Surname Götfert - Meaning and Origin
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Götfert: What does the surname Götfert mean?
The last name Götfert (also spelled Goetfert, Goethefert, and Göthefert) is of German origin and can be found in both Germany and Austria. It is a patronymic name created from "Göthe", the German variant of the name "Gottfried". The literal meaning of the name is son of the god of peace.
The Götfert surname would have been adopted by the descendants of someone named Gottfried, as patronymic surnames began to be common in medieval Germany. Patronymic surnames were created from the given name of the father, with the suffix "-s" or "-es" then added. So a person whose father was named Gottfried may have been known as "Götferts" or "Götfertes".
The surname Götfert is found in many records in Germany and Austria. For example, it is listed in German church records from as early as 1300, and in medieval records from the Bavarian town of Nürnberg.
Over time, the name Götfert is thought to have become more associated with the Götfert family, which was located in southern Bavaria and later in Strasbourg, Alsace. The family is thought to have descended from the old noble Götfert family, and was involved in politics in Strasbourg in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The surname Götfert likely refers to a family whose history is quite old, and can be traced back to the medieval period of Germany. It is still used today, as evidenced by its presence in records from Germany and Austria.
Order DNA origin analysisGötfert: Where does the name Götfert come from?
The last name Götfert is most common today in three European countries. It is most frequently found in Germany, where it is primarily concentrated in Bavaria in the south of the country. Götfert is also commonly found in Austria, where it is found throughout the country but most commonly in the region of Styria in the south. It is also prevalent in Switzerland, particularly in the canton of Aargau in the northwest of the country.
In Germany, the surnames Götfer and Götferd, similar variants of Götfert, can also be found. The name Götfert is of Germanic origin, coming from the old German words meaning ‘God’s defense’, and was likely a nickname given to either a person who fought bravely or was known for their courage.
The surname is recorded as far back as the 16th century in Germany, when it was purchased by a knight with the last name of Otto Götfert, who held the title of Lord of Batterland. His descendants went on to become noble and wealthy people, and the Götfert line in Germany took off from there.
At the dawn of the 19th century, many members of the Götfert family had immigrated from Germany to other parts of Europe, particularly to states where German was spoken, and this is likely why the surname can also be found in Austria and Switzerland. Today, there are still many people with the last name Götfert in these countries, a legacy of this ancient Germanic surname.
Variations of the surname Götfert
The surname Götfert is derived from the Old German given names Godfrid or Gottfried and is found in records dating back to as early as the 16th century. This surname is found in areas of Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
Variants of Götfert include Goetfert, Götferd, Goetfurt, Göftfert, Götfertz, Gottferd, Goettfert, Gottfrid, Gottschalk, and Godefrid. Some of these variants have shifted in spelling over time and in different countries, such as Götferd becoming Götfertz in Switzerland and Austria.
In Germany, Götfert is sometimes spelled Gütfert or Götferts. In Austria, the spelling of Götfert has changed to Gutfert. In some records from the United States, Götfert has been spelled Gotfert.
Surnames of similar origin include Goods, Gottshall, Gaitskill, Godshall, Godshalk, Godshall, Gottlieb, Gotz, and Gott. All of these surnames come from a similar place of origin, sharing similar German given names as part of their makeup.
In summary, the surname Götfert has many variants and similar surnames around the world. It is possible to trace the shape-shifting of the surname across countries and continents. Its variants can be found in regions of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. In the United States similar surnames can also be found.
Famous people with the name Götfert
- Manfred Götfert: German composer and songwriter who has written for many popular German-speaking performers like Peter Maffay, Helene Fischer, Die Ärzte and Madonna.
- Marianne Götfert: Austrian businessperson who was the chair of the supervisory board of voestalpine AG, an international steel-production and processing company.
- Emma Götfert: German composer and artist whose work has been featured in the likes of Louder Music and Nokia
- Jan Götfert: German composer and performer who released an album entitled Mensch in 2011.
- Carla Götfert: German television presenter who notably hosted the popular music show Die Hitparade.
- Luise Götfert: German politician who is an ordained minister of the Lutheran church and a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
- Ella Götfert: German singer and actress who made her television debut in 2012 with the show Ein Engel im Friseursalon.
- Anabelle Götfert: German sculptor and artist whose sculptures have been featured in galleries across the country.
- Alexandra Götfert:German journalist, television and radio presenter, who worked as a documentary film producer for ARD and produced the documentary series Panorama.
- Heinz Götfert: German historian and author who wrote more than 40 books on the history of Germany and published many articles on his blog ‘Geschichte der Nation’.