Surname Adolff - Meaning and Origin
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Adolff: What does the surname Adolff mean?
The last name Adolff is of German origin and is a variant spelling of the name Adolf. The surname has a long and varied history, likely first appearing in medieval German records as early as the 1200s. It is derived from the Old Germanic personal name 'Adalwolf', which translates to 'noble wolf' and suggests a person of strength and power who was seen as having wolf-like qualities.
Historically, the name has been closely associated with several prominent individuals throughout Europe, such as the prominent Prussian statesman Adolf Freiherr von Knigge and the writer and poet Adolf von Hildebrand. More recently, the name Adolf is widely known as the surname of German politician and dictator Adolf Hitler, and the nickname 'Adolf' is often used for someone with a stern or authoritarian attitude.
Most people who have the last name Adolff have Germanic origins, though the name can also be found with other ethnic backgrounds too. Today, the surname is still common throughout Germany, Austria, and other parts of the Germanic world. It can also be found widely in the United States, where many immigrants of German descent have settled and passed the name on to future generations.
Order DNA origin analysisAdolff: Where does the name Adolff come from?
The last name Adolff is most commonly found in Germany today. In the year 2020, the name was among the top 1000 last names in the country. It can be traced back centuries, with records indicating people carrying the name in Germany as early as the 1700s. During this time, Adolff was most frequently a name given to people from the central and western parts of Germany. Today, the name continues to be quite popular, specifically in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg and the city of Berlin.
Though it continues to be mostly found in Germany, in more recent years, the name has spread to other European countries. To the east, there are records of the name in countries like Hungary, Romania, and Poland. Outside of Europe, the last name can be found in countries such as the United States and Canada, where people with German ancestry have emigrated. Moreover, many of the current bearers of the name can be found in countries in Latin America.
Adolff is strong a legacy and remains prevalent today. As people with German heritage or ancestry have spread around the world, so have the origins of the name. Though its popularity may have shifted in recent years, it continues to be quite common in many places across Germany and Europe, and has been documented in a number of other countries as well.
Variations of the surname Adolff
The surname Adolff is a Germanic name derived from an old Germanic personal name composed of the elements "adal" (noble) and "wulf" (wolf). It is recorded in the spellings Adolff, Adolph, Adolf, and also as Adelphus and Adoul.
Some variants of the surname are recorded in Germany itself, including Adé, Ahlff, Aylf, and Aulke. Some other variants are Adaffle, Adolphs, Adolphe, Adolphes, Adolphez, Dolve, and Odolt.
The surname is also recorded as Adolphe in France. In the Dutch Low Countries, the name took the form Odoold, and in English language areas it can be found as Adolff, Adolph, Adolphs, and sometimes as Dolphin.
There are other anglicized forms of the Adolff surname, such as Adolphson, Adolphus, Dolph, and Elphus. These forms are mainly found in the United States, where the name has been found since the earliest days of immigration in the 17th century.
In Germany, the surname is recorded in the modern spellings Adolph, Adolff, and Adolphs. Outside of Germany, it is also recorded in many spelling variations including Adolphus, Adolphe, Dolph, Dolve, Elphus, Adolphez, Adaffle, and Odoold.
Famous people with the name Adolff
- Adolf Hitler: dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945 who oversaw World War II and the Holocaust.
- Adolfo Pérez Esquivel: Argentine sculptor, pacifist, and 1980 Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
- Adolfo Suárez: Prime Minister of Spain from 1976 to 1981 and the "Father of Democracy" who helped lead Spain's transition to democracy.
- Adolfo Bioy Casares: Argentine writer, journalist, and translator known for his innovative works of fiction.
- Irmfried Eberl: SS Doctor who was the first Commandant of the Treblinka extermination camp.
- Adolfo Doring: Argentine rugby union player who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics and 1924 South American Rugby Championship.
- Adolf Tolkachev: a Soviet engineer who was a spy for the United States during the Cold War.
- Adolfo Nicolás IV: the former Superior General of the Society of Jesus who was elected at the 35th General Congregation in 2008.
- Adolfo Barattolo: Italian painter, mostly known for his portraits and religious paintings.
- Adolfo López Mateos: President of Mexico from 1958 to 1964 and the first president to nationalize the petroleum industry.