Surname Tezlaff - Meaning and Origin
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Tezlaff: What does the surname Tezlaff mean?
The last name Tezlaff is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German zeil and lache, meaning "south stream" or "south creek". The surname likely originated in the Prussian-German area near the Oder river, before spreading to lowland areas of Germany and beyond. The first name bearers were probably those who lived near a shallow, fast-flowing river in the Middle Ages.
The Tezlaff surname appears in numerous records and documents in Germany and other Germanic countries, as well as in regions where many German emigrants settled in the 18th and 19th centuries. It may have had an occupational origin, given to someone who made a living by fishing in a south-flowing stream or beach.
The name is also believed to have been given to individuals who had migrated from the south, in particular, the old Rhenish region of Prussia. It may have even been a nickname for a traveler or merchant.
The Tezlaff surname is still quite common today. Spelling variations include Tezelaff, Tezlaft, Tözlaff, Tezlauf, and Tezlaft. Its meaning may have changed from its ancient origin, but the surname itself is still used by many families.
Order DNA origin analysisTezlaff: Where does the name Tezlaff come from?
The last name Tezlaff is mainly found today in Germany, as the German language version of the surname is Tezloff, Tetzlaff or Tetzlaff. It can also be found in other countries that have a significant German-speaking population, such as Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and many other Central European countries. Tezlaff is also found in parts of the United States and Canada, as many people of German descent have immigrated there historically.
The Tezlaff surname has been connected to the eastern German regions for centuries, particularly in the area of East Prussia in what is now Lithuania. Early records of the name from this region date back to the 16th century when Johannes Tetzlaff was born in 1567 in Kirchende. In the 18th century, many people with the Tezlaff surname moved to West Prussia and several family branches are recorded there.
The Tezlaff surname appeared in the United States for the first time in the 19th century, when members of the Tezlaff family began to emigrate to the United States. Many Tezlaffs headed to the Midwestern states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania, New York, and parts of New England. The Tezlaff surname is still found in many these states, as well as across the United States, today.
Variations of the surname Tezlaff
The surname Tezlaff has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Tezlaw, Tezla, Tezler, Tezlaw, Tezly, Tezlyk, Tezloff, Tezlow, and Tezzell.
Tezlaff is a variant spelling of the German surname Teschel, which derives from the Middle High German word "teschen" which means “pouch, wallet.” Teschel is the most common spelling, while Tezlaw and Tezler are also found in Germany.
The Polish variant of the surname is Tezlow, and it is derived from the Old Polish word “tezynek” which means “container, vessel.” The Tezlow spelling has been in present-day Poland since at least the 14th century.
In Russia, the surname Tezlaff is pronounced as Tezylyk and is derived from the word “tezylka” that means “bag, sack.” The Tezlyk spelling of the surname was first found in present-day Russia in the 19th century. A derivative of Tezylyk is Tezly, which is found in Moldova.
The surname Tezlaw is a variant of Teschel found mostly in Germany and Austria, and is derived from the Middle High German word “teschen” meaning “pouch, wallet.” Tezzell is a variant of Tezlaw found mostly in the United Kingdom where it originated in the 14th century.
In the United States, the most common variants of the surname Tezlaff are Tezloff and Tezla which are derived from the Middle High German word “teschen.” The Tezloff name is found mostly in the Northeastern US, while Tezla is more common in the Midwest and West Coast.
Famous people with the name Tezlaff
- Dietrich Tezlaff, German violinist.
- Kathryn Tezlaff, Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy.
- David Tezlaff, American soccer player.
- Chris Tezlaff, American computer programmer.
- Jane Tezlaff, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Robert Tezlaff, American figure skater.
- Mark Tezlaff, American musician.
- Clara Tezlaff, German actress.
- August Tezlaff, German-American Lutheran theologian.
- Eric Tezlaff, American film director.