Surname Gute - Meaning and Origin

Gute: What does the surname Gute mean?

The German surname Gute has its origins in the Middle High German term ‘gute’, which translates to ‘good’, or ‘excellent’. Depending on the dialect, it may also have been rendered as ‘gut’ or ‘Gott’. The surname may have originally been bestowed as an occupational name to denote a person who was considered highly skilled in their trade. On occasion, it is also thought to have been passes on as a nickname for someone who was perceived as exceptionally lucky or ‘good’ in some way by their peers.

Gute is an ancient surname found scattered throughout the German speaking regions of Europe. It is believed to have a dual origin that may be traced back to at least the 14th century. The earliest sightings of Goffo Gutedi from Bremen and Konrad Guter from Negenborn can both be found recorded in those regions during that time.

Another form of the surname is Gutersloh which is believed to originate from a specific town of the same name found in the province of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. This form of the surname is beloved by many local families that can trace their ancestry back to the village for generations.

All told, the surname Gute is rooted deep in German culture and continues to be held in high esteem today. In Germany, it is usually a rare family name, but nevertheless has been adopted widely across the world as individuals have scattered in search of new opportunities.

Gute: Where does the name Gute come from?

The last name Gute is most commonly found in Germany. It is a German variant of the word "good" and is believed to have originated as a nickname given to someone who was considered virtuous or worthy. It is also found in other countries in Europe such as Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Ukraine. It can also be found in other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

In Germany, Gute is mainly concentrated in the state of Bavaria and more specifically in the region of Franconia. It is estimated that there are currently over 8000 Gutes in Germany, in Bavaria making up the largest concentration. Beyond the borders of the European Union, most of those bearing this name can be found in the United States. Out of the 267 Gute families recorded in the US, the majority are found in the state of Pennsylvania.

The popularity of the last name Gute has declined over time. While it still remains quite popular in some parts of Germany, the number of those carrying the name has significantly diminished in the US over the last century. However, it is still considered to be one of the more common surnames in German-speaking countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Gute

The surname Gute is derived from a German personal name, Gut. Additionally, Gutierrez is a Spanish variant of Gute, indicating Sephardic Jewish origin.

The main German spelling of the surname Gute is Gutte, and other variants include Guthe, Gut, Gutt, Guth, Guttlich, Gutel, Gutmann, Gutenberger, Gutensohn, Gutermann, and Gutzmann.

In addition many Belgian families of this surname anglicize Gute to Good, and in Danish it is Gud, meaning "God". In the United States and Canada, families with the surname Gute may have adopted the similar sounding surnames Gota, Gott, Gotthard, Goth, or Gotto.

In the Netherlands, a patronymic surname was formed by adding the suffix -ma, and Gutema or Gutemaar were thereby created.

Finally, Gute is a common German origin Jewish surname that often takes different forms depending on the language or culture. Variations of Gute or Gut in other languages include Guttman in Yiddish, Goode in English, and Goutman in French.

Famous people with the name Gute

• Jared Gute, an American professional golfer;
• Kendell Gute, a South African long-distance runner;
• Mike Gute (aka "Uncle Mike"), a radio talk-show host;
• Lydia Gute, a renowned French actress;
• Adam Gute, an American soccer goalkeeper;
• Thomas Gute, a German former alpine skier;
• Bill Gute, an American water polo coach;
• Don Gute, an American professional basketball player;
• Tom Gute, an American football coach;
• Bill Gute, a former NFL assistant coach;
• Bill Gute, a former professional baseball player;
• Clark Gute, an American photographer;
• Stanley Gute, an American politician;
• Wally Gute, an American football player;
• J.R. Gute, a German entrepreneur;
• John Gute, Jr., a WW2 aviator and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient;
• August Gute, a German/Swedish theologian;
• Edward Gute, an American marine corps war hero;
• Gail Gute, an American writer;
• George Gute, a Canadian fashion designer.

Other surnames

GutGutackerGutberletGutberlettGutbierGutbrodGutbrodtGutbrotGutbubGutehrleGutekunstGutenkunstGutenmorgenGutensteinGuterGutermannGutermutGutermuthGutfleischGutfrajndGutfreundGutfriedGutfruchtGutgesellGutgsellGuthardGuthardtGuthartGutheGuthehrle