Surname Metzlaf - Meaning and Origin

Metzlaf: What does the surname Metzlaf mean?

The last name Metzlaf is of German origin, and it refers to someone who has roots in the farming business. It is derived from the Old German words 'mezzal', meaning share, or 'meal', and 'hof', which means farm. The literal translation of the name Metzlaf is “one who has a portion of a farm” or “one who is a tenant farmer”. It is likely that the original bearer of this name was likely a tenant farmer working in a village or a smallholding landowner.

Metzlaf can also be associated with the Middle High German word “metzel”, which means messenger or runner. This could point to the name having a more military origin, with a Metzelaf being someone who served as a soldier in medieval Germany.

The Metzlaf surname has a long history of use in Germany, with records indicating that it was used in the late 13th century. The earliest known records indicate that the Metzelaf family lived in the duchy of Saxony in the eastern part of Germany. From there, the surname spread throughout the country and eventually into other parts of Europe, such as Scandinavia and the Low Countries.

Today, the last name Metzlaf is found primarily in Germany and other European countries. In the United States, it is most common in places with large German populations, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.

Metzlaf: Where does the name Metzlaf come from?

The last name Metzlaf is most commonly found in Germany today. This German surname is derived from the word “Metz” which is the old High German word for “middle” or “center.” This indicates that the surname was likely used to refer to someone from the middle or center of a town or village. As German surnames typically originated on a regional level, it is possible that the name is specifically associated with a locality in Germany. However, because so many Germans left the country in centuries past, it is not uncommon to find the German name Metzlaf in other countries today.

In the United States, the surname Metzlaf is most common in New York, where it is estimated that over 200 people bear the name. Additionally, the surname Metzlaf can also be found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Canada also shows a concentration of Metzlafs in Ontario, especially in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region, as well as Alberta and British Columbia.

The surname can also be found in other countries around the world, especially in areas of immigration from Germany. It is likely that most of the Metzlaf family lines originated in Germany, where they may have become established hundreds of years ago.

Variations of the surname Metzlaf

Metzlaf is a German surname derived from the adjective ‘metz’ (cattle) and ‘laf’ (law). It has many variant spellings, such as Metzler, Metzlerhof, Metzloff, Metzger, Metzgher, Metzlberg, and Metzlar. Since German immigrants to other countries often sought out jobs as farmers, butchers, and laborers, the Metzlaf name became strongly associated with agricultural and labor related occupations.

The variants of Metzlaf can often be found in areas where farming and labor are popular. Variants of the name can be commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. As these locations have longstanding rich cultural and agricultural traditions, the Metzlaf surname can be found in many of their local records.

The variants of Metzlaf are also distributed across the Americas, where the surname has been passed on and sometimes changed through the generations. Metzgher, for example, is a variant that can be found in places such as Argentina, Uruguay, and some parts of the United States. Metzler is also a variant that can be commonly found in the United States and Canada, with Metzlberg being a more recently derived variant.

Other surnames originating from Metzlaf are Metzloff and Metzlerhof, which can often be found in areas near the Alps, as these areas were popular destinations for German emigration. Although these variants and spellings are derived from one common origin, the Metzlaf surname, each one is specific to its region of origin, thanks to localized spelling habits and change in pronunciation.

Famous people with the name Metzlaf

• Jeannine Metzlaf: renowned photographer and environmental artist.
• Christian Metzlaff: German classical composer and organist.
• Michael Metzlaff: former NFL wide receiver and coach.
• Robert Metzlaff: German former soldier who served in the Wehrmacht during World War II.
• Robert Metzlaff: American World War II veteran, cited for bravery in the European Theatre.
• Robert E. Metzlaff: World War II veteran and recipient of the Navy Cross.
• Uwe Metzlaff: German former professional football player who played for Borussia Dortmund.
• Jeff Metzlaff: American football player and coach who played college football for the University of Wisconsin.
• Amy Metzlaff: American politician who served as Mayor of Grand Chute, Wisconsin from 2015 to 2020.
• John Metzlaff: American actor who has appeared in television shows such as Law & Order, CSI, and Criminal Minds.

Other surnames

MetzlaffMetzlawMetzler