Surname Dold - Meaning and Origin
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read moreDold: What does the surname Dold mean?
The surname Dold is of German origin and comes from the Middle High German words "dolt" or "dolde," meaning "foolish" or "crazy." It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who was thought to be foolish or eccentric. Over time, it became a surname and was used to refer to the descendants of the original individual.
The name is mostly found in Bavaria, though it has spread to other parts of Germany and even other countries. It is thought to have been first used as a surname in the 11th century, and variants of the name are found throughout Europe.
The German word "dolt" also has roots in Old English and Old Norse. It has been used to refer to someone who is dull-witted or slow-witted. Conversely, the word "dold" was used to denote a wise or clever individual.
Today, the surname Dold is most commonly found in the United States, though it is also common in other countries, particularly in Germany. It is usually spelled Dole or Doel, though other variations exist, such as Dohl and Dölle.
In summary, the surname Dold has German origins and is associated with an individual who was foolish or eccentric upon its first use in the 11th century. It has spread to many other countries since then, and its modern variations usually refer to a person who is wise or clever.
Order DNA origin analysisDold: Where does the name Dold come from?
The last name Dold is found mainly in Germany and Austria today. The name is most common in Bavaria and the surrounding region.
Originally derived from the Old High German word "dolti" or "doldi" which translates as "bold" or "courageous", Dold families were known to have settled in Upper Bavaria in the 12th century. As they migrated, primarily towards Franconia and the Upper Palatinate regions, their presence was also witnessed in the Alsace region during the 16th and 17th centuries.
By the mid 19th century, parts of Dold were adopted by many Jewish families that had migrated to Galicia from Eastern Prussia, which were formerly parts of the German Empire. The use of the Dold name further increased as German immigrants emigrated to various parts of Europe and the United States of America.
Today, Dold is an uncommon last name and is known to have been borne by only around 200 individuals, with the overwhelming majority of them residing in Germany and Austria. However, the name may be occasionally encountered in other German-speaking countries, such as Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Variations of the surname Dold
The surname Dold has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Dolt, Doelt, Dall, Doll, Dohl, and Doil. It is believed to be a diminutive of the Germanic name Theodoric, derived from the Proto-Germanic elements “theud”, meaning people, and “raik”, meaning ruler.
The earliest record of the name Dold in Germany dates back to the 12th century and appears in the form of a charter extended by the Count of Sulzburg. The modern spelling Dold is mainly found in the Bavarian region, while the variant Doelt is found in the Badisch region in south-west Germany.
The German surname Dold is most likely an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word “dolt”, meaning toolmaker or blacksmith. The surname Doll, an alternate spelling of Dold, likewise has its origins in this profession.
Variant spellings of Dold include D all, D ol, D ohl, and D oil. The names D all and D ol are found mainly in the northern Bavarian region, while the spellings D ohl and D oil are found in the southern German region.
The spelling Dall has also been recorded in the spelling books of Switzerland, where the name could have been introduced by German-speaking immigrants. Similarly, the surname Doel, also derived from the same root, is widely recorded in the United States today.
The variants and other surnames of the same origin as Dold are evidence of the diverse spellings used by European immigrants when they arrived in North America. These spellings reflect the phonetic pronunciation of the original name, thereby preserving the same root over many generations.
Famous people with the name Dold
- Boris Dold: German sports shooter
- Daniela Dold: Austrian triathlete
- Richard Dold: German chess master
- Elizabeth Dold: American television writer and producer
- Mark Dold: American actor
- Dieter Dold: German anthropologist
- Barbara Dold: Swiss artist
- Johannes Dold: German painter and sculptor
- Benjamin Dold: German politician 10.Richard Dold: German biochemist
- Dolf de Boer: Dutch judoka
- Anna Dold: British neuroscientist
- Ernst Dold: American industrialist
- Alfred Dédé Dold: Swiss mountain cyclist
- Karen Dold: American environmental scientist
- Charles Dold: American theatre producer
- Erwin Dold: Austrian linguist