Surname Amthor - Meaning and Origin
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Amthor: What does the surname Amthor mean?
The last name Amthor is a German surname derived from a profession or place of residence. The earliest recorded spelling of this surname is Ambthor, dating to the 12th century.
In its original form, it comes from the Middle High German word ambt, which means “office” or “service.” The suffix -thor can also signify someone who lived near a dwelling, therefore the name could originally have been used to denote someone who was employed by a local official or held an administrative position in a court of law.
The spelling of Amthor became established during the Middle Ages and has remained unchanged since that time. By the 16th century, the Amthor surname had spread across Europe as people migrated and began to establish new roots in different places.
Today, more prevalent spelling variations of the Amthor surname include Amptor, Amtior, Amptour, Ampteur, and Amptourre.
Notables with this surname have included Dutch astronomer Jan Hendrik Amthor (1837–1907); German biologist and entomologist Paul Friedrich Amthor (1890–1940); and American-born Baron ghayer Amthor, aka Ghayter Amthor (1944-).
Order DNA origin analysisAmthor: Where does the name Amthor come from?
The last name Amthor is commonly found throughout Germany and Northern Europe. The name is first recorded in Germany and is derived from the Old German word “ammer,” meaning “a cutting tool.”
It’s likely that those who took on the Amthor last name likely had some kind of profession involving a cutting tool, such as a workman or a blacksmith. The Amthor surname is most commonly found in Germany today, as well as areas to the east of Germany including Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria.
In modern Germany, the frequency of Amthor surnames is most concentrated around Hamburg, the country's second-largest city. In fact, nearly one in twelve people living in Hamburg bear this name.
Outside of Germany, the Amthor and Ammer last names are part of a small but tight-knit diaspora spread throughout Northern Europe. They are particularly common in France, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
The name is also common in the United States due to a wave of German immigration that began in the mid-1800s. The Amthor last name is particularly widespread in parts of the United States with historic German populations, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
Variations of the surname Amthor
The surname Amthor is known to have many variants and spellings from various countries. Generally, the surname can be spelled as Ahmthor, Ämthor, Amthauer, Amthor, Amtheuer, Amthueer, Amthauer, Emthau, Emthauer, and Oemthauer. These variations stem from the spelling conventions of different cultures, combined with unstable transcription methods used for the general record-keeping of the past.
In Germany, the surname is typically spelled as Amthauer or Amthor, derived from the old German use of “Aemath,” which meant local government official. Amathal, Amathaler, Amathalkar, Amathals, Emathal, and Emathauler are some common German variations of the name.
Another prevalent variation of this surname is the Spanish variant Amator, which is derived from the Latin word “Amator,” meaning “lover.” A popular variation among Spanish Jews is Amit; others include Amitai, Amitay, Amenor, Amar, Obama, and Omar.
The Dutch also have their own variation, Emthoor, which is sometimes referred to as Emthor or Emthorsen. The English variants of this name are Amter, Amthor, and Ambers. The Swedish variation is Ämthor.
In Polish, the surname is spelled as Amthor, Amt, Emt, Mto, and Mtołicka. Lastly, the Russian and Ukrainian variants are Amt, Amtov, and Amtor, or sometimes even Amtorov.
In conclusion, the surname Amthor can have several variations and spellings whose origin are rooted in different countries and cultures. As families have spread across the globe, the spelling of this name has changed and diversified to include numerous derivatives.
Famous people with the name Amthor
- Claire Amthor: French cross-country skier
- Hartmut Amthor: German chemical engineer
- Anja Amthor: German former international handball player
- John Amthor: American singer and songwriter
- Jordan Amthor: German basketball player
- Lina Amthor: German professional tennis player
- Lisa Amthor: American professional wrestler
- Malte Amthor: German volleyball player
- Mark Amthor: American water polo player
- Nathan Amthor: American Scorpion Commander in the Army
- Peter Amthor: German politician, Member of Parliament
- Rick Amthor: American economist
- Rudolf Amthor: German general and physician
- Scott Amthor: American former racecar driver
- Timo-Veikko Amthor: German composer, organist, and choirmaster
- Tracy Amthor: Dish Network executive
- Wilhelm Amthor: German politician
- William Amthor: American tax adviser and accountant