Surname Göttfert - Meaning and Origin

Göttfert: What does the surname Göttfert mean?

The last name Göttfert is a German surname, which is derived from the Middle High German gotevart. This word means ‘God’s army’ and is commonly believed to have originated from the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages, a gotevart was the group of soldiers and knights which were under the direct command of a ruler or religious leader. These soldiers were responsible for protecting the ruler and ensuring the security of borders, villages and towns. As a result, the surname Göttfert became a symbol of strength, loyalty, and respect.

The Göttfert surname is still in use today and is believed to be especially prevalent in the German states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony. Those with the Göttfert surname are usually thought to have a strong sense of heritage and tradition.

Over time, the Göttfert surname has evolved and there are now several variations of the spelling. These include Goettfert, Gietfert, Gättfert, Gautfert, Güttfert and Godsfert. While the original meaning of the surname still stands, many people who carry the Göttfert name have likely had their ancestors adopt the name as a result of their military endeavors.

Regardless of how or why the Göttfert surname came to be, it’s clear that it is a noble name associated with strength, bravery, and loyalty.

Göttfert: Where does the name Göttfert come from?

The last name Göttfert is most commonly found in Germany, where it originated during the medieval period. It is derived from a Germanic personal name, which has the elements “gott” meaning “God” and “fridu” meaning “peace.” It is not prominent outside of Germany, as is the case for most German surnames.

Though not as common as other familiar surnames, Göttfert can be found around the world today. There are Göttferts living in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It is believed that a migration of Göttferts left Germany during the late 1800s and early 20th century.

The majority of Göttferts in the United States live in large cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City. Smaller pockets of Göttfert families can be found scattered throughout the Midwest. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, there is a large cluster of Göttferts.

The Göttfert name is an interesting piece of European history that still remains with us in the modern day. It has been shared and celebrated all over the world by its current generation of carriers, representing a proud German heritage and demonstrating the longevity of our family tree.

Variations of the surname Göttfert

The surname Göttfert is one of the uncommon surnames in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is a variation of Goetfert, Götfert, Gottfert, and Göthfert. It also has alternative spellings such as Göttfert, Göttfard, Gödtfeuser, Göttinger, Goetze, Geotfert, and Goedfert. Göttfert is a habitational surname derived from the city of Göttfersdorf in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

The Göttfert surname is believed to have originated from a German noble family from the early 16th century. The first recorded spelling of the Göttfert family name is Gottfride. It appeared in medieval documents in Schleswig-Holstein in which Johannes Gotfrid was recorded in 1444. Later records also include variants such as Gottfrid, Gottfart, and Godtfert from various cities in Germany.

Other variants of Göttfert include Göppinger, Göppner, Gopper, Gappner, Guppenberger, Göppenberger, Göpplfer, and Göppert. Göppner is a variation of the name found in the lands of Bohemia and Slovakia. Gappner is a variant found in many areas of Germany, particularly in Bavaria. There is also a version of Göpplfer found in Switzerland, and Göppert is a version of the name found in Hungary.

Additionally, Göttfert has the Dutch variant Gootfert and the Swedish variant Gåttfert. Gootfert is an uncommon Dutch variant found in Friesland province in the Netherlands. In Sweden, Gåttfert is a variation of Göttfert found in the Göteborg (Gothenburg) area.

Famous people with the name Göttfert

• Friedrich Göttfert (1845-1920): a German industrialist known as the "King of the Machine Tool Industry" for his pivotal role in shaping the modern machinery industry in Germany.
• Helmut Göttfert (1905-1998): a German physicist and professor at the universities of Göttingen, Berlin, and Munich. He is best known for introduction of spectroscopy to the field of vacuum physics and for his many contributions to instrumentation theory and optics, including the invention of the Göttfert interferometer and the Göttfert glaremeter.
• Johannes Göttfert (1848-1937): a German machine tool builder and founder of the Göttfert Machine Tool Company. He established Göttfert in 1878 and it quickly became a leading supplier of precision machine tools during the industrial revolution.
• Adolf Göttfert (1847-1919): a German technical engineer best known for his work developing engines and the founding of Bundesverband der Deutschen Maschinenbauer (BDM), one of the largest industry associations in Germany.
• Carl Theodor Göttfert (1827-1898): a German chemist and professor at Berlin University. He is best known for his work on the development of foodstuff industry in Germany and the invention of a steam press for butter production.
• Edwin Göttfert (1835-1903): an Austrian painter best known for his portraits of rural life in Austria and Bavaria. He was a member of the Vienna Secession art movement, and his works can still be found in museums and private collections.

Other surnames

Göttferd