Surname Rothweiler - Meaning and Origin

Rothweiler: What does the surname Rothweiler mean?

The last name Rothweiler is a Germanic or Dutch surname originating from two elements, 'roth' and 'wiler'. Roth, meaning red or reddish, is an old German nickname and may have been used to refer to a person with red hair, skin or clothes. Wiler, meanwhile, is an old German word meaning protective, indicating the surname could have been given to someone who was a protector or a leader.

Rothweiler is one of the oldest surnames in the Germanic regions, with references to people carrying the name being recorded as far back as the 12th century. The surname is believed to have arisen or been adopted primarily in the Germanic regions of the Rhineland and Westphalia.

The Rothweiler name likely spread across Germany during the Middle Ages, carried by Germanic settlers who made their way evacuating, relocating, or migrating. These settlers thus spread the name to other areas, such as the Netherlands, where its spelling was often adapted to accommodate the local language. The name is still popular today, with the United States at one point boasting over 2,000 people with the Rothweiler surname.

Rothweiler: Where does the name Rothweiler come from?

The surname Rothweiler is most commonly found in Germany today, particularly in the southern region. The surname means "strong wolf," and the most likely origin for its popular use is the Rhineland region of Germany. Records of the early Middle Ages reveal that the family trace their roots back to a prominent nobleman by the name of Rudolf von Rothweiler, who lived in the 5th century.

Today, the Rothweiler surname is most commonly found in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. Here, the name is heavily concentrated in the city of Mainz and its surrounding rural areas. The German regions of Saarland and Bavaria are also home to a significant number of the family, particularly the towns of Hanau and Aschaffenburg in Bavaria.

Outside of Germany, the Rothweiler surname is common in the United States, particularly in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, where many German immigrants settled in the 1800s. In addition, the Rothweiler name is present in France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands.

The Rothweiler surname continues to be popular in both Germany and abroad today, with several variants of the name, such as Rothwailer, Rothwiler, Rottsweiler, and Rotweiler, still in use in various parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Rothweiler

Rothweiler is a German surname, most commonly found in Southwestern Germany. It is derived from the occupational name "rothweiler", meaning a maker of wagons or boxes made of willow branches. Variants of this surname include Rasweiler, Rautweiler, and Rateile.

The Rothweiler spelling also appears in America, where the surname is derived from immigrants from Germany as well as other countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Over there, alternate spellings might include Rothleier, Rotileer, and Rothero.

In Australia, the Rothweiler surname might also be spelled as Rothaler, Rothaler, Rothelor or Rotheller. In the Netherlands many variations of the surname can be found including Rutweiler, Radweiler, Radtweiler, and Radeweiler. Other countries with variants of this surname are Belgium, Brazil, and Denmark.

The most common variations of the Rothweiler surname are Rothweiler, Rasweiler, Rautweiler, Rateile, Rothleier, Rotileer, Rothero, Rothaler, Rothelor, and Rotheller. It is also found in different countries such as the United States, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, and Denmark with slightly different spellings in each area.

Famous people with the name Rothweiler

• David Rothweiler: An American actor and former professional basketball and soccer player.
• Rudy Rothweiler: A professional Austrian footballer.
• Walter Rothweiler: An Austrian rower and Olympic champion.
• Trude Rothweiler: An Austrian alpine skier.
• Willi Rothweiler: A mountain guide from Germany.
• Sepp Rothweiler: An Austrian-German alpine and cross-country skier.
• Marcel Rothweiler: A former Swiss alpine skier.
• Monika Rothweiler: A Swiss former alpine skier.
• Kiki Rothweiler: An American former professional surfer, snowboarder, and skier.
• Christian Rothweiler: An Austrian football manager.
• Charles N. Rothweiler: An American lawyer and United States Representative from Pennsylvania.
• Andy Rothweiler: An American ski racing coach.
• Ronny Rothweiler: A Swiss football goalkeeper.
• Vivienne Rothweiler: An American singer-songwriter.
• Mike Rothweiler: A German engineer.
• Chris Rothweiler: An American retired professional lacrosse player.
• Peter Rothweiler: A German former alpine skier.
• Stephanie Rothweiler: A German alpine skier.
• Melissa Rothweiler: An American Psychologist and Counsellor.
• Eva Rothweiler: An Austrian figure skater.

Other surnames

RothweilRothwein