Surname Zapff - Meaning and Origin
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Zapff: What does the surname Zapff mean?
The last name Zapff is of German origin, meaning "one who sews". Historically, the Zapff name was thought to have referred to a person who crafted clothing, such as a tailor or a seamstress. This may refer to the Middle High German meaning "one who sews with a needle".
The Zapff family is believed to have originated in the small village of Röttenbach, in the region of Franconia in Germany. This area of Germany is known for its weaving and sewing industries.
The Zapff family remained in this area and spread to nearby towns and villages. During the late 1800s, several Zapff family members immigrated to the United States, settling mainly in New York and Pennsylvania.
Today, the Zapff surname is most commonly found in the United States, where it is held by around 5,000 people. It is also found in smaller numbers in Canada, France, Switzerland, and Germany.
The name Zapff is thought to be derived from the Middle High German "zapfen" meaning "to sew". As such, it is often thought to be synonymous with an occupational name – that of a tailor or seamstress. The Zapff family may have used this last name as a way to distinguish themselves from other families in the area, given the strong German heritage in their ancestral home.
Order DNA origin analysisZapff: Where does the name Zapff come from?
The last name Zapff is a German surname, most common in Bavaria, a federal state in the south of Germany. It is also found in small numbers throughout the rest of Germany and in countries and regions with German heritage, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and in some parts of the United States and Canada.
The Zapff family name is believed to have originated in the area close to the town of Darmstadt in the German state of Hesse. Spelling variations of the name include Zapf, Zapffe, Zappf, and Zappff. The name could have originated as a descriptive term or from the Middle High German words zapff or zapf meaning ‘tap, tool, or grasp’.
The Zapff surname is most prevalent in Germany, with significant numbers in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony (in the north of Germany). Lower numbers of Zapffs can also be found in the states of Saxony and Bavaria (in the south). Smaller numbers can be found worldwide, with the United States showing the most significant presence outside the German-speaking world.
In the U.S., the Zapff surname is most commonly found in the states of Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin, probably a result of German immigrants moving to these areas in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Zapff
Zapff is a surname of German origin. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin have been derived from the original spelling, which includes Zapf, Zapfe, Zappf, Zappfe, Zapffi, Zappffi, and Zapffel.
The Zapf surname originally referred to those who came from the German medieval term ‘zapf’ which literally translates to “spigot”. This term was used to describe someone who made a living as a beer pourer or seller.
The Zapfe and Zappf variants of the surname are derived from the Austrian region of Germany, and the Zapffi and Zappffi variants are derived from the Northern region of Germany.
The Zapffel variant of the surname is most likely derived from the Middle High German term ‘zapfel’ which is an Old Saxon word, translates to “male pheasant”.
The variants, spellings and surnames have evolved over time, so it is not uncommon to see the spelling to have a small variation in each region. Additionally, these surnames may be spelled differently due to immigration, dialects, regional language, and cultural influences.
The Zapff surname has a long history and many variants, spellings, and surnames have evolved from it. Even though these variants may have a slight variation, they all have the same origins and can be traced back to the original Zapff surname.
Famous people with the name Zapff
- Michael Zapff, a former Australian Rules Footballer
- Alfred Zapff, a Swiss architect and sculptor who designed the Basel-Landschaft Pride Flag
- Frank Zapff, an East German football coach
- Alexander Zapff, a German film editor
- Guido Zapff, a German actor
- Stephan Zapff, a German actor
- Anatoliy Zapff, a former children’s rights coordinator at the UN
- Eva Zapff, a Swiss photographer
- Giselher Zapff, a German poet and writer
- Harry Zapff, a German composer and viola player