Surname Altvogt - Meaning and Origin
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Altvogt: What does the surname Altvogt mean?
The last name Altvogt is a German surname which literally translates to “Old-Look” or “Old protector”. It is derived from Germanic elements meaning “old” and “watchman” or “protector”. It is believed to have been borne by someone who had the occupation of guarding or watching over a particular area or region.
The earliest recorded uses of this surname date back to the early 16th century in Germany, suggesting a long-standing presence in that region. Altvogt is also found in places such as the Netherlands, Austria, and throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
The last name Altvogt is still quite common today, particularly in Northern and Eastern Germany. It is also found in several other European countries, as well as the United States. It is an interesting and meaningful surname, perfect for anyone looking to trace their German heritage. Altvogt is often spelled in multiple ways, with various suffixes and prefixes, so you may find it spelled as Altvogt, Altvogt, Alltvogt, or Allvogt.
Order DNA origin analysisAltvogt: Where does the name Altvogt come from?
The last name Altvogt is most commonly found in the western and northern regions of Germany, as well as parts of Belgium. It is quite rare throughout most of Europe, though some variants of the name, such as Altvögt and Altvogt, can be found in Austria and the Czech Republic respectively.
Over time, the Altvogt name has spread out from its Germanic roots and is now found in many countries around the world, particularly throughout the Americas and Oceania. Specifically, variations of this name are very common in the United States and Canada, and particularly so in the midwestern and northeastern United States.
In Canada, the Altvogt name is mainly found in Alberta and the Maritimes. It’s present in many other parts of the world too, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and a few Latin American countries.
The Altvogt name appears to be more prevalent in the United States than anywhere else. This could likely be due to a combination of factors, including immigration and religious conversion during the 19th and 20th centuries. According to the US Census data, the most common states with the Altvogt surname are Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
It is likely that the Altvogt family origins can be traced back to a small German village located in Lower Rhine, which is now part of North Rhine-Westphalia State. Today, the village is still known as Altenvogtei, and is home to a few remaining Altvogt descendants.
Variations of the surname Altvogt
Altvogt is an German surname derived from the Middle High German words "alt" meaning old, and "vogt" meaning steward or manager. The original spelling was either Altvogt or Altvoigt. The variants of this surname include Altvogel, Altviol, Altvigh, Altvieg, Altveig, Alvoeg, Altveigh, Althvogel, and Altveig. In some cases, the last 't' in Altvogt is dropped off, creating the variant, Altvog.
When the surname entered the United States, much of the original spelling and meaning was transcribed phonetically. This led to the creation of surname spellings such as Altaft or Altafta, Altovitz, or Alltvog.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, variants of the surname include Altvoght or Altvogh, Altau, Altov, Altwig, and Altwegg. In Western Europe, alternative forms of Altvogt are also found, such as Altwogt or Altwicht.
In some instances, the surname Altvogt has been changed to Altmann (meaning old man) or Vogtaan (meaning steward), although Altvogt is still the most common surname.
The Altvogt surname is also found in Ashkenazi Jewish communities, although it is spelled differently and is pronounced differently. Alternate spellings and pronunciations of this surname include Altevogt, Altekwait, or Aaltjewitz.
Altogether, the surname Altvogt has numerous variations and spellings throughout Europe, the United States, and among Ashkenazi Jews.
Famous people with the name Altvogt
- Ferdinand Altvogt: German politician, Member of the European Parliament from Croatia
- Heidi Altvogt: German Social Democratic Party politician
- Hans Altvogt: Author and Professor of Information Systems at Humboldt University of Berlin
- Eva Altvogt: Executive Director of We Tag!
- Robert Altvogt: Conservation biologist and researcher
- Sarah Altvogt: Environmental Activist and Actress
- Albrecht Altvogt: German printmaker and curator
- Gustav Altvogt: Military Officer of the Imperial German Navy
- Rudolf Altvogt: Former Chairman of the Executive Board of Fraunhofer Society
- Harald Altvogt: German U-boat Commander during the Second World War