Surname Potthast - Meaning and Origin
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Potthast: What does the surname Potthast mean?
The surname Potthast is of German and Dutch origin. The name is derived from the Low German term "potthast", which refers to a potter or pot maker. It is also believed to be related to the English surname "Pottle".
The first known record of the Potthast surname comes from a 12th century document in Germany that names Henricus Potthast. During the 1500s, many families with the surname moved to other European countries in search of better economic opportunities.
Today, the surname Potthast appears mainly throughout the former East Prussia. The use of the name is most commonly found in Nordic countries such as Norway and Sweden, as well as in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.
The surname Potthast is often associated with strong work ethic and resourcefulness. Members of the Potthast family are known to be loyal, honest, and talented members of their communities. They possess a great deal of ambition and have learned to use their ingenuity to accomplish anything they put their minds to.
Order DNA origin analysisPotthast: Where does the name Potthast come from?
The surname Potthast is most commonly found in the United States, especially in the Midwest and the East Coast. It is most commonly associated with German ancestry, although a few families have identified other European backgrounds. The Potthast name first showed up in public records in the early 19th century, when two Potthast families immigrated to New York City. In the 1840 United States Census, Potthast families were living in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
By 1900, there were more than two thousand Potthast families found in the United States, mostly in the Midwest, with large concentrations found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. Today, the Potthast surname is most commonly found in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
In Germany, there are also still a few Potthast families living in cities such as Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. Some of these families can trace their ancestry back to the same Potthast families that first immigrated to the United States.
The Potthast surname is far less common today than it was at the turn of the 20th century. However, it still can be found in small pockets in the United States and in Germany.
Variations of the surname Potthast
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Potthast are Potthast, Potthasten, Potthoff, Potthoffen, Pott, Potts, Pottasch, Pottash, Pottashen, Pottashe, Pottascher, and Potthofen.
The Potthast surname originates in the German-speaking regions of Europe and is derived from an occupational surname, given to a potter. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'pott', which means 'pot'. The regional varieties of the surname are Potthast (in Germany), Potthasten (in Holland), Potthoff (in Austria, Ukraine, and Russia), Potthoffen (in Prussia and Poland), Pott (in Scotland and Northern Europe), Pots (in England), and Pottasch, Pottash, Pottashen, Pottashe, Pottascher, Potthofen (in Germany, Holland, and Prussia within former eastern Germany).
Some spelling variations include Pothast, Pothaste, Potthast, Potahs, Potash, Potaten, Potatsch, Potatash, Potatesh, Potatych, Potthoff, Potthof, Pottash, Pottasch, and Pottoff. Variations of the surname with regional variations include Poten in Bavaria, Caresten and Pedersen in Holstein, and Potten in Schwaben.
The Potthast surname is sometimes found also as a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Potes, which is a German diminutive of Peter. This surname is also found among Ashkenazi Jews, where it is derived from the given name Pots or Potes.
Famous people with the name Potthast
- Mary Beth Potthast Adams: American songwriter
- Angelika Potthast: German businesswoman
- Anja Potthast: German blogger
- Dieter Potthast: German footballer
- Frederike Potthast: German actress
- Herbert Potthast: German actor
- Katja Potthast: German television actor
- Marina Potthast: German singer
- Nick Potthast: American singer-songwriter
- Patrick Potthast: German handball player
- Richard Potthast: German journalist
- Sören Potthast: German journalist and author
- Ulli Potthast: German actor and director
- Wilfried Potthast: German painter