dörfflinger are derived from the middle High German word "türf" meaning "dirt" or "muddy land." Examples include "Turflaender," "Turfler," and "Turffler." These surnames might have originated as nicknames for a person dwelling on a muddy piece of land.

Other surnames that are closely related to Dörfflinger are "Durflen," "Durpfla," "Durpflla," "Durflin," "Durflinger," "Dorflin," "Dorlfliner," and "Doreflingen." These could be derived from the German word "dorf" meaning "village" and might have originated as a locative name indicating a person coming from a particular village nearby.

In general, all of the surnames discussed above either have a German origin, or are derived from Middle High German words with similar meanings. Together, they all point to the surname Dörfflinger originating from the Middle High German word "turf," meaning "dirt" or "muddy land," which was used as a nickname or locative name.

Famous people with the name Dörfflinger

• Egon Dörfflinger (1896-1972), Austrian pianist
• Rolf Dörfflinger (1889-1962), German architect
• Johannes Dörfflinger (1889-1957), German composer
• Andreas Dörfflinger (1746-1824), German painter
• Hans Dörfflinger (1893-1965), German physicist
• Josef Dörfflinger (1889-1962), Austrian Roman Catholic theologian
• Hans Dörfflinger (1906-1994), German actor
• Robert Dörfflinger (1847-1932), Austrian friedensrechtler
• Peter Dörfflinger (1796-1868), Austrian musician and composer
• Walter Dörfflinger (1923-2012), German film director

Other surnames

Dörffling