Surname Northoff - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Northoff: What does the surname Northoff mean?
The surname Northoff originates from Germany and is derived from northern regions. It is a locational surname, meaning someone who lived in the North and was used to distinguish people from different areas.
The Northoff surname first appeared in Bavaria in the 12th century. Initially, the surname identified someone from the regions of Bavaria and Swabia, located in the south of Germany. Early Northoffs were farmers who lived in the north and managed some of the earliest German settlements.
The Northoff surname spread across Europe during Germany's migration periods in the 13th and 14th centuries. As people from Germany moved to the Americas, they took their surname with them. Today, Northoffs are found all over the world.
The Northoff surname is associated with good qualities like loyalty and hard work. It is the state motto of the German state North Rhine Westphalia, and is a reminder of the Northoff's origins.
The Northoff name is a symbol of historical pride and legacy, and is deeply rooted in the history of German people. People with this surname are seen as forward-thinking, adaptable and independent. The Northoff name still represents a thriving and adventurous spirit.
Order DNA origin analysisNorthoff: Where does the name Northoff come from?
The Northoff surname is most commonly found today in the United States and Germany, but can also be found scattered across other parts of Europe and Asia.
In the United States, the Northoff surname is quite prevalent, especially in major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. It can also be found in smaller cities and towns throughout the Midwest and East Coast of the U.S. Overall, the surname is most commonly a German-American name in the United States.
In Germany, the surname Northoff is quite common in the northern part of the country. You can find the surname scattered across all of North Germany and the surrounding German provinces. This is especially true in the German city of Hamburg, where the surname is quite prevalent.
While the Northoff last name isn't as spread out as many other German surnames, it can still be found in other parts of the world such as Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In each of these places, the Northoff surname is typically found among families with German heritage.
Overall, the Northoff last name has had quite an interesting journey throughout the centuries and can be found all across the world today.
Variations of the surname Northoff
Northoff is a surname of German origin, originating from the Middle High German word nortvog, meaning “north traveler.” The plural form of the name is Northoffen. Variants of this name include Nordeuff, Nortfoff, Nortvoig, Northov, Nornoff, Norrthoff and Norveff.
The most common spelling of Northoff is also found as Nordeuf, Nordhoff and Nornoff. Spellings like Nortvog, Northof, Norrthoff, Nortvogel, Nordling and Nordeufen also exist. Such variants of the surname may appear in the earlier records, when concepts of standard spelling and grammar were not fully developed. These spellings were accepted by the family members and used interchangeably.
Other surnames related to Northoff, either directly or through dialectical variations, include Nortfoff and Norenoff. Also related are surnames such as Norveff, Norgren and Nordlingen. Though they are all considered to be of Germanic origin, they may have evolved and adapted slightly in some cases through the movement of people over time.
Regardless of the variant, Northoff is a common family name in Germany, the United States, Canada and other countries with German ancestry. It is also found among many Jewish families throughout Europe, the United States and Canada, where it has remained a steadfast part of many family heritages.
Famous people with the name Northoff
- John Northoff, American professional golfer
- Allen Northoff, Canadian politician
- Lars Northoff, German swimmer
- Robert Northoff, German osteopath and equestrian
- Henry Northoff, Dutch rower
- Nick Northoff, Canadian snowboarder
- Sarah Northoff, Australian speed skater
- Joseph Northoff, American stand-up comedian
- Emma Northoff, Canadian figure skater
- Eric Northoff, British actor