Surname Pottbacker - Meaning and Origin
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Pottbacker: What does the surname Pottbacker mean?
Pottbacker is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word “Pottbeker” which refers to a professional or craftsman of kitchen pots. It is likely that the family name is an occupational surname; one referring to an ancestor who manufactured and sold pottery.
The surname Pottbacker can be traced back to the 14th century, where records show that a Andreas Potbeker was living in northern Germany during this period. By the 15th century the name was well-established, and many variations such as Potbacker, Potbecker, and Potbokker emerged.
In the 16th century, members of the Pottbacker family moved to the town of Wolfenbuttel in Lower Saxony, Germany. There they made a living manufacturing kitchenware, supplying many of the taverns, inns, and garrisoned soldiers in the area. The Pottbacker’s pottery expertise spread beyond Germany and also gained popularity in Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States.
Today, the Pottbacker surname is still popular in the German speaking countries and is also found in other countries around the world. It is an example of a traditional occupational surname, which has now crossed borders and been assimilated into other cultures.
Order DNA origin analysisPottbacker: Where does the name Pottbacker come from?
The surname Pottbacker is found predominantly in Germany today, particularly in the central, southern and southeastern parts of the country. It is believed to have evolved from the medieval given name Pottbacher or Pottbagher, which literally-translates as "potter". This implies that the original bearer of the name was an individual who made or worked with pottery. Records suggest that the von Pottbachener family were located in Silesia, located in present-day Poland, as early as the 12th and 13th centuries.
In modern Germany, Pottbacker is particularly common in the state of Baden-Württemberg, particularly in the greater Stuttgart and Karlsruhe areas, as well as the southern Pforzheim area. The surname is also relatively common in parts of Bavaria, Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.
Pottbackers are also scattered across other parts of Europe, particularly Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In North America, the Pottbacker surname is considerably rarer, with relatively few individuals bearing the name located in the eastern USA, particularly in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The surname is also found in Australia, Brazil and India, usually among expats, immigrants and their descendants. The greatest number of Pottbackers in the world today may, however, be located in South Africa, where many of the earliest members of the Pottbacker family emigrated in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Pottbacker
The surname Pottbacker has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants include Potbaker, Potbacker, Potbecker, Potbeckers, Pottbacher, Potbeacher, Potbachers, and Potbeachers. Other variants include Pottbacker, Pottbakers, and Pottbeakers.
The surname Pottbacker is a patronymic name, which is derived from the given name “Pot”. This name is derived from the Middle High German words “pot” meaning “potter” and “bacher” meaning “dweller” or “one who lives by”.
The name Pottbacker can be found in various forms throughout Germany, including Pottbecker, Potbacher, Potbecker, and Pottbecker. It can also be found in Austria, where the spelling is typically Potbecker. In the United States, Potbeckers are primarily located in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The surname also has many alternate surnames. These include Potterbeck, Poterbeck, Potterbecker, Petterbeck, Petterbacker, Petterbaker, and Pottbaker. These variants are likely derived from variations of the “Pot” root name, combined with other Germanic elements.
Variants of this surname can also be found in other countries including the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and France. In these countries the variants are typically spelled with either a double “tt” or a single “b”.
Overall, Pottbacker has many variants, spelling variations, and surnames of the same origin. It is likely derived from the Middle High German “pot” meaning “potter”, combined with “bacher” meaning “dweller”. Variants of this surname are primarily found in Germany, Austria, the United States, and other countries in Europe. Variations of the surname can also include alternate forms of the “Pot” root name combined with other Germanic elements.
Famous people with the name Pottbacker
- Chris Pottebacker: American actor, known for roles in 'Veronica Mars', '24', 'Frequency', 'Six Feet Under' and in various television series.
- Nicola Pottbacker: Austrian professional ski-jumper.
- John Pottbacker: Prominent German artist and sculptor.
- Ernest F. Pottbacker: former mayor of Oakland, California.
- Lt. William Eugene Pottbacker: United States Marine Corps aviator who served in World War II.
- Martin Pottbacker: well-known German-born archaeologist and writer.
- Otto Pottbacker: Austrian-born physicist and chemist who discovered the proton and the neutron.
- Karoline Pottbacker: notable German actor and theatre director.
- Alex Pottbacker: professional soccer player who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Canada.
- Karsten Pottbacker: German-born actor.
- Katie Pottbacker: American businesswoman, speaker and entrepreneur.
- Nate Pottbacker: American jazz saxophonist and composer.
- Marissa Pottbacker: American actor and comic.
- Giovanni Pottbacker: Brazilian professional soccer player.
- Steve Pottbacker: professional golfer known for his victories on the European Tour.