Surname Dornseif - Meaning and Origin
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Dornseif: What does the surname Dornseif mean?
The last name Dornseif is of German origin, and it first arose in Lower Saxony, a region still located in the northwest German state of Lower Saxony. The name basically translates to “Thorn Bush” or “Thorn Hill” in German. The name is believed to be derived from the German word “Dorn”, which means a thorn bush, and “hejf” which means hill or a hillside.
The surname can be assumed to be derived from a house, estate or manor that was situated on a hill with an abundance of thorn bushes. The Dornseif family in Germany first rose to prominence on the coat of arms granted to a certain Gerard Von Dornseif, of Lauffen am Neckar in the early 14th century.
The Dornseif name is most likely associated with a coat of arms that displayed a rampant lion, holding a key in its right paw and a downwards facing palm branch in its left. The lion was believed to have represented strength and power, whereas the key likely was representative of justice and the palm branch of devoutness.
The Dornseif surname eventually spread over Germany with branches of the family, and like many last names, it was often adopted by different people and families, either through marriage or adoption. To this day, there are many variations of the Dornseif name in Germany, including Dornesfield, Dornsiefeld and Dornesfeld.
Order DNA origin analysisDornseif: Where does the name Dornseif come from?
The last name Dornseif is mainly found in Germany today. It is a Namibian surname that originates from the northern region of Namibia, Africa. It is a common surname that traces back to the country's time as a German colony. As a result, the surname is mainly associated with descendants of German colonists in Namibia today.
In Namibia, the surname is reported to be quite popular. The name is even seen on many signs and businesses in the country. It is also reported to be quite a recognizable name in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Dornseif is not a particularly common surname in the United States today. However, there are a few individuals with the surname who live in the US. While the surname is not particularly popular, many individuals with the surname in the US are likely descendants of German immigrants who immigrated to the US in the 1800s.
In the end, the last name Dornseif is mainly associated with Germany and Namibia today. It is not the most common surname in any one country; however, it is recognizable in many German-speaking countries. Furthermore, a few individuals in the US may carry the name due to their descendants having immigrated to the United States during the 1800s.
Variations of the surname Dornseif
The surname Dornseif is derived from the German and Dutch words "Dorn" and "seif", meaning "thorn" and "flax" respectively. Over the centuries, the surname has been spelled in a variety of ways. Variants of the name include Dornseiff, Dornseiffer, Dornseifer, Dornseiffen, Dornseivil, Dornseifferth, Dornseifferth, Dornseifen, and Dornseiffe.
Surnames which follow the same origin as Dornseif include Dornenfeld, Dornick, Dornseiffer, Dornesfeld, and Dornsteyfel. All of these surnames can be traced back to the same root words, which is why they are so closely related.
In the United States, some of the more common spellings of the name include Dornseif, Dornseifer, and Dornseiffer. Alternatively, some American families have changed the name to Dornsey, Dorsey, Dornsie, Dorney, and Dorsie.
The name also is found in other countries. In France, the name is often spelled Dornseyef or Dornseif. In Ukraine and Russia the name is sometimes spelled Dorshaif. In Austria, the name is sometimes spelled Dornseeff, and in Germany, the name may be a variant of Dornseif, Dornseeif, or Dornseifen.
In Spain, the surname is spelled Dornesfe, and in Poland the name is spelled Dornseiff. No matter the spelling, all of these surnames have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Dornseif
- Frank Dornseif: German soccer player and manager
- Mark Dornseif: American baseball player
- Mike Dornseif: Former MLB infielder
- Robert Dornseif: American professional boxer
- Roy Dornseif: Former MLB outfielder
- Uwe Dornseif: German cyclist
- Michael Dornseif: German historian and author
- Matthias Dornseif: German sprint canoer
- Chris Dornseif: American weightlifter and strength coach
- Liz Dornseif: English actress and playwright