Surname Goertemaker - Meaning and Origin
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Goertemaker: What does the surname Goertemaker mean?
Goertemaker is a German surname originating from the Middle High German words 'gört', which means ‘pitchfork’ and 'meister', meaning 'master'. Thus, the surname Goertemaker translates to 'pitchfork master'. This type of surname is called an occupational surname, meaning that it is derived from a person’s job or profession. In this case, the Goertemaker name likely referred to a master blacksmith who crafted agricultural tools like pitchforks.
Originally, this surname was primarily found in the northern regions of Germany such as Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and the Ruhr Valley area of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also likely that some of the descendants of this surname migrated from Germany and can be found in other countries such as Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United States.
The name has evolved over time and other variations of the name, such as Gortemaker, Goertz, Gortz, Goertzmeier, and Gortzmeier, can also be found. Despite this variation, the meaning has remained the same. It is speculated that the Goertemaker surname was popularized by the aristocrats of the early Middle Ages who had a need for skilled trades workers such as blacksmiths to craft weapons and other tools for their use.
Today, the Goertemaker name can still be found in various regions, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. It is a reminder of a skilled craft workers of old, dedicated to their craft and respected for their work.
Order DNA origin analysisGoertemaker: Where does the name Goertemaker come from?
The last name Goertemaker is likely of German origin. It can still be found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is not particularly common, but it does have a presence in these countries. In the United States, the name is more rare, but it can be found in states with large German immigrant populations, particularly in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. The name can occasionally be found in other countries as well, such as Canada and Australia, due to emigration from the aforementioned countries.
In Germany, Goertemakers have disproportionately lived in the Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony regions since the 1800s. There is also evidence that the name predates that period, as it appears on records from a village called Warburg dating back to the 17th century. In the United States, the name is mainly concentrated in large cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York City, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Texas, Florida, and California boast smaller populations of individuals with this last name as well.
Variations of the surname Goertemaker
The surname Goertemaker has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Görtemaker, with the umlaut over the letter 'O' instead of a “e” as in the spelling used in the United States. Other variants include Gohrtemaker, Gortemeyer, Gortemaker, and Gortemeyer. All of these versions suggest someone who was involved with making carts or wagons.
The surname Gortmaker is a Dutch variant, and similar surnames include Geremaker, Goormaker, and Goormakers. The surname Goertscher is also related to Goertemaker and suggests someone who was skilled at making wagons or carts.
In Germany, the Goertmaker surname is spelled Gertmaker, Gortermaker, Gortermacher, Gortermeker, Gutermaker, Gortermacher, and Gutermacher. In France, the Goertmaker surname is spelled Jauresmaker and Gaemmaker. In Poland, the Goertmaker surname is spelled Gertmacher or Kortmacher.
In Scotland, the Goertmaker surname is spelled Gorrellmaker, with the “e” being an additional spelling variation. In England, the Goertmaker surname is spelled Gorthmaker.
Overall, many spellings of the Goertmaker surname are used around the world, ranging from Gortmaker to Gertmacher. All of these spellings suggest a shared ancestor who was involved with making wagons or carts.
Famous people with the name Goertemaker
- Catrin Goertemaker: an author from the Netherlands with a PhD in political science.
- Jeroen Goertemaker: a Dutch entrepreneur, investor and founder of Hospitality365, a hospitality analytics and cloud management platform.
- Bart Goertemaker: a Dutch sculptor and artist.
- Joep Goertemaker: a Dutch cyclist who won the gold medal in the 1000m sprint at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Marloes Goertemaker: a Dutch sailing gold medalist from the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Joris Goertemaker: a Dutch astronomer specializing in extra-solar planets.
- Frans Goertemaker: a Dutch boxer who won the silver medal in the men's light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- Jack Goertemaker: a Dutch ice hockey player who competed in the 1956 and 1964 Winter Olympics.
- Jeff Goertemaker: a Canadian pole vaulter from Alberta who represented Canada in the 2015 Pan American Games.
- Antoon Goertemaker: a Dutch theoretical physicist who worked on fundamental and applied research topics such as quantum physics, statistical physics and nuclear physics.