Surname Goerten - Meaning and Origin
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Goerten: What does the surname Goerten mean?
The last name Goerten is of German origin, derived from the personal name Goert, which is derived from the old Germanic name 'Gaudo'. The name Goerten is thought to have been an occupational name, given to people who were involved in agriculture and farming.
The name Goerten first appeared in Germany at around the beginning of the thirteenth century. Records exist of a Goerten living in Herbsleben in Thuringia, which is believed to be the earliest known recorded instance of the name. In the Middle Ages, many people adopted surnames as a way to distinguish their family from the others in their village or region. People often adopted the names of personal attributes, such as physical features, or traits, such as bravery or intelligence.
Today, the last name Goerten is still fairly widespread in Germany. People with this last name can also be found in other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Those bearing the Goerten name are often described as hard-working, reliable, and loyal, with a strong sense of family values.
This surname has come to represent a unique form of heritage and cultural identity in today’s society, and it is important for people bearing this name to understand its significance and history.
Order DNA origin analysisGoerten: Where does the name Goerten come from?
The last name Goerten is most commonly seen in Germany, particularly in the Rhineland today. The first known variants of the name likely date back to the time of the early Holy Roman Empire (9th century). The name would have been spread through Germany as people moved and intermarried. Over time, specific variants emerged in specific regions. For instance, the form Goerten is more commonly seen in the Rhineland today.
It is believed that the origin of Goerten is from the German word “gört” meaning “valley” or “fountain” so it is possible it originated as a topographical name in reference to someone who lived near a valley or a fountain, or a patronymic surname based on the personal name Görtz or Görtje.
It is possible that there are variants of the surname Goerten in other European countries with strong German migrations, such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland. In the United States, Goerten is most commonplace in Wisconsin and Michigan, where there are significant German-American populations. It has also been found in a few other states, including Illinois, New York and Minnesota.
Overall, the last name Goerten is associated with greater Germany, where it is most widespread today.
Variations of the surname Goerten
The variant spelling of the surname Goerten is Gaerten. This surname is a German name derived from the Old German words “Geh” and “erten” which combined mean “to plow the land”. Therefore, it is an occupational surname given to individuals who worked as farmers, plowing and cultivating the land.
This surname can also be found with the spelling variations of Gorrten, Gorsten, Gaerden, Goertz and Goerden.
The surname is also found in other countries, outside of Germany. In Holland, it is found as Goerten, in the Netherlands it is found as Goerts and in France as Gaerts. It can be also misspelled, such as Gorton, Gorden and Gordon.
In a few countries, the surname has taken upon slight changes in spelling, such as Goorten in Venezuela, Gaertner in Austria and Goerdt in Sweden and Poland.
The surnames still found in Germany with the same origin as Goerten include Gehrken, Gerken and Gercken. In France, it is found as Gaerthon, Gaerge and Gāghon. In Sweden, it is found as Gårdt and in Denmark, it is found as Görden.
With such a wide variety of spellings and variants, Goerten is considered to be a Global Family Name, with variations found in countries all over the world.
Famous people with the name Goerten
- Marvin Goerten: Former professional baseball player who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1944-46.
- Yolanda Goerten: First-generation Dutch immigrant to Australia, renowned for her vocal performances.
- Harald Goertzen: German actor best known for his roles in films such as Boys From Brazil andla Vita Artificiale .
- Martin Goerten: German historian and economic historian who has written a number of important books on the 19th and 20th century German economy.
- August Goertz: German politician who served as Foreign Minister for the Weimar Republic in the early 1920s.
- Eben Goertzen: American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist in 1968.
- Mark Goertzen: Animals rights activist and legal scholar whose work focuses on the protection of non-human animals.
- Erwin Goerten: Dutch sculptor known for his figurative and abstract sculptures.
- Wolfgang Goertten: German composer who compose works for both concert and theater.
- Klaus Goerten: German architect and urban planner who is best known for his design of public housing in Germany and other countries.