Surnames derive from one of many different origins. ... This surname is associated with Laufe, a town near Nuernberg, Germany. Laufer is common among Jewish families from Makow, Prasnysz, Sokolow, Wegrow, Krasnystan, Hrubieszow, Sandumierz, Konin, Radzymin, Sochaczew and Starokonst in Eastern Europe and Russia.