Surname Gotthard - Meaning and Origin
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Gotthard: What does the surname Gotthard mean?
The last name Gotthard is of German and Swiss origin, and is a short form of the German personal name Gotthard. This name is composed of two elements, 'Gott', meaning God, and 'hard', which means brave or strong. The combination of the two elements can be interpreted as "the brave one of God" or "God's strong man".
The name Gotthard is believed to have originated as a surname in the German region of Bavaria and first appeared in written records in the 12th century. It is likely that the Gotthards of this era were a family of aristocrats who were significant people of their town and were given the surname as a sign of respect.
From Bavaria, the name spread to other parts of Germany. Later in the medieval era, German-speaking migrants introduced the name to the Swiss states. Today, the Gotthards are among the most prominent Swiss families, known for their success in fields such as banking, business, and politics.
The legacy of the Gotthard family lives on, as their name still stands for bravery and strength, as it did so many centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisGotthard: Where does the name Gotthard come from?
The Gotthard surname is most commonly found within Germany today. It is a common German surname, derived from the Germanic personal name Gotthard. It became well known in Germany in the early Middle Ages, when it was a popular name among the Germanic tribes and what is now Germany, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland.
The origin of the name is likely derived from the combination of two Germanic elements, "God" and "Hard", which roughly translates to "bold in God".
The Gotthard surname can be found all throughout Germany, especially in the northern and western parts of the country, where the surname is particularly common in the states of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In Germany, the Gotthards are considered an old, noble family. The earliest known bearer of the name was Ulrich I Gotthard, who came from the Rhineland-Palatinate in the late 9th century and was likely descended from Eastern Germanic tribes. The Gotthard family has been successfully traced through the generations, and even today many Gotthards still live there.
Outside of Germany, Gotthard is also a relatively common name in Austria and Switzerland, usually following similar origins as in Germany, but with the addition of more modern elements. In addition, some Gotthards have settled in other parts of Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada. Consequently, Gotthard is a surname that can be found all over the world today.
Variations of the surname Gotthard
Gotthard is a surname of Germanic origin that has many variations and originate from the ancient Gotthard region. Common variations are Göthard, Goethard, Goetharts and Gottharts. Surnames derived from Gotthard include the surnames Gotthardt, Gothardt, Göthardt, Goethart, Gothart, Gauthard and Gauthart.
The spelling of Gotthard was subject to change as different dialects and accents were adopted in various regions. In medieval times, when surnames first began to appear, the spelling of Gotthard varied by region, but it eventually stabilized as Gotthard. The common German spelling is Göthard, while in France it is usually written as Goethart.
Variants of Gotthard that are most popular in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, include Gothard, Goethard, Gottharts, and Goethardt. These variations have been spread across Europe by immigrants over the centuries. In America the spelling usually took the form of Gothard, Goethard, and/or Gottharts.
Gotthard is also the base of several other surnames. Some variants are Gothert, Gothardt, and Goethardt. These variants have a much more scattered distribution, as they were more sunken into dialects in the past. Another derivative of Gotthard is Klugothard, which was more closely associated with the Croatian city of Klugothar in the Middle Ages.
Finally, the name Gotthard is also used as a given name and can be spotted in the works of both European and American literature. The popularity of the name in this form appears to have increased since the 19th century.
Famous people with the name Gotthard
- Fred Gotthard: German lawyer and founding partner of the law firm Gotthard & Rupprecht
- Baschi Gotthard: Swiss pop singer
- Gerhard Gotthard: Austrian composer of Neue Klassik music
- Alice Gotthard: Swiss painter
- Paul Gotthard: German actor who has appeared in 'Der Weg nach Eden', 'Der letzte Ritt nach Santa Cruz' and others
- Henry Gotthard: German politician and one of the founders of the Saxon Landtag (Regional Legislative Assembly)
- Emil Gotthard: Swiss businessman and founder of the Swiss manufacturing company Gotthard Industries
- Walter Gotthard: Swiss writer and government official
- Peter Gotthard: Swiss actor who has appeared in 'Der Major und sein Souper', 'Aufgehängt' and 'Samichlaus'
- Maria Gotthard: Swiss television presenter who has appeared on various news programmes