Surname Altjohann - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Altjohann: What does the surname Altjohann mean?
The last name Altjohann is a German surname that is derived from the Germanic word “adal”, which means “noble” and the name “Johan” which means “gracious gift of Yahweh”. This makes the surname Altjohann translated to “noble gracious gift of Yahweh”.
The exact origin or when the surname Altjohann began to be used is unknown. Its first widespread use, however, likely began in northeastern Germany sometime in the early Middle Ages. The name Altjohann eventually spread throughout Germany, as well as to other parts of Europe.
Today, the surname Altjohann can be found throughout Germany as well as in other parts of Europe such as Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and other German-speaking countries. Due to emigration, the name Altjohann can also be found today in Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Altjohann is a fairly rare surname, but there are still a few prominent German families that have roots tracing back to the original Altjohann surname. One such family is the Biedermann family, a noble family that can trace its roots back to the Altjohann lineage.
Altjohann is an elegant and attractive name that has a proud and noble history behind it. The name Altjohann symbolizes strength, wisdom, and courage that have been passed down through centuries of proud German families.
Order DNA origin analysisAltjohann: Where does the name Altjohann come from?
The surname Altjohann is believed to be of German origin, though it was historically found in several regions throughout Europe. The name likely derives from the given name "Aldtiohannes," which in the medieval German language translates to either "noble hero" or "noble lord." In modern times, the surname Altjohann is especially common in Germany, with large numbers being found in the states of Lower Saxony, Berlin, and Thuringia. The most highly concentrated population of Altjohanns found in Germany is located in Nordhausen, located in the state of Thuringia. Beyond Germany, Altjohann is also scattered throughout many countries in Europe, including Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. It is probable that many Altjohanns have since moved around Europe and the world, with some now being found in the United States, Canada, and even as far away as New Zealand. With such a widespread global population, the surname Altjohann can almost certainly be found in many places throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Altjohann
The surname Altjohann is a German surname derived from the given name Johannes and can be spelled in several ways. Variants of Altjohann can also include Alttjohann, Aljohann, Altjohannen, and Altjehanne. The name may also use the diminutive or hypocoristic suffixes of -chen, such as Altjohannchen or Alttjohannchen.
Centuries ago, surnames used to be post-fixed to a given name to create a distinct identity. A latinization of the name Altjohann is Althannen. A polish variation of the name may incorporate 'ski' and is sometimes spelled Altjanowski. Another German variant includes Alltown, which is also called Altjuhann or religious followings have used Altjonathan.
In medieval times, as people moved to different regions due to war or religious affiliations, the spelling and sound of surnames became corrupted and changed over time. This often leads to even more variants of the same surname being used, such as: Alltain, Dalthain, Altin, Alltone, and Alltjohannen.
Due to immigration, Altjohann has become a fairly widespread name, and descendants of the original families can be found all over the world. There are a few families of German-speaking countries who adopted the name as their own, such as Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.
No matter how the surname is spelled, all variations refer to ancient German families originating from Johannes and tend to evoke a sense of pride and belonging among descendants of the original family.
In conclusion, Altjohann is a widely-spelled surname of German origin as there are many spellings and surnames of Altjohann, from Alltown to Altjanowski.
Famous people with the name Altjohann
- Wilhelm Altjohann: German Grand Admiral during World War II.
- Karl Altjohann: German soldier in World War I who won the Iron Cross, Second Class.
- Wilfried Altjohann: World War I air ace with 15 wins to his credit.
- Maria Altjohann: German architect and early Modern Movement theorist.
- Peter Altjohann: German football goalkeeper who played for Hamburger SV.
- Ernst Altjohann: German business executive and author of several books on finance.
- Klara Altjohann: German actor and theater director.
- Hermann Altjohann: German taxi driver who smuggled Jews out of Buron during World War II.
- Heinz Altjohann: German World War II ace with seven aerial victories.
- Bernd Altjohann: German philosopher and political theorist.