Surname Gödden - Meaning and Origin
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Gödden: What does the surname Gödden mean?
The last name Gödden is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "göt," meaning “God.” It is also thought to derive from the Old High German "gott" or the Old Saxon "god," which can likewise refer to "God," but also to a "good disposition, good behavior or piety." This could be suggesting that someone with the surname Gödden would have been viewed as having these qualities.
The surname Gödden could have come to form as late as the 17th or 18th century when Germans emigrated and dispersed into various countries, and gradually adopted the surname. It is associated with an individual found in the census records of 1717.
Gödden is a fairly rare surname, with respectfully low levels of occurrence. It is most commonly found in the German regions of Alstätte, Grefrath and Ostercappeln, and is only sparingly found in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.
The Gödden surname can refer to a number of famous people, including film director Joachim Götten, writer Günther Gödden and politician Herta Gödden-Maile.
Overall, the Gödden surname reflects a strong German heritage, possibly one of piety and good behavior. Although it is a fairly uncommon name, it is shared by some notable figures.
Order DNA origin analysisGödden: Where does the name Gödden come from?
The last name Gödden is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries today. This is likely due to its origins, as the name is believed to have derived from a Middle High German term which roughly translates to “god” or “good.”
In Germany, Gödden is most prevalent in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, having been around since at least 1525. It is also a common name in Austria, where its popularity is highest in the southern state of Styria.
Outside of German-speaking countries, Gödden is a rare find. It is estimated that there are fewer that 250 people with the name in all of North America. While a handful appear in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, this surname is virtually unseen in the UK, Ireland, and elsewhere in the world.
In recent years, however, more and more Göddens have been appearing in countries outside of Germany and Austria. This is likely due to the rise in immigration and the spread of people with the name across the globe. Today, the Gödden surname is still most commonly found in German-speaking areas, but it can be found in countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Gödden
The surname Gödden is of German origin and is derived from the given name "Gode" or "Gott". Its variants may also derive from various localities around Germany, such as Godenau, Gottens, Goderten, and Gothden. Variations of the surname Gödden include Goedde, Goedens, Gooden, Godden, Goden, Godens, Goeden, and Gotten.
The spelling of the surname Gödden can also vary significantly. In Germany, it is seen primarily as Goedden or Goeddon. In the Netherlands, it is commonly seen as Goeden, Geden, and Goedens. In England, the spelling is often seen as Godden or Goddin. In America, it is often seen spelled as Goodin or Gooden.
Variants of the Gödden surname may also be found by going back to the ancestral home of Germany. Popular surnames in Germany that have similar roots are Goedecke, Goederitz, Gödern, Goldammer, and Gödeker.
Surnames of similar origin and spelling can also be found scattered across the German-speaking countries of Europe. In Austria, the surname is seen as Gödder, Göderle, or Goedecke, while in Switzerland it appears as Goedeckel, Göder, Gödl, and Göldi. In Luxembourg, the spelling is often seen as Goden, Goddin, Goeders, and Goeden.
Finally, surnames from surrounding countries that are related to the Gödden surname include Godinie from France, De Goede from The Netherlands, and Godet from Belgium.
Altogether, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Gödden, spread across the German-speaking countries of Europe.
Famous people with the name Gödden
- Hans Joachim Gödden, a German actor known for his roles in films such as The White Ribbon and The Baader Meinhof Complex.
- Carl Gödden, a classical composer and organist from 1730, best known for his works for the Church of Saint Nicholas in Lübeck, Germany.
- Otto Gödden, a German sculpter of the late 19th/early 20th centuries, and the founder of the Künstlerhaus Gödden which opened in 1895.
- Adolf von Gödden, a German Baron who served as an officer in the Prussian army and was also a senior statesman of the German Empire between 1879-1914.
- Theodor von Gödden, a German Imperial diplomat and politician during the late 1800s who served as the Empire's ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1896.
- Gödden Schoellkopf, a prominent German-American banker and financier who oversaw the Schoellkopf family business for a period of over 30 years.
- Dagmar Gödden, a German filmmaker known for directing the 1997 coming-of-age drama, Freunde Für Immer.
- Adam Gödden, a German stage actor who has performed with the prestigious Schauspielhaus Bochum Theater Company.
- Reinhold Gödden, a software engineer and entrepreneur who founded and served as the CEO of the web-hosting and eCommerce company, 1&1, from 1999-2002.
- Martin Gödden, a German eskrima martial artist and instructor, and the co-founder of Kali Movement School.