Surname Olthof - Meaning and Origin

Olthof: What does the surname Olthof mean?

The last name Olthof is of Dutch origin. It is a topographical name that refers to someone who was living near a hill or a mound - “ol” meaning hill or mound and “thof” meaning house or home. This type of Dutch surname was common in the 1500s. In some cases, it could also be derived from a farm or dwelling situated near a prominent hill or mound, in which case the name generally would have started with the prefix “van” or “der,” meaning “from.”

Historically, having a last name that was a topographical name provided the locals with a way to identify specific people and their habitats, and in those days, this would often determine social status. The name Olthof can also refer to a certain type of dwelling that was believed to provide safety and protection from enemies.

In modern times, the name Olthof is still prevalent in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking countries such as Belgium and South Africa. Due to migration, it can also be found in countries with significant Dutch populations, such as Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also a common last name in Indonesia, due to the Dutch colonial influence in the area.

While the name Olthof is still somewhat popular, many of its variations have fallen out of use or become obsolete. In addition to the “van” and “der,” some of the more popular searchable variations of the name include: Olthoven, Oltheten, Olthuysen, Olthuizen, and Olthues. These can be found in records such as Dutch censuses from the 17th century.

Olthof: Where does the name Olthof come from?

The last name Olthof is common today mostly in the Netherlands, where it seems to have originated. It is also fairly common in Canada and has been found in the United States, including in California and Wisconsin.

In the Netherlands, the last name is derived from the region it originated from, the Dutch province of Overijssel. The name used to be written as "Olthoff" and “Oltboff" which is very similar to the modern spelling of “Olthof".

There is no exact record of how the last name spread to the other countries, or how long it has been present there, however, it is likely that it is due to European emigration to those countries. It is likely that it spread in the 17th-18th centuries when a large number of people emigrated to North America and other parts of the world.

In the Netherlands, Olthof is often found in the provinces of Overijssel, Gelderland, Groningen, and Drenthe.

Despite the last name's presence in other countries, Olthof is still primarily a Dutch last name. It is still fairly common in the Netherlands, especially in the Overijssel province. The name is also known to be fairly common in the Netherlands Antilles.

Variations of the surname Olthof

The surname Olthof is derived from the Old Dutch 'olt hof', meaning 'old courtyard', as a toponymic name. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Olthof include Oldhof, Oldhoef, Oldhoof, Oltman, Oltmanns and Olthmann.

Oldhof is a German variant for Olthof, and specifically denoted people from a settlement named ‘Oldhof’. This is derived from the German "alt" and "hof" meaning "old" and "court".

Oldhoef is an alternate Dutch spelling of Olthof, with the same origin and meaning. Oldhoof is another form of Oldhof, and is the anglicized form of the name.

Oltman is a Dutch patronymic from the personal name 'Ottelman', derived from 'ot-' (form of ‘oud’, Dutch for ‘old’) and the popular Germanic personal name 'Hildemann'.

The surname Oltmanns was adopted by descendants of Oltman in the Netherlands. Olthmann is another variant of Olthof found in the Dutch province of Gelderland.

Famous people with the name Olthof

• Gert Olthof: former CEO and Chairman of Philips, a Dutch multinational conglomerate.
• Bob Olthof: Former CEO of Specsavers, a British multinational optical retail chain.
• Jack Olthof: Dutch music producer and engineer.
• Rene Olthof: Former professional athlete and judo master from the Netherlands.
• Rob Olthof: Former professional soccer player from the Netherlands who played for clubs including NEC Nijmegen and Willem II.
• Jeroen Olthof: Former professional soccer player from the Netherlands who played for clubs including Willem II and VVV Venlo.
• Shannon Olthof: American actress, known for her roles in films such as “Hell House LLC” and “World of Warcraft.”
• Jan Olthof: Dutch historian and professor at Leiden University.
• Ronald Olthof: Dutch business executive who is the current CEO and Chairman of NIBC Bank.
• Jelle Olthof: Dutch professional racing cyclist who has won numerous national and international competitions.

Other surnames

Olthoff