Surname Voßpeter - Meaning and Origin
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Voßpeter: What does the surname Voßpeter mean?
The surname Voßpeter is of German origin and is derived from the old German personal name Vatze, which in turn is a diminutive of the name Vat. Vat is an old German word meaning “strong” or “fierce”, so the surname Voßpeter translates to mean “Little Vat”, or “son of Vat”.
The surname has been recorded in German church records since at least the 16th century, where it appears in various forms such as Vosspeter, Vatze, Votszpetter, and Vozze. It is believed that the surname appeared most frequently in the Lower Saxony area of Germany, which is located south of Bremen and along the banks of the Elbe river.
Today, the surname is still quite widespread throughout Germany, particularly in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. However, due to the migration of many Germans in the late 19th century, the surname can also be found throughout the United States, Canada, South America, and other parts of Europe.
In general, the surname Voßpeter is believed to be a long standing and respected German name, with numerous branches throughout the world. It is a reminder of the fierce and courageous spirit of the German people, and the importance of family values and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisVoßpeter: Where does the name Voßpeter come from?
The last name Voßpeter is most common in Germany, particularly in the states of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) and North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen). It is also present in some parts of Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United States.
In Germany, the name Voßpeter is especially concentrated in the rural Emsland region in Lower Saxony, where it is more common than other surnames. This region is also home to many other variants of the surname such as Vospeter, Vospeth, Voß, Voth, Vosset, Vöhst, Vöst, Vöstemer, Wospeter, and Vollsteter.
In the United States, Voßpeter first appears in records dated from 1828, with the settlement of a Henry Voßpeter and his family in St. Louis, Missouri. The name has since spread to many other parts of the States, often taking the form of Vospeter, Vospeth, and Vosset.
The origin of the Voßpeter name is uncertain, but many believe it to be derived from the Dutch and/or German word ‘vossen’, meaning ‘fox’ or ‘foxes’. It is likely that this naming tradition originated from an ancestor who once bred foxes, or was associated with them in some way.
The name Voßpeter, its variants, and its derivatives continue to be common today, both in Germany and elsewhere. It is a testament to the accomplishments of the original Voßpeter family, whose history still lives on.
Variations of the surname Voßpeter
The surname Voßpeter can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. As German surnames are not necessarily standardized, one can find several spellings for the same surname, such as Vospeter, Voßpeter, Voepeter, Vospetere, Vopeter, Vopeterling, and more.
The surname is derived from the Middle High German "vossepeter," which refers to a pet shop keeper or small animal dealer. The original word combines "voße" (pet or small animal) and "peter" (shopkeeper, vendor). Thus, the Voßpeter surname means "pet shop keeper" or "small animal dealer."
Related surnames of Voßpeter include Voß, Peter, and Peterer. These surnames all derive from a similar origin, as they are derived from the Middle High German "petere," which means "potter" or "maker of earthenware pots."
Alternatively, Voßpeter can be combined with a geographic identifier to form the surname Voßpeters, which refers to a "shopkeeper from the Voß area." There may also be nicknames that have developed from the surname such as "Petsi" or "Vossi."
In addition to this, Voßpeter could also be linked to other surnames that derive from a similar origin, such as Voßhennig, Vossen, or Vosseler. Dutch spellings of the surname may also exist, such as VosPedersen, VosPetersz, and VosPeters.
Famous people with the name Voßpeter
- Detlev Voßpeter: German voice actor and audiobook narrator known for voicing characters in numerous anime series.
- Helmut Voßpeter: German painter, draughtsman and illustrator from the 1920s and 1930s.
- Daan Voßpeter: Dutch logistics entrepreneur and CEO of the efficient logistics company SynTec Logistics.
- Wolfgang Voßpeter: German photographer, active at the end of the 20th century.
- Sabine Voßpeter: German former javelin thrower who won gold at the 1993 world championships.
- Annemarie Voßpeter: German nurse who earned awards for her bravery during the Second World War.
- Berthold Voßpeter: German sculptor known for his modernist art during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Sebastian Voßpeter: German historian and professor at the University of Cologne, known for his research into early-modern social structures.
- Georg Voßpeter: German vicar, theologian and author, known for writing a number of theological treatises in the late 19th century.
- Johannes Voßpeter: German entrepreneur and founder of the Voßpeter GmbH & Co. KG, a company focused on the development and production of products specifically designed for the woodworking industry.