Surname Voßkötter - Meaning and Origin
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Voßkötter: What does the surname Voßkötter mean?
The last name Voßkötter is a German name, with the root words "Voß" and "Kötter" meaning "forester" or "woodsman" and "peasant," respectively. This name originally indicated someone who was either a woodcutter or a peasant who worked in the forest. It was likely a name given to someone who eked out a living from hunting, gathering, or working in the woods. The surname is quite common in Germany and can also be written Voßkotter or Voßkottor, sometimes spelled with a double-s or double-o.
The name Voßkötter is derived from the old German word "Voß", meaning forest or woodsman. This was likely meant to be a descriptive name, indicating someone who works in the forest. In the High German language, the phrase "voß" and "kötter" are closely associated with hunting and gathering, as someone who would gather food and materials from the woods. The name is particularly prevalent in the Central German region, suggesting it may have originated from there.
Descendants of Voßkötter families are spread throughout Germany and beyond as the surname is popular and likely has many variants. It has been in use since at least the Middle Ages, suggesting its ancient origin.
It is unclear when the name first originated, but it appears to be a fairly old surname. The name Voßkötter signifies someone from a working-class family that relied on the woods for sustenance and materials. Whether the family kept up the tradition of woodcutting or became integrated into other parts of society, the name is likely to have been passed down from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisVoßkötter: Where does the name Voßkötter come from?
The last name Voßkötter is mainly found in Germany. It is most commonly located in the area of Nordrhein-Westphalen in the western part of the country. The name is thought to originate in the county of Lingen and may have been borne by immigrants who settled in the area during the Middle Ages. In the 1990s, there were around 500 people with the name Voßkötter in Germany.
The name is also found in other locations around the world, although in much smaller numbers. It has been noted in Austria and other parts of Europe, as well in the United States and Canada.
The name Voßkötter does not have an obvious meaning though it does seem related to the word ‘Kötter’, which was a nickname for someone who worked in the leather trade. This suggests that this name may refer to a family of leather workers, or possibly a location where the family lived or worked. It is also possible that the name refers to where a Voßkötter ancestor originally came from.
Given its relative scarcity today, the name Voßkötter may be a common surname in areas of Germany, but has not spread very far beyond this region. For those looking to trace their Voßkötter ancestry, sites such as www.myheritage.com offer a range of resources to help in researching family history.
Variations of the surname Voßkötter
The surname Voßkötter is of German origin and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Voskötter, Voskoetter, Vöskötter, Voeskoeatter, Voeskoetter, and Vösköetter.
Voßkötter is derived from the German word "voß," meaning "fox," and the German word "kötter," meaning "cottar, tenant farmer." Historically, the name Voskötter was a title given to tax-paying tenant farmers who worked on the property of a wealthy family or noble.
Variations of the surname Voßkötter can be found in other countries, too. In the Netherlands, the surname is spelled as Voskotter, Voeskotter, Voeskoetter, and Voeskoeatter. In Denmark, the names Voßkötter and Vösköetter are used. In Poland, the name is spelled as Woszkoetter or Woszkotter.
Variations of the surname Voßkötter have also taken on different spellings over the years. Common variants include Vosketter, Vosskoetter, Vosskotter, Vowkötter, and Voedkötter.
Surnames that originated from the same source as Voßkötter include Fuchs, Fink, Kötter, Koter, Kotter, and Rogger.
In short, Voßkötter is a German surname derived from the terms voß and kötter and is associated with tenant farming. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Voskötter, Voskoetter, Vöskötter, Voeskoeatter, Voeskoetter, Vösköetter, Vosketter, Vosskoetter, Vosskotter, Vowkötter, Voedkötter, Fuchs, Fink, Kötter, Koter, Kotter, and Rogger.
Famous people with the name Voßkötter
- André Voßkötter: German Football Manager who worked with VfL Bochum (1981-1986), FC Cologne (1986-1989), SC Freiburg (1989-1992).
- Udo Voßkötter: German Football Manager who worked with VfB Oldenburg (2001-2007), SV Werder Bremen (2008-2010) and Greuther Fürth (2011-2013).
- Heiko Voßkötter: German Professional Soccer Player who played for various German teams including VfB Oldenburg, 1.FC Köln, 1.FC Kaiserslautern, FSV Mainz and 1.FC Nürnberg.
- Tanja Voßkötter: German Politician, Member of the Christian Democratic Union since 1991.
- Martin Voßkötter: German Actor and Director whose most notable works include 'Shakespeare in Love' (1998) and 'Barefoot' (2005).
- Michael Voßkötter: German Television Host who was the host of the popular TV show 'Aktuell' in the late 1990s.
- Richard Voßkötter: German Businessman who served as the CEO of Haacke Haus, one of Germany's leading housing companies.
- Helene Voßkötter: German Chemist and Professor who worked at the Goethe University of Frankfurt.
- Guido Voßkötter: German Writer and Professor of Media Studies at the Ernst Busch Academy.
- Wieland Voßkötter: German Businessman and Former CEO of Schneider Electric Group.