Surname Nothrof - Meaning and Origin

Nothrof: What does the surname Nothrof mean?

The last name Nothrof is a German surname derived from the Middle High German term “nusterof” which means “from the north.” It was most commonly used as a topographic surname to indicate someone from the north. The family name would become localized and spelling variations occurred so that different branches of the same family may have different spellings of the surname.

The surname Nothrof is mainly found in southwestern Germany, primarily in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. It is also found in countries such as Austria, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom, where descendants of German immigrants have carried the surname.

Little is known about the early history of the Nothrof family as records from previous centuries are limited. However, one famous bearers of the name was Friedrich Nothrof (1820-1890), the French-born German cartographer who produced the first ever map of Central America. He was a master draftsman and engraved many of his own large maps.

The modern-day Nothrof’s are likely to be professional people, many holding a prestigious position in Germany. They may also be farmers or business people, with a keen eye for detail and quality.

Nothrof: Where does the name Nothrof come from?

The last name Nothrof is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. In Germany, the Nothrof surname has a long history, with records of the family name going back to 1282 in the region surrounding Berlin. People bearing the Nothrof last name can also be found in other areas such as Scandinavia, where it has been used for centuries. Families of Nothrof have spread to other areas during the many wars the country has encountered throughout history.

Today, the Nothrof surname can be found in several countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, Slovakia, and even South Africa. Although the highest concentrations of Nothrof families are still in Germany and Austria, most are scattered around the world.

In the United States, the Nothrof surname primarily appears in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast areas, especially in Pennsylvania, reflecting German migration patterns from the 19th century. There is also a community of Nothrof descendants in the Pacific region, stretching from Washington to California. In Canada, the Nothrof family name can be found mainly in British Columbia and Ontario.

Despite its common origin in Germany and Austria, the Nothrof surname is now widespread across several countries, and can be found in many parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Nothrof

The surname Nothrof is a German and Belgian surname derived from the German word "Nothroff", meaning "living by the North". This surname has several variants of spelling as well as a number of other surnames that could be related.

The most prevalent and commonly used spelling of the surname is Nothrof, but variations such as Nothroff, Nothrop, Noothroff, Nothrof, Notrop, and Nottrop can also be seen.

In Belgium, the variant spellings "Noethrouff", "Noothrouff", "Noethroff", "Noothroff", "Noetrouff", and "Noothrouff" are common. Variations of this surname with a double "f" (Nothroff and Noothroff) are roughly three times as common than variations with a single "f" (Nothrof and Noothrof).

Surnames that could be related include Nothoff, Nothff, Notoff, Notteff, Notdoff, and Notteffel. These surnames are predominantly found in the German region of Westphalia and in Belgium.

In some parts of the United States, Nothrof can sometimes be seen spelled as "Nothrop", "Nottrop" or "Notrop". This spelling appears to be more common in parts of the United States geographically close to parts of Germany in which this surname is established.

Apart from these variant and related surnames, there is no other commonly used spelling of Nothrof. It is a fairly rare surname and its origins are unclear. However, it is likely that most of these surnames share a common ancestry and are derived from the same root words.

Famous people with the name Nothrof

• Chris Noth: an American actor and producer best known for his roles as Mr. Big in the HBO series Sex and the City and Detective Mike Logan in NBC's Law & Order franchise.
• Hans Notroff: a German journalist and author of several books on social issues.
• Rebecca Notroff: an award-winning American documentary filmmaker whose films have been shown at festivals around the world.
• Sonja Notroff: an American painter and designer who is inspired by nature and has been displaying her work since the 1990s.
• Carsten Nothrof: a German physicist and professor of physics at the University of Stuttgart, specializing in plasma physics, space physics and space research.
• Arthur Nothroff: an Australian politician who served as the fifth Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from 1968 to 1971.
• Michael Notroff: an American composer and multi-instrumentalist who has written music for film, television and theater.
• Dieter Notroff: a German mathematician and professor at the University of Bonn who has made several groundbreaking advances in mathematics.
• Wilbur Nothroff: an American Congressperson from Massachusetts who served from 1917 to 1921.
• Pieter Notroff: an Dutch artist who works in oil and pastel-on-paper, and creates figurative and abstract works.

Other surnames

Nothroff