Surname Göttlein - Meaning and Origin
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Göttlein: What does the surname Göttlein mean?
Göttlein is a German surname that originated in the Middle Ages. It likely derived from the medieval German word "Gottlein," meaning "little god." This suggests that the name was likely associated with someone who had some form of religious authority or an occupation related to the church. It may also be derived from the verb "götzeln," meaning "to gossip," indicating that the original bearer may have been a gossip or someone who was particularly talkative.
Today, Göttlein is found mainly in Germany, particularly in the areas of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. It is also found in Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Alternative spellings include Goettlein, Göttlein, Göttling, Goettinge and Göttlingen.
The name is not particularly common, although records from the 17th and 18th centuries indicate that it was in use by a handful of families in the region. Today, the Göttlein family is still represented, albeit in smaller numbers than in the past. Those who hold the name, however, can trace their ancestry back to a time when the name was one of the most common surnames in regions of Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisGöttlein: Where does the name Göttlein come from?
The name Göttlein is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and portions of Switzerland today. It is well known as a German and Austrian surname, and those with the name can be found in regions across the globe where German emigrants resettled in the 19th century or later, such as: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia.
Göttlein is an occupational surname, derived from the Hucka word Göttle or Gotle, meaning an individual who was responsible for the curtains or tapestries of a household. As the name spread across Europe, variants of the name evolved, such as Guttlerin, Goethely, and Gottlein.
The name Göttlein has been used in Germany for centuries and is still quite common in the region today. This was due in part to its status of a noble surname, and the fact that several prominent figures have had the surname, including lawyer and statesman Wilhelm Gottlein who served on the Prussian Council of State from 1864 until his death in 1890.
The name Göttlein is also associated with aristocratic families in Germany, Austria, and portions of Switzerland. This noble status was likely the result of Göttlein families owning large tracts of land covering hundreds of acres in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, the surname Göttlein remains a popular name in central and southern Germany, Austria, and regions of Switzerland. It is an instantly recognizable name in the region and is still held in high regard.
Variations of the surname Göttlein
The surname Göttlein is a German surname of Slavic origin and is commonly found in parts of Germany and Central Europe. There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Göttlein.
Variant spellings include Göttlein, Göttele, Geitlein, Gottele, and Ghettlein, while variant surnames include Geitle, Göttle, Gottlieb, Göttlein-Stöhr, Göttl, Geitlein-Stöhr Goetle, Goettle and Göttlieb.
The origins of the name Göttlein are believed to be of Slavic origin, derived from the name "Godyle" or "Godefry," which is generally believed to be a personal name derived from the Old High German words "gott" and "lebhaft," meaning "God's image" or "God's life."
The surname has been found in records dating as far back as the 16th century, when records suggest that Jakob Göttlevelvon Harborloch appears on a list of citizens in the town of Phritzina in Zwickau, Saxony. The Göttlein family could be found in Heidelberg, Baden, Trier, Pomerania, and other parts of Germany, as well as in Eastern Europe and other parts of Central Europe for generations.
The Göttlein surname is spread across Europe, with many bearers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and Denmark. It is also prevalent in the United States in states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
Famous people with the name Göttlein
- Antonin Göttlein (1748–1811): Czech-born classical composer and cellist.
- Augustin Hoff Göttlein (1777–1833): Brooklyn-born German painter and etcher.
- Joseph Friedrich Göttlein (1781–1842): Bohemia-born Austrian composer, organist, and church musician.
- Carl Gottlieb Göttlein (1792–1863): Prussian landscape painter.
- Wolfgang Göttlein (1793–1878): Austrian-born entomologist and malacologist.
- Johann Jakob Göttlein (1802–1874): German Roman Catholic theologian and editor of religious works.
- Friederich Göttlein (1865–1943): German theatrical impresario and librettist.
- Gustav Göttlein (1876–1943): Austrian playwright and poet.
- August Walter Göttlein (1905–1986): German-born psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.
- Frank Göttlein (1940–present): German-born actor and film director.