Surname Gottwalt - Meaning and Origin
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Gottwalt: What does the surname Gottwalt mean?
Gottwalt is a German surname likely originating from the Middle High German phrase “Gotte Wahl,” which translates to mean “God’s Choice.” This phrase likely indicates that the original families with this surname were chosen by God or belonged to a religious order, likely the Order of Saint Bartholomew. This would be supported by the fact that many of the original Gottwalt families could be found in the Rhineland region of Germany.
There is also some evidence that the Gottwalt surname may have originated separately from the Order of Saint Bartholomew and was instead derived from the medieval given name “Gottiwald.” If this is the case, the surname could be a variation of “God’s Ruler.” While the exact origin of Gottwalt is uncertain, it is clear that the surname has a strong religious history.
The Gottwalt family is still present in Germany, with the surname being most prevalent in the area of North Rhine-Westphalia. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, as well as in the United States.
Overall, the Gottwalt surname is one with a long history associated with religion and likely originated from the phrase “Gotte Wahl,” which can be translated to mean “God’s Choice.”
Order DNA origin analysisGottwalt: Where does the name Gottwalt come from?
Gottwalt is an uncommon surname, with most people with this name living in Germany and some parts of East Europe. In Germany, the surname is mostly confined to the state of Saxony.
The last name Gottwalt is derived from the German words 'Gott' - meaning 'God' - and 'Walten', meaning 'to govern'. This suggests that this surname could have been given to people with significant religious influence or a strong commitment to following God's laws.
Gottwalt is still quite common in Saxony, with many villages and smaller towns having at least one or two families with the surname. Many of the people still living there with the Gottwalt name can trace their roots back to an ancestor who first originated the name. It is thought that the surname has spread to other German states over the years, however, it is still much more common in some areas of Saxony.
Outside of Germany, the surname is much rarer. Those with the Gottwalt name have likely emigrated from Germany in recent years, although more distant ancestors may have travelled much farther back in history. Today, this surname can be found in the United States, Canada, many parts of Eastern Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Gottwalt
Gottwalt is a German surname that has several variants with spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants are: Gotwald, Goettwald, Gottwald, Gotthold, Goethe, Gottweld, Godtwalt, Goddwald, Godewald, Godebold and Goethel.
Sub-variants of Gottwalt include: Goettler, Goedel, Gödle, Gottel, Goetl, Gotel, Goethel, Guddel, Gudel, Gottle, Gatl, and Goetzel.
The surname can also be found in the form Gottwaal, which is an Anglicized spelling, or in the spelling Gautwold or Gawthold, which could be found in Danish, Dutch, Polish, Frisian and Old Saxon origins.
It is possible to find the surname in other nations and cultures as: Gottvald in Russian; Gottwaldas in Lithuanian; Gottwaldt in Danish; Godtfelt in Dutch and Gottvall in Swedish.
In Germany, the form of the surname could have been shortened down to jokes like Gottlt, bird names such as Gottle or various nicknames such as Gotz or Gottel, depending on the region and the linguistic habit of the people in that area.
Variants of the Gottwalt surname now go beyond German, and can be found in Ireland, Scotland, England, United States, Canada, Australia, and various other countries.
Famous people with the name Gottwalt
- Layne Staley (lead singer of Alice in Chains)
- Jürgen Gottwalt (German opera singer)
- David Gottwalt (American actor)
- William Gottwalt (American music producer)
- Carsten Gottwalt (Finnish sculptor and writer)
- William Gottwalt Jr. (American war hero)
- Carl-Friedrich Gottwalt (German professor and linguist)
- Robert Gottwalt (American football player)
- Michael Gottwalt (American inventor)
- Frank Gottwalt (American art director)