Surname Mahlo - Meaning and Origin
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Mahlo: What does the surname Mahlo mean?
The surname Mahlo (or Mahlö or Mahlow or Mahloe) is German in origin and is believed to be a location-based surname. It likely derived from the Middle High German word "malowe," which means "bare piece of land or meadow." It is most commonly found in the northern parts of Germany, specifically East Frisia and Holstein.
In East Frisia and Holstein, the Mahlo surname is connected to an area known by different names, such as Machlos an der Amdlaag (roughly, “bare spot near the Aude river”) and Mahlstedt (“meadow settlement”). These locations are referenced in medieval documents, and some ancestral records for the Mahlo surname can be found for these locations.
It is also possible that the Mahlo surname could have been a place-name adoption. For example, persons seeking to distinguish themselves from those already bearing the same surname might have chosen a nearby geographic area to adopt the name from.
For the most part, the surname Mahlo is an uncommon surname. About 3,400 people with the surname still live in Germany, while there is only an estimated 80 people living in the United States with the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMahlo: Where does the name Mahlo come from?
The last name Mahlo is most commonly associated with Punjabi Indians today. The last name is fairly rare in India, but is featured in the records of various Sikh clans in the Punjab region. Spelling variations of the last name Mahlo can also be found in some regions, such as Mal and Mahal.
Much like Jatt, the Mahlo are part of the larger historical and cultural context of the Punjab region. Sikhs in the region proudly trace their paternal ancestry to the first Sikh leader Guru Nanak. Based on professional and lifestyle choices, society divided itself into various sects such as Jatt and Mahlo. The Jatt were typically professional agriculturists and herders, whereas the Mahlo followed the trade and small-scale business.
Interestingly, the last name Mahlo has become increasingly popular in many English-speaking countries around the world, especially the United States of America. This is possibly due to records of Indian immigrants moving to these countries and taking their culture along, and some of those immigrants trace their paternal ancestry back to the Mahlo clan.
For those searching for records of the Mahlo last name, an online search is the best bet. Websites like ancestry.com often host databases of famous and not-so-famous people with the Mahlo last name, helping to trace family history.
Variations of the surname Mahlo
The surname Mahlo, of German and South African origin, has a few spelling variants and surnames of the same origin. Some of these variants include Mahlow, Mahlou, Mahlouw, Mallow, Malowe, and Malow. All these surnames have their origin in German, with Mahlouw being the Dutch spelling of the name.
The surname Mahlow originates from Germany and is derived from a habitational name derived from places such as Mahlow in Brandenburg or Mahlum in Saxony-Anhalt. In its early days it was mainly used by the people living in these places. The surname Mallow is an English variant of the German surname Mahlow and it may be derived from a locational name in Gloucester or a nickname derived from Old English mala, meaning ‘bare’.
Mahlo is also a South African clan name used by the people of the Eastern Cape and it is derived from the Xhosa word amahlolu, which means ‘frames’ or ‘edges’. The surname is still used by many Xhosa families today.
In addition to these variants, Mahlo is also used as an alternate spelling of the surname Mahlou, a French surname that originated in the Bourbon, France and was derived from a Celtic personal name Maglo. Another variant, Malow, is a variation of the German surname Mahlow and may originate from Prussia or Poland.
Thus, the surname Mahlo has several spelling variants and surnames of the same origin, with origins in Germany, France, South Africa, and Poland.
Famous people with the name Mahlo
- Mohau Mahlo: Mohau Mahlo is a South African actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is known for his work on 'On The Edge Of Being', 'Ekasi: Our Words' and 'Yizo Yizo'.
- Leeuw Mahlo: Leeuw Mahlo is an Afrikaans musician, producer and record label executive from South Africa. She is the founder and Marketing-Director of the SA Music label, LM Records.
- Lerato Mahlo: Lerato Mahlo is an author and culture expert from Johannesburg, South Africa. She has published works such as "The Color of Change: Black Workers and the Struggle for Equality in South Africa".
- Kwaito Mahlo: Kwaito Mahlo is a popular South African singer and songwriter. He is well known for his unique style of hip-hop and rap music.
- Moyahabo Mahlo: Moyahabo Mahlo is a South African soccer player who plays for South African Premier Soccer League side Orlando Pirates FC.
- Mpho Mahlo: Mpho Mahlo is a South African po4*er from Johannesburg who competes in the lightweight division. She is the current Africa Women’s Boxing Union (AWBU) Lightweight champion.
- Modiehi Mahlo: Modiehi Mahlo is a female South African netball player. She plays for varsity netball team, Vaal University of Technology and was recently named the 2018 AUFP Rookie Player of the Year.
- Madimetja Mahlo: Madimetja Mahlo is a professional karateka from South Africa. He is the reigning South African National karate champion and winner of two gold medals at the 2018 All African Karate championships.