Surname Dörfler - Meaning and Origin

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C. Dörfler

Dörfler: What does the surname Dörfler mean?

The last name Dörfler is a Germanic surname that is derived from the Middle High German word “dörfl”, which translates to “village” or “town.” As such, the name likely originated as an occupational surname, denoting someone who was from a village or worked in a village.

The name is also found in the records of early Germanic settlements in Pennsylvania as early as the late 1700s. In its earliest American record, it is also found in the state of Pennsylvania. Early Germanic people were some of the earliest settlers in the area, so any families who had the last name Dörfler likely arrived in the United States in the mid-1700s or before.

In some cases, the name Dörfler can also be interpreted as being related to the Middle High German word ‘dorf’, meaning ‘an enclosed piece of land,’ suggesting that the family may have owned a parcel of land that was enclosed by a fence.

Overall, the last name Dörfler represents an occupational surname with Germanic roots. It is likely that the family had been present in the region since the mid-1700s, or earlier. In some cases, it may also be interpreted as being related to an enclosed piece of land, suggesting that the family had owned land at one point.

Dörfler: Where does the name Dörfler come from?

The last name Dörfler is of German origin and is most commonly found throughout the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name was historically most concentrated in south-western Germany in the Rhineland-Palatinate, especially around the Frankfurt-Mainz region. It is still found most commonly in this area today.

The Dörfler surname is also quite common in areas of Eastern Europe, particularly in Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic. This is believed to be in part due to the large wave of German settlers to these areas in the 16th and 17th centuries. The name is seen less in the north of Germany, especially in the former East Germany, partly due to the diaspora after World War II.

Outside of Europe, the Dörfler surname is more rarely found. It has been adopted by displaced German-speaking immigrants in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and elsewhere. Immigration records provide evidence of small numbers of Dörfler families settling in these countries in the early 20th century.

Overall, the last name Dörfler remains most common in German-speaking Europe, especially in south-western regions such as Rhineland-Palatinate where the name has been present for centuries. It can also be seen scattered around other parts of Europe and even in some parts of the world, particularly areas that have historic connections to German-speaking immigration.

Variations of the surname Dörfler

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Dörfler are Dörfle, Dörfl, Dörfel, Dörflei, Dörflerin, and Dörflerling. All of these surnames share the same German roots, indicating an origin from small town or village.

Dörfler is derived from the Middle High German word "törbel" or "dörbel," meaning "village." It is an occupational name for someone from a small village or hamlet. The earliest reference to the surname is in the 14th century surnames 'Dorfl' or 'Dörflin'.

The various spellings of Dörfler suggest a rich history of spelling variations to make the surname more distinct. The mutated forms Dörfle, Dörfl, and Dörfel are all believed to have some connection to Dörfler.

The surname Dörflerin is derived from an all-female Dörfler family line. This version was most likely adopted for the purpose of distinguishing the female name from the male name. The surname Dörflerling may have been derived from 'Örfl' or 'Orfl', an older form of 'Dörfler'.

Dörfler is based on a transferred use of the German word "Dorfl", and it is found primarily in Bavaria and Austria. As migrations from Europe to America increased in the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Dörfler spread throughout the world. Today, the surname Dörfler is still popular and can be found in almost all countries.

Famous people with the name Dörfler

• Nikolai Dörfler: German football player currently playing for 1.FC Magdeburg.
• Till Dörfler: German actor known for his roles in Iron Sky, Transporter 3, and Shooter.
• Diana Dörfler: German dancer and TV host who was named one of the "Smiling Faces of Germany" in 2017.
• Sven Dörfler: German musician, songwriter, and producer, best known for his work with the band Element of Crime.
• Robert Dörfler: Austrian jazz musician and composer.
• Karl Dörfler: Austrian composer known for his symphonic works, including operas, ballets, and songs.
• Richard Dörfler: German-born actor who has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including ZDF and ARD.
• Erwin Dörfler: Austrian actor who is best known for playing young Mephistopheles in the movie moral film Die Teufelsbande (The Devil's Brotherhood).
• Ingrid Dörfler: German television presenter on the regional channel SWR, and a radio host on the Swiss station SRF.
• Tom Dörfler: Swiss composer and producer best known for his work on the soundtrack for the Netflix original series Sense8.

Other surnames

DörfleDörflein