Surname Dierauf - Meaning and Origin

Dierauf: What does the surname Dierauf mean?

The last name Dierauf is derived from a Germanic surname, which originated from the Middle Ages as a personal name. It is composed of two elements: “dier” (which was a Germanic personal name) and “auf”, which is an old German word meaning “above”. This suggests the family were once landowners and possessed higher social standing.

Interestingly, this name is actually seen in records in France as well, by the name “L’herault” – it is possible it was a name French Huguenot refugees adopted when they settled in Germany after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 rewarded non-Catholics with death or exile.

The name Dierauf is substantially rare, with only a few families using it in the mid 20th century in Scotland – There were a few hundred recorded in the 1881 British Census, but only a handful of those families remain.

It’s meaning as “above” suggests that the family were of high status, and remnants of that have been seen throughout the generations who have used this name in any capacity.

Dierauf: Where does the name Dierauf come from?

The last name Dierauf is most commonly found in Germany. It is quite rare, with only around 550 people bearing the name across the country. The name is most popular in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, but is also found in Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Brandenburg.

The origins of the name Dierauf are unclear. Some believe that it is a variant of the German word "dierauf", which can mean "back in time" or "back and forth". Others suggest that the name may be of Dutch origin, and is a regional splitting of the name 'Dierolf' or 'Diemerolf'. This would make it of Germanic origin and likely stem from the middle of the 12th century.

The Dierauf surname is still used actively in Germany today, but is not widespread outside of the country. In recent years, it appears to have spread more to the United States, but in much lower concentrations than in Germany. Beyond this, the surname is uncommon worldwide.

Variations of the surname Dierauf

The surname Dierauf is derived from two German words: ‘die’ and ‘rauf’. The word ‘die’ means ‘the’ while the word ‘rauf’ can refer to a ‘raft’ or a ‘hill’. Thus, the surname Dierauf could be translated to mean ‘the raft’ or ‘the hill’.

Various variants of the surname Dierauf exist, including Diessrauf, Diers, Diersch, Diersh, Dirauf and Diraus. The spelling of the surname may also vary slightly depending on the language and region. The spellings such a Derauf, Dierau, Dierault and Dieroux are not uncommon.

Other surnames that are related to or derived from the surname Dierauf include Diraw, Deers, Deeren and Deross. These surnames can be found predominantly in German-speaking countries, namely Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxemburg.

It is important to note that any of these variants or spellings can be used to identify individuals who are related to the Dierauf surname. All of these surnames have the same meaning—‘the raft’ or ‘the hill’—and can be traced back to the same origin.

Famous people with the name Dierauf

• Daniel Dierauf: is an American cinematographer, known for his credits on TV shows such as Plan B, Extant, Perception, and Bosch.
• Dennis Dierauf: is an American former professional golfer, who won the 1990 Honda Classic on the PGA Tour.
• Johannes Dierauf: is a German professional footballer who currently plays for German club 1. FC Nürnberg.
• Anton Dierauf: is a German rower who won a gold medal in the coxed fours at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Robert Dierauf: is an American Olympic swimmer, most notably competing in the 200-metre breaststroke at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
• Anderson Dierauf: is an American actor, known for his roles in films such as Rivers Wash Over Me, War Room, and Warfighter.
• Blair Dierauf: is an American ice skater who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics in the team figure skating event.
• Caroline Dierauf: is a French swimmer, who won two gold medals in the 200-metre and 400-metre freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
• Abigail Dierauf: is an American singer-songwriter, who has released several albums and has performed on tour with such artists as Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars.
• Nathan Dierauf: is an American soccer player, who has played professionally for clubs such as Orlando City SC and Seattle Sounders FC.

Other surnames

Dierauff