Surname Godehard - Meaning and Origin

Godehard: What does the surname Godehard mean?

The last name Godehard is an old Germanic personal name. It is composed of the elements "Gōd," meaning "God," and "hard," meaning "hardy" or "strong." Thus, the name Godehard literally translates to "God-strong" or "God-hardy," indicating someone who is strong in their faith.

Godehard is believed to have originated as a name within the royal family of Swabia, a region of southern Germany, during the ninth century AD. The earliest known bearer of the name was Swanacht, the Bishop of Augsburg from 851 to 879. Other prominent Godehard figures of the past include Godehard of Hildesheim, a Benedictine monk who wrote religious works in the eleventh century.

Throughout Germanic history, Godehard has been associated with family loyalty, strength, and piety. The name stresses the importance of staying true to one's values, being steadfast and loyal, and having faith in God.

Today, the name Godehard is still commonly found throughout Germany, particularly in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony. In recent years, it has also spread to other regions of the world, with people bearing the name found in the United States, Canada, and even beyond. The name Godehard still carries with it a hint of the faith, strength, and family loyalty that it symbolized for centuries in Germany.

Godehard: Where does the name Godehard come from?

The last name Godehard is of German origin. The name is particularly common in Germany, where it has been recorded since the 1500s. It is also found in other parts of Europe, particularly in Denmark and Norway. In the United States, the last name Godehard is most often found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. There are also small numbers present in several other states, and there are members of the Godehard family in Canada.

In the 1990 census, the Godehard family was recorded with 333 households in the United States, making it the 4,567th most common surname in the country at that time.

In addition to its presence in North America, the Godehard family can be found in a number of other countries, including Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand.

As with any surname, the distribution of the Godehard family has changed over time and today it is likely to be found in many different locations. As such, it is impossible to pinpoint exactly where the Godehard family is the most common. However, it is clear that the family has been present in various parts of the world for centuries, and it is likely to remain present in many countries to come.

Variations of the surname Godehard

Godehard is a surname arising from the Germanic personal name 'Godehard' which is derived from two distinct elements, 'godo' meaning 'God' and 'hardu' meaning 'strong or brave'. It is believed to be a nickname for a very strong or brave warrior. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Godehard include Godhard, Godhardt, Godard, Gudaard, Guedhard, Guthard, Goedde, Gode, Goedehart, Goertz, Goehrich, Goedde, Göders, Göhlert, Gautsch, Goetze, Godeh of Gudih, and Goedharts.

The variant spellings of Godehard were created over time due to language and regional variations, resulting in different and multiple spelling variations, such as the Dutch spelling variants of Goddaard and Goedhard (Goeddaert). Sometimes, even the spelling of a surname changed over a course of time, in response to the different spellings of the same language. For example, Göhlert, derived from the surname Göhard, is a combination of both German and Dutch languages.

Other regional spelling variants include the French version Goudard, the English version Godhard, and the Swedish spelling Gudhård. In addition, the various variants of Godehard possess different surnames of the same origin. Some of these related surnames include Bodehde, Godeye, Goethig, Gottschalk, Guttentag, and Godhart.

The Godehard surname was quite popular during the Middle Ages, due to the significance of its meaning. It has steadily seen a decline in numbers since then, with modern variants more common in Bavaria, Saxony, and other parts of Germany.

Famous people with the name Godehard

• Saint Godehard of Hildesheim (980-1038), a German Catholic bishop who was canonized in 1131.
• Willibald Godehard von Büren (1772-1833), a field marshal in the Prussian Army and minister of war.
• Fred Godehard (1924-2007), an American artist and printmaker.
• Jutta Godehard (born 1948), a German physicist and politician.
• Marlene Godehard (born 1950), a German mezzo-soprano opera singer.
• Ursula Godehard Shultz (1928-2020), a Swiss geneticist and embryologist.
• Ingolf Godehard (born 1963), a German actor, director, and theatre founder, co-founder of the Theater university of Lübeck.
• Tanja Godehard (born 1967), a German painter and ceramist.
• Til Godehard (born 1980), a German classical pianist.
• Inga Godehard (born 1989), a German ski jumper.

Other surnames

GodehardtGodehart