Surname Umlauf - Meaning and Origin

Umlauf: What does the surname Umlauf mean?

The last name Umlauf is a German surname meaning “circular motion” or "to loop around". The name likely originated in Germany in the Middle Ages. During that period, many of the surnames used reflected an individual's occupation or residence. It is believed that the Umlauf last name was given to those who worked as a wheelwright or blacksmith, perhaps crafting things that required a circular motion.

The Umlauf surname is primarily found in Austria, Germany, and the surrounding countries. The name may have also spread to other parts of Europe with German immigrants who settled in different regions. It is also found in the United States, with records dating back to the mid-1800s, when immigrant German families set sail for the New World.

The Umlauf surname is still quite common in German and Austrian tradition today, and many descendants of the original German settlers in both countries still bear the name. It is also relatively common in the United States as a result of immigration. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 people with the Umlauf surname around the world.

Umlauf: Where does the name Umlauf come from?

The last name Umlauf is most commonly found in central and eastern Europe today, particularly in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. It is also present in countries that historically had large numbers of German immigrants, including the United States and Brazil.

The Umlauf name is derived from the German word umlaufen, which literally translates to “to circle around.” This suggests the name would have originally been a surname taken by a person who traveled around often; for example, a peddler or vendor of some sort who needed to travel from place to place in order to do business. It may have also been taken by someone who moved frequently or who moved from place to place following the harvest season.

Today, the Umlauf name is still fairly common throughout central and eastern Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. In the United States, the Umlauf family is found mostly in Wisconsin and Iowa, states with a large German American population. In Brazil, the name is found mainly in the southern states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná.

The Umlauf name has been present in Germany for centuries, but is likely to have come to other European countries in more recent generations, as people moved around in search of better job prospects, education, and of a better life. As it remains popular in the countries it is found in, it is likely the Umlauf name will continue to be passed down for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Umlauf

Umlauf is an old German surname, believed to have descended from the Middle High German word “umelâf” meaning “surround” or “encircle”. The surname has many different variants and spellings across Europe, some of which have been corrupted over time due to language and pronunciation changes. Common variants of Umlauf include: Umloff, Umloeff, Umelauf, Umlaugh, Umlaughf, Umlov, Umlouf and Umlowf.

The Umlauf surname is also very common among some larger Jewish communities in Eastern Europe under the surname Umland. Interestingly, the Yiddish word “umland”, meaning “land of”, could be related to the origin of this surname.

Within Germany, there are several distinct regional variant spellings of the surname Umlauf, such as Umlaas, Umlaasch, Umlaasen, Umlaut, Umlächt, Umlöw, Umläw, Umlau and Umlauf. These spellings are mostly found in the southwest of Germany in the states of Bavaria and Rhineland Palatinate.

In Hungary and in surrounding countries, Umlauf is spelled Umland or Umlandt.

The surname can also be found with varying degrees of mutation in other European countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic, where the surname has been altered according to the national language and dialect. German emigrants and their descendants in America may spell their surnames differently, including: Umlauff, Umloff, Umlaw, Umlow, Umlahor and Umlahowf.

In conclusion, the surname Umlauf has many variants, spellings and forms throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Umlauf

• Rudolf Umlauf (1912: 1973): Austrian classical composer and musicologist.
• Kiki Smith Umlauf (born 1954): American sculptor, printmaker, and installation artist.
• Elisabeth Umlauf (born 1964): Austrian soprano opera singer.
• Virgil Umlauf (1907: 1985): American artist, painter, illustrator and printmaker.
• Elisabeth Umlauf-Gantner (born 1961): Austrian business executive.
• Karl Theodore Umlauf (1933: 2017): American historian and archivist.
• Lawrence Umlauf (born 1953): American operatic tenor.
• Manfred Umlauf (born 1935): German physicist.
• Arthur Umlauf (1906: 1985): American sculptor from Texas.
• Rolf Umlauf (1909: 1979): German chess player.

Other surnames

UmlauffUmlauft