Surname Göfert - Meaning and Origin
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Göfert: What does the surname Göfert mean?
The surname Göfert is an old German name derived from the given name Göfer, which was derived in turn from the Germanic elements “gōd” meaning “good” and “friþu” meaning "peace, protection”. This indicates that the original bearer of the name was perceived to be a bringer of good peace and protection in their community.
The name Göfert is predominantly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It is also found in the United States, having been taken there by German immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
There is consensus among scholars that the Göfert family originated in Germany’s old Upper Rhineland region, which today lies in eastern France, western Germany and northwestern Switzerland. Indeed, records of the name Göfert in Germany date back to at least the 1500s.
The localized variation of Göfert around Germany gives us an indication of the origin of the name, the first recorded instance of it being in the village of Göfert in Oberamt (now district) Sulzburg. This was located in what is today the modern German state of Baden-Württemberg.
Today, Göfert families found across the world are descended from this origin - from long lineages in Germany’s Upper Rhineland through to more recent German emigrants touching down in the United States, and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisGöfert: Where does the name Göfert come from?
The last name Göfert is most commonly found in Germany today. It is an old German name whose origins date back to the Middle Ages. In Germany, it is most common in the northern states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also present, but less common, in the states of Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein.
Within Germany, Göfert is a relatively rare last name. Additionally, the Göfert name is present in Austria, Switzerland, and other neighboring countries, but traces of the name in the census from those countries are scarce. It is likely that Göfert families emigrated from Germany to these countries and have since assimilated into the cultures.
Interestingly, Göfert is also found in the United States. The first recorded individual to bear the Göfert name in the US was Johann Jacob Göfert, who came to the US in 1788. Over the next two hundred years, more families bearing the Göfert name have followed his lead, and the Göfert name can now be found across the country, especially in the northern and midwestern states.
In summary, the last name Göfert is most commonly found in Germany today, but it is also present in Austria, Switzerland, and other neighboring countries. Additionally, Göfert families have emigrated to the United States over the last two centuries, allowing the name to become more widespread throughout the country.
Variations of the surname Göfert
Göfert is a German surname derived from the obsolete word “göfe” which meant “guest” or “stranger”. The variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin include:
Goffer, Goffer, Goefert, Gofart, Goffard, Gofert, Goffert, Gofffart, Gofhort, Gofhard, Gofard, Gofford, Gofhort, Goepfert, Göpfert, Göppert, Göffert, Göpfer, Geffers, Geffert, and Gäfert.
Goffer is the most commonly used variant spelling for the surname Göfert, originating from the Germanic word “göfen,” which meant to accept or to greet as a guest. This surname is also sometimes spelled as Goffer, which is the English version of the German Göfert. Gofert is another variant spelling, which is a combination of gofer and fer, which was an old German word meaning “man.”
Goffard is a variant of the same origin as Göfert. This spelling is more commonly found in France and is derived from the Old French word “goiffard” which meant “proud” or “haughty.” Similarly, Gofhort is the combination of the two words “göffer” and the Middle High German word “hort,” which meant “courageous.”
Goffer is a spelling derived from the Middle English “goufre,” which meant to receive warmly as a guest. This spelling is found more commonly in the United Kingdom.
Göppert is a variant that can be found in Austria. This spelling is a combination of the Middle High German word “gopfür” which meant “treasurer” and its Middle High German root, “oper,” which meant “great” or “valuable.”
Geffers and Geffert are two variant spellings found in the Netherlands. They are variations of the Dutch word “givre,” which meant “apostle” or, more generally, a messenger. Similarly, Gäfert is a variant of the same origin found more commonly in Germany, derived from another Middle German word, “gövere.” This word was a combination of the German words “göfe” and “vere,” meaning “to accept” and “man,” respectively.
Famous people with the name Göfert
- Eric Göfert — German swimmer who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Frieda Göfert — Austrian journalist who was awarded the Golden Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria in 1987.
- Erika Göfert — Austrian costume designer and film director who worked in Hollywood during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Dietmar Göfert — Viennese architect and designer who has completed several notable projects, including the Brunnenmarkt public housing project in Vienan.
- Robert Göfert — Austrian musician and lyricist whose works include popular songs like ‘Gott mit dir, du Land der Berge’ and ‘Lieb Vaterland, Magst Ruhig Sein’.
- Friedrich Göfert — German chemist and professor who was a renowned expert of thermodynamics.
- Max Göfert — German artist known for his historic and landscape oil paintings.
- Hans-Joachim Göfert — German lawyer, judge, and politician who was the Federal Minister of Justice from 1979 to 1982.
- Monika Göfert — German Olympic track and field athlete, winner of a bronze medal in the 800 metres at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
- Hans-Günther Göfert — German biochemist who helped develop the process of mass-spectrometry.