Surname Neundörffer - Meaning and Origin
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Neundörffer: What does the surname Neundörffer mean?
The surname Neundörffer is of Germanic origin and is believed to have derived from the region of Germany known as Swabia. The name could have originated from either the town of Neundorf or from a former noble family.
The name is likely to have been derived from the Old High German terms 'niu' meaning 'new' and 'dorf' or 'torf' meaning 'settlement or small village'. Therefore, the literal translation of Neundörffer is 'from the new settlement'.
This name was likely to have been given to those who lived in a newly formed settlement during the medieval age. It is thought people were given the Neundörffer surname to distinguish them from those who had lived in the area for longer and could trace their lineage to older families and clans.
While it is uncertain which Neundörffer family, if any, gave rise to the contemporary surname, the use of the name can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries in Swabia. It may also have been adopted by immigrants to the Kerpen region of the Rhineland as recently as the 19th and 20th centuries.
It is not uncommon for families carrying this name to have spelling variations due to regional preferences in the German language that have evolved over the centuries. This includes alternate spellings such as Neundorfer, Neundorfers and Neundorffer.
Regardless of the origin, the surname Neundörffer carries a proud legacy and symbolizes a unique, ancestral heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisNeundörffer: Where does the name Neundörffer come from?
The last name Neundörffer is most commonly found in parts of Germany and Austria today. Documented records of the last name show it was first used in the region of Bavaria, which is located in the south east corner of modern Germany. It is thought the name was likely created through a local dialectic version of the Old High German name 'Nuotaror', meaning 'one who hunts'.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries more and more people with the last name Neundörffer emigrated to other regions of Europe. This spread the name to areas like Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Slovakia. During this same time, numerous members of the Neundörffer family moved to England and the United States, however their exact location and impact on the population is not clear as many changed their last name upon arrival.
Comtemporary records show that the last name Neundörffer is still most common in Bavaria, as well as Austria and parts of Germany, although it is still quite rare. There are around 1700 people with the surname in Germany, and approximately 650 people with the surname in the United States today.
Variations of the surname Neundörffer
Neundörffer is a German-language surname originating from the Middle Ages, derived from "Töffer" meaning "brave". Variants of this name include Neundorfer, Neundorffer, Neundorfer and Neundorff.
In Germany, Neundörffer is sometimes known as "Nedorfer", which is derived from "Töffer" meaning "brave". In Switzerland, variants of this surname include "Neundorfer" and "Neundörfer".
In the United States, various spellings of the name Neundörffer have emerged as immigration brought new people with similar surnames into the country. Spellings of the name include Nuendorf, Neundorf, Nuendörf, Neundorf, Neundorff, Neudorff, and Nuendörff.
The surnames Neundorfer, Neundörffer, Neudorfer, Nuendorf and Nuendörf are all in some way variants of the name Neundörffer, originating in the medieval period of Germany.
Finally, many people have adopted slight variations of the original name, such as Neuner, Neunerd, Neunerdt, Neundorft, Neundorferd and Neuendorf. These variations have been adopted mainly in the United States and have generally maintained the same meaning as the original form.
Famous people with the name Neundörffer
- Heidi Neundörffer: former Olympic athlete who competed in the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics in the Women's 100 metre sprint.
- Michelle Neundörffer:t. Professional cross country mountain biker.
- Nicolai Neundörffer: German composer and conductor.
- Stephan Neundörffer: German classical composer and scholar who is known for his scholarly work on music theory and the history of music.
- W.M. Neundörffer: German-American sculptor whose work can be found in public parks and monuments across Europe and the United States.
- Martin Neundörffer: German politician and member of the Bavarian Diet during the Weimar Republic.
- Friedrich Neundörffer: Austrian composer and conductor who specialized in choral music.
- Rudolf Neundörffer: German aviator who served as an adviser in the 1920s.
- Diana Neundörffer: Austrian actress who appeared in television shows, films, and theater productions.
- Richard Neundörffer: German neurologist and psychiatrist.
- Robert Neundörffer: German-born American artist and illustrator.
- August Neundörffer: German minerologist who developed the system of classifying minerals and rocks.
- J.J. Neundörffer: German-born bookbinder and artist who is credited with the invention of plastic binding in the 19th century.
- Karla Neundörffer: Former Olympic track and field athlete who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
- R.C. Neundörffer: German-born American soldier who is credited with being the first to introduce the letterbyletter code as a method of communication during World War II.