Surname Goettgens - Meaning and Origin
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Goettgens: What does the surname Goettgens mean?
The last name Goettgens is of German origin, and is an occupational surname derived from two Goethe-like words. The first part stems from “Götte” which means “Gut-man,” or “Godly man.” The second part of this surname, “gens” may come from either “genan” (to give) or “Gens” (people). Together the literal meaning of Goettgens is “giving Godly man” or “God’s people.” This is likely a reference to those who come from God; as in, those that are devoted to religious practices.
Throughout history, this surname was likely used to describe someone who works for or serves God in some way. This could refer to a priest, monk, or a teacher. Additionally, it could refer to someone who was active in the community, doing charitable works or other acts of kindness in honor of God. Further, Goettgens may have been used to refer to someone who is descended from Germanic nobility. This implies a level of wealth, power, and prestige within a given community.
Nowadays, the surname is carried by many people around the globe. This surname is often found in Germany, England, Southern Europe, and North America. It has become more common as families have begun to move around and try to find prosperity in different parts of the world. As the name continues to spread, it may become even more international than ever before.
Order DNA origin analysisGoettgens: Where does the name Goettgens come from?
The last name Goettgens is of German origin and is still very common in Germany today. It is spread throughout the country, with the largest concentrations found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. In some cases, the name is spelled as Göttgens or Göddgens.
Today, Goettgens is one of the most common surnames, ranking in the national top 500 last names in Germany. The name is also found across the Netherlands, Belgium, and in some nearby areas of France.
Outside of Europe, it is relatively rare. Goettgens immigrants to the United States often sought a more Anglicized version of the name, so only small groups of people still bear this name in the US today. Similarly, it is also unlikely that anyone in the Americas outside of German descent still carries the surname.
As the name Goettgens has a long and storied history in Europe, many Americans and Europeans with German heritage still proudly bear the name, passing it down to future generations. In such cases, the name retains its old spelling which was prevalent when the family was first established in Europe.
Variations of the surname Goettgens
The surname Goettgens is a German surname which is believed to have originated from the old German word "Gotegens", meaning "in the good-law". Variants of the last name Goettgens include Goettingen, Goethengen, Gothgens, Gootgens, Gottgens, and Gottingen.
In addition, the surname is also found as derivations like Gootgensheim, Gootgenshamer, Goettgenss, Goettgensdorf, Gottingens, Goettengens, Gottgensdorf, Gottingenshafer, Goettengenshafer, Goettengensheim, Gootgenshapprosche, Gottingenshagen, Godarella, Gottingensheim, Godennon, and Goettenbauer.
Surnames of the same origin sometimes have regional spellings and variations. In some regions, the original spelling appears with an extra letter "e" in between the "t" and the "g" as Goettegens. The variants of the Goettgens surname are also found as spellings without the "g", and can appear as Goetens, Gotens, Gootens, and Gotenss.
In variation, additional surnames include Gastel, Gassel, Guttel, Güthell, Gütte, Gierath, Gayer, Geilen, Geisel, Geisler and Goetz. Similarly, the original German source of the surname is found in other variants such as Gottschalk, Gottschling, Gottwalt, Gottwals, Gottlos, Gottke, Gottland, Gotthelf, Gottholm, Gotthard, Goethe, Goetter, Gockel, Goepel, and Goebel.
All in all, the surname Goettgens can have up to 33 variations, some with regional variants. It is believed that these surnames have a common origin which can be attributed to early German phrase meaning "in the good-law". This phrase has since been translated in various cultures, resulting in the various variants of the Goettgens last name.
Famous people with the name Goettgens
- Bernd Goettgens: a German Expressionist and Neo-Romantic painter and sculptor.
- Peter Goettgens: a German actor and director.
- Felix Goettgens: a German physicist who specialized in optics and was head of the laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Physics.
- Chris Goettgens: a French professional footballer who currently plays for FC Lorient.
- Harry Goettgens: a German-born American entrepreneur and businessman most well-known as General Motors' chairman and CEO from 1937 to 1953.
- Ralf Goettgens: a German soccer goalkeeper who made his debut in 1959.
- Cornitius Goettgens: a German doctor who studied the effects of high-intensity ultrasound in diagnosis and treatment.
- Wilhelm Goettgens: a German chemist who did research in the field of organic chemistry, natural product synthesis, and industrial processes.
- Ernst Goettgens: a German scientist and professor of medicine who studied the role of endocrinology in metabolic diseases in his writings and research papers.
- Alexander Goettgens: a German race car driver who competed in the Formula One World Championship between 1958 and 1959.