Surname Gödecker - Meaning and Origin

Gödecker: What does the surname Gödecker mean?

The last name Gödecker is an occupational surname of German origin. It comes from a combination of two words: “Göde” meaning “cottager” and “Ker”, a shortened form of the German word “Kerl” which translates to “man”. This combination literally translates to “cottager man” and is believed to have been given to individuals who farmed small plots of land to grow vegetables and other produce for subsistence.

This name is likely to have been given to a particular family by a local government official when the first members of the family appeared on the scene, probably sometime in the early 1700s. The name has since been passed down through the generations, becoming both a colorful reminder of the family’s roots and a unique identifier for them.

Nowadays, Gödecker is most commonly used as an ethnic surname. The name is primarily found in parts of Germany and Switzerland, although there are a few scattered families with this surname in other parts of Europe and North America. Most of the individuals with this surname are descendants of the same original family, although it is possible for a person to develop the surname independently.

For those who carry the last name Gödecker, the name is both a physical and symbolic reminder of their rich family history and serves to tie them to the memory of their ancestors.

Gödecker: Where does the name Gödecker come from?

The last name Gödecker is most commonly found in the Franconian area of Germany today. Specifically, the surname is mentioned most often in the northern part of Bavaria, which has several cities that actively record genealogical records and family histories. It is commonly found in places like Ansbach, Gunzenhausen, Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl, and Nürnberg. Records show that the earliest mentions of the surname date back to the Middle Ages, when families with the Gödecker name were first encountered.

It is believed that the Gödecker family name originated in Nordbaiern, a region which is now part of Northern Bavaria. During the early Middle Ages, this region was home to many highly influential families who inhabited small towns and villages. As time passed and families spread, the Gödeckers were no exception. Many branches of the Gödecker family eventually established themselves in many other parts of Germany and Austria.

Today, the Gödecker name remains widely distributed throughout Bavaria. However, there are also many Gödeckers who have emigrated to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and even South America. Recent records suggest that many Gödeckers may have chosen to emigrate as a result of the economic and religious turmoil that occurred in Bavaria during the mid-19th century. Due to this, the last name Gödecker has become both a recognizable and fairly widespread one throughout much of the globe.

Variations of the surname Gödecker

The surname Gödecker is of German origin. It is derived from Godecke, an old German given name which is a pet form of "Gottschalk". The variants of Gödecker include Gödtke, Gödke, Göddeck, Godecker, Goedeker, Goedecke, Goedicke, Godecke, Gudke, and Goodecke.

Some famous people bearing the Gödecke name include Uwe Godecker, the German wrestler, Eberhard Godecker, the German mathematician, and Jan Godecker, the Dutch composer.

The Gödecker surname is also common among the Dutch, especially in the Netherlands. Alternate spellings and variants of Gödecker in Dutch include Goedeker, Goedecke, Goedicke, Goeddegek, Godecke, Godekker, and Godecker.

The Gödecker surname is also found in the United States. Alternate spellings in the United States include Gooddecar, Goodecker, Goedecke, Goodicke, Goediker, and Godecke.

Though the Gödecker surname is more common in Europe, particularly in Germany, it has spread to many parts of the world. Spelling variations are common with some other European countries also having different variants. Variants in other languages, dialects, and cultures may include variants such as Godecfeaten, Gödecker, Gódeker, Goudekker, Goudacker, Gudecker, Goedicke, Goedecke, Gudecke, Goediker, and Goediaer.

No matter what variation of the surname Gödecker is found, they are all most likely descended from the same person of Germanic origin who first took the name several centuries ago.

Famous people with the name Gödecker

• Wolfgang Gödecker: German athlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist in canoeing at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Karsten Gödecker: German politician, Member of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia from 2002 to 2010.
• Wendelin Gödecker: German professor of geochemistry at the Technische Universität Darmstadt.
• Andrea Gödecker: German professional golfer and four time winner on the Ladies European Tour.
• Jochen Gödecker: German actor, best known for appearing in more than 60 films and TV series since 1984.
• Max Gödecker: German composer, known for his many works from the late 19th and 20th centuries. 7.devyya Gödecker: German singer, released her debut EP "Down to the Sky" in 2018.
• Elisabeth Gödecker: German politician, member of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2014.
• Warner Gödecker: German entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the family-owned company G&G Buerosysteme, a leading provider of office supplies worldwide.
• Hermann Gödecker: Swiss historian, known for his works on ancient languages and civilizations.

Other surnames

GödeckeGödecken