Surname Razlaw - Meaning and Origin
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Razlaw: What does the surname Razlaw mean?
Razlaw is an uncommon English surname, derived from the German language. It is thought to have originated from the East Prussian city of Gołdap, which was known as Razlau in German.
The original meaning of Razlaw is uncertain, but it is believed to have come from either the word ‘razel’ (an old German term for a knife) or the name Radlaú, which is the Old High German form of the old Slavic name Radoslav.
It is likely that this unusual surname was bestowed on an ancestor who was known for their sharp wit or for their skill with a knife. Alternatively, it could refer to someone known for their strength, as Radslav means “glory of fame” in Slavic.
Today, individuals bearing the Razlaw surname are scattered throughout Europe and beyond. Some now reside in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, while others remain in their countries of origin—Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic.
The Razlaw surname may have faded over the centuries, but its presence is still a reminder of the unique family history behind it.
Order DNA origin analysisRazlaw: Where does the name Razlaw come from?
The last name Razlaw is most commonly found in Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine today. It is believed to have originated from the Middle Ages, when the family Razloi was a prominent aristocratic group in what is today the Slavic region. The family's name translates to "owner of the land" or "lord," and this is reflective of their status at the time. Razlaw is derived from them and is quite a rare name, outside of this main area of distribution.
Due to migrations over the centuries, descendants of the Razloi family can be found around the world, including Canada, Russia, and the United States. Some of these descendants may have changed the spelling of their last name from Razlaw to something less distinctive or easier to pronounce, though. As the name is not particularly widespread, it is hard to pin down the exact numbers of Razlaw family members today, but it is estimated to be around 100,000.
The Razlaw family remains prominent in Poland and the Ukraine, where numerous members of the family still reside in modern times. Notable members include the Polish sculptor Andrzej Oślo, as well as sculptor and WWII veteran biographer, Mariusz Razlaw.
Razlaw continues to be a rare name in other countries throughout the world, such as the United States and Canada, where there are only a few dozen people with this last name. In the UK, there are less than one hundred people who bear Razlaw as their last name.
Variations of the surname Razlaw
The Razlaw surname is derived from the Slavic name Radegast and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common spelling variations are Ražlaw, Razlaff, Razloff, Razlow, Razlov, Razluw, and Razlyaw.
In some areas, smaller variations on the Razlaw surname exist in spellings like Razyv, Radzev, Raziyev, Radiiev, Radyeiv, Ražev, Radijev, or Razlyev.
The surname Razlaw is primarily found in Germany and Eastern Europe. It is believed that the original Razlaw ancestors might have been from the German region of Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland). However, it is also possible that the family may have been from the nearby area of Lusatia in Germany.
Surnames of the same origin may include Redław, Redlaw, Redlaeff, Redlow, Redlaff, Radław, Radlaw, Radlaeff, Radlow, Radlaff, Radluw, Radlyaw, Radlyev, Radiyev, Radyeiv, Rasiiv, Raziiv, Rayzev, Razyv, Razyev, Raziieff, Raziuv, Raziiew, Razzev, and Razzeloff.
Many of these similar surnames, such as Redlow, Redlaff, Radlow, and Radlaff, may have been used as nicknames or even combined with another surname to make a new hereditary name altogether. Today, most of the variants and spellings of Razlaw have become shortened to simply Razlaw, Razlow, or Razloff.
Famous people with the name Razlaw
- Alex Razlaw: professional football player in the Canadian Football League.
- Michael Razlaw: former NHL hockey player with the Buffalo Sabres.
- Jesril Razlaw: professional surfer from South Africa, and winner of the 2016 ASP World Longboard Tour.
- Stephanie Razlaw: Korean-American singer-songwriter.
- Dasha Razlaw: Russian TV presenter and actress.
- Ana Razlaw: Olympic medallist and gold medal weightlifter from Venezuela.
- John Razlaw: co-founder of the American Federation of Aviculture, dedicated to the preservation and rescue of exotic birds.
- Stanislaw Razlaw: Polish-born jazz musician and composer.
- Kira Razlaw: fashion designer, calligrapher and stylist from the UK.
- Nikolay Razlaw: Ukrainian-born Formula One driver