Surname Gatterer - Meaning and Origin

Gatterer: What does the surname Gatterer mean?

The surname Gatterer is of German origin. It is considered occupational, usually associated with an activity or profession. "Gatterer" is derived from the Middle German word "gate" or "gatter," meaning a gate, or barred door. This suggests that an ancestor of the Gatterer family worked as a gatekeeper or a warden. The job may have referred to someone responsible for supervising the gates of a city or a large estate to maintain security. In certain settings, gatekeepers also collected tolls for the privileged to cross or use a bridge or road. Hence, the Gatterer last name reflects the type of work that the family's forebears were engaged in. However, it's important to note that surnames may have multiple origins or meanings, and the significance might differ across regions and dialects.

Gatterer: Where does the name Gatterer come from?

The surname Gatterer is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'gatter', meaning 'gate' or 'fence', thus it could refer to someone who lived near a gate or a fence. It may also be an occupational surname referring to a gatekeeper or a fence maker.

This surname is quite rare and uncommon, so there is no specific region where it is prevalent today. It might be found scattered in various regions of Germany. However, due to migration and globalisation, it might also be found among people of German descent living in other countries such as the United States, Canada or Australia. Always keep in mind that the presence of a surname in a particular location does not necessarily mean that it originates from that region.

Variations of the surname Gatterer

The surname Gatterer is of German origin and means "gatekeeper" or "herdsman". Variants of the surname could potentially include different spellings reflecting the phonetics of the name, such as Gatter, Gaterer, Gaterrer, Gätterer, or Gatterrer.

There are also surnames that might share the same origin due to their similar meanings. For example, the surname "Pfortner" or "Portner", which also translates to "gatekeeper", might be of the same origin. Other possible surnames of the same origin due to their occupational meaning could include "Gärtner" (meaning gardener), though the occupational nature of the root word (gate or garden) would differ.

The names might also change slightly in different regions of Germany and therefore adopt different prefixes or suffixes according to local dialects, such as Gattermann, Gattermeier, or Gattererl.

It should be noted that definitive links between these surnames would require genealogical research and that these are general speculations based on common aspects of German surname formation and meaning. Variations can also depend on factors such as regional dialects, historical spelling changes, and individual or family preferences.

Famous people with the name Gatterer

• Anna Gatterer: a 19th century Austrian pianist and singer.
• Jakob Gatterer: the Archbishop of Salzburg from 1744-1749.
• Carl Gatterer: an 18th century Austrian philosopher, geographer and historian.
• Georg Ernst Gatterer: an 18th century German physicist and geologist.
• Andreas Gatterer: a contemporary Austrian jazz musician and composer.
• Hermann Gatterer: a 19th century German painter known for his landscapes and religious works.
• George Gatterer: a contemporary Australian choreographer, dancer and director.
• Maximus Gatterer: a German soldier and recipient of the Iron Cross in World War II.
• Katharina Gatterer: a contemporary German TV and movie actress best known for her work in the German crime series Tatort.
• Tom Gatterer: a contemporary German pop and rock singer and songwriter.

Other surnames

GatterGattermann