Surname Gotschlich - Meaning and Origin
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Gotschlich: What does the surname Gotschlich mean?
Gotschlich is a German surname that originated from the Middle High German word "gother", meaning “foolishness, recklessness” or “frivolous behavior”. This likely indicates that the original bearer of the surname was someone considered to be reckless or impulsive in the way they acted.
The surname Gotschlich is suggested to have originated in the region of Silesia, now located in south-east Poland and the Czech Republic. It may also have been associated with various areas of the Mediterranean Sea, likely due to some of its members relocating to those regions over the centuries. The name is unlikely to have spread very far, with the majority of its bearers still located in Germany and Poland at present.
Gotschlich is not a particularly common name, but it is still quite recognizable. The majority of people with the name in the present-day are likely to have ancestors who grew up in rural Central or Eastern Europe.
Those with the name Gotschlich are likely to have ancestors who grew up in villages and small towns, perhaps reflecting the origin meaning of the name. The family's reckless attitude may still be seen in modern times, and could be an indicator of the traits of its original bearer.
Order DNA origin analysisGotschlich: Where does the name Gotschlich come from?
The surname Gotschlich is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with a much smaller presence in other parts of Europe and the United States. The surname likely originated in the German-speaking countries and was likely a variant of the surname Gottschlich, which likely means “son of God”.
In Germany, Gotschlich is most commonly found in the state of Saxony, and particularly in the Erzgebirge Mountains bordering the Czech Republic. In Switzerland, the name is most frequently found in the canton of Uri in Central Switzerland. In Austria, the name is more common in the western part of the country, particularly in the Vorarlberg region. Additionally, Gotschlich has been recorded in the historical archives of France and Italy.
In the United States, Gotschlich is a much rarer surname. The first immigrants with the surname Gotschlich arrived in the mid-1800s, likely arriving in large part from Germany, and settling in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan. Later, some emigrated to New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In the present day, the Gotschlich surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan.
Overall, the surname Gotschlich has a long history in the German-speaking countries of Europe, as well as a small presence in the United States. While the name is not particularly common in any one place, it is widely distributed across multiple countries and regions.
Variations of the surname Gotschlich
The surname Gotschlich is believed to have originated from Germany. It has several variants, spellings and surnames, which could be used interchangeably.
The most popular variant of Gotschlich is Gottschlich/Gottschlick, which is derived from the old German roots of Gott ( God) and Schlick (sludge, mud, clay) together signifying one who was born in a clay-like area. A variation of this name is Goetschlich, another popular form in Germany.
Gotschlich could also refer to Goetschalck/Goeckel, which is an uncommon name but has many variants including Goetschalk, Ganschalck, Goetschalke, or Goeckel. This variant of Gotschlich originates from the Latin, Goscalcus, meaning a ‘scribe’ or ‘secretary’ who was in charge of keeping records in the court of justice.
Gotschlich could also refer to Guthschlick/Gütschlick or Gutschlick, an old German variant of the Jewish surname Gutensohn meaning 'son of God'.
The surname Possline is also closely related to Gotschlich; derived from medieval Latin possessio, meaning 'possession', Possline was first found in East Europe and mainly in Germany.
Other spellings and variants of Gotschlich include Gotschlager, which is derived from the German word 'Lager', meaning 'repository', and Gotschall, which is believed to have evolved from the old German 'Gotteschal or Gotteschall' meaning 'God's shawm' or 'God's trumpet'.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Gotschlich. These variants could have been derived from either Germanic roots, Latin influences or even Jewish origins.
Famous people with the name Gotschlich
- Percy Gotschlich: Former Officer in the U.S. Navy.
- Anna O. Gotschlich: Renowned Austrian author and environmental activist.
- Michael Gotschlich: German professional football player.
- Christian Johann Gotschlich: German botanist, entomologist and arachnologist best known for his work on Diptera.
- Steve Gotschlich: American ice hockey coach formerly serving as the assistant coach of the St. Louis Blues.
- Joe Gotschlich: Actor, producer and director.
- Kerstin Gotschlich: German painter and sculptor.
- Johann Leander Gotschlich: Swiss surgeon, famous for conducting many medical experiments in a search for a cure of scarlet fever.
- Massimo G. Gotschlich: Italian artist representing the Veneto region in the world of tattoo art.
- Horst Gotschlich: German skipper, navigator and ocean racer.