Surname Pöthko - Meaning and Origin

Pöthko: What does the surname Pöthko mean?

The last name Pöthko is a German and Dutch surname thought to originate from a personal name, Potco or Potcho. The etymology of the name is short for an old Germanic male name, Potacius. Over time, the name was corrupted to Pöthko.

It is thought that the name and its variants were first brought to the Netherlands during the 1500s by those fleeing religious persecution in Prussia. It then spread to other areas of Western Europe such as Germany and Switzerland.

Interestingly, there is slight variation in the spelling of the name. In Germany, the spelling “Pothko” is much more common, while in the Netherlands it is commonly found as “Pöthko”. This is probably because of the regional influence of the Dutch language.

The name Pöthko is an uncommon one today, but those who do bear this surname may be proud that they are part of an ancient family steeped in European history.

Pöthko: Where does the name Pöthko come from?

The last name Pöthko is primarily associated with Germany and Eastern Europe. Today, the Pöthko surname is most often found in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in countries such as Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland.

In Germany, Pöthko is particularly common in the eastern states such as Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. There is an area in Wiesbaden, Hesse, in the western part of Germany that is said to have the highest occurrence of the last name.

The Czech Republic also has a high concentration of Pöthko families, particularly in Prague. Smaller numbers of the last name can be found in other surrounding countries such as Slovakia and Hungary as well.

While the spread of the last name beyond its traditional borders is not as easily documented, some members of the Pöthko family have immigrated to North America and Australia. It is likely to be found in other parts of the world, particularly due to the ease of travel and communication today.

Though the last name Pöthko may not have the same prevalence as it once did, it persists today in its traditional locations to varying degrees.

Variations of the surname Pöthko

Pöthko is an old Germanic surname and can also be spelled as Poethko, Poethke or Poethk.

The surname Pöthko is derived from an ancient word for cup or goblet and references the shape of a pot. It is believed to have originally been the name of a brewer or potter, which is why is is not uncommon to find it with the same meaning in dialects and other Germanic languages, including Dutch and Low German.

The most common variants of the Pöthko surname include Poethke, Poethk and Poethko. Many of the variants also have variations in spelling such as Pethke, Pethko, Poethkow and Poethkoop.

Surnames with the same origin as Pöthko include Pothe and Pöthe. These are typically found in dialects or areas with a large German population, such as in the states of Saxony and Brandenburg. Other surnames with the same origin include Pothead and Potheke.

Pöthko is also related to the Jewish surname Pethick, which is a variant of the German name.

In sum, Pöthko has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Poethke, Poethk, Poethko, Pethke, Pethko, Poethkow, Poethkoop, Pothe, Pöthe, Pothead, Potheke and Pethick.

Famous people with the name Pöthko

• Ernesto Pöthko, Uruguayan painter
• Dora Pöthko, Hungarian artist and art student
• Edgar Pöthko, Puerto Rican cinematographer
• Gertrude Pöthko, Austrian-Polish author
• Otto Pöthko, stand-up comedian and actor
• Charlotte Pöthko, German Illustrator
• Gerald Pöthko, former Director of the National Gallery of Canada
• Attila Pöthko, film producer from Romania
• Ladislaus Pöthko, Hungarian IT specialist and entrepreneur
• Stefanie Pöthko, Austrian jewelry designer and sculptor

Other surnames

Pöthke