Surname Gotthold - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gotthold: What does the surname Gotthold mean?
The last name Gotthold is of German origin. The Germanic root of this name is "got-thald," which translates to mean "God-bold" or "God-strong." Historically, this surname was given to individuals who had an especially strong faith in God or were particularly devoted to their religious faith.
The surname Gotthold is likely to have first originated from a place name or geographical location with roots in Old German. It is also derived from a personal name, as with many German last names.
Gotthold is a patronymic, or a last name derived from the first name of a father or ancestor, in this case Gotthold. It is a very common surname in Germany, suggesting that the individuals who first obtained it likely spread it to other regions of the country.
The Gotthold surname has also spread to other parts of the world such as the United Kingdom and United States. In the US, the first Gotthold may have been Johann Gotthold, who immigrated from Germany in 1866 with his family and settled in North Dakota.
Over time, the meaning of the Gotthold name has changed and adapted. It is now used by individuals from all walks of life who do not necessarily have a particular religious faith, but who still recognize the strength of faith and devotion to something greater than themselves.
Order DNA origin analysisGotthold: Where does the name Gotthold come from?
The last name Gotthold is of German origin and is typically seen in central and northern Germany. It may have come from the old German given name “Gotthold”, derived from “gut hold” meaning “good estate”. In modern times, Gotthold is also seen in many other countries,but is most common in Germany, as well as the Netherlands, the United States and Canada.
The name Gotthold was historically associated with noble families in several regions of Europe,. It appears in the records of Prussia, Austria, and Hungary: the noble family of von Gotthold purchased an estate in Tirol in 1345. The name may have been derived from a place name (Gottelshof) in Meissen, Saxony.
The last name Gotthold is still quite common in Germany and is seen in many German-speaking countries, as well as parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is also found throughout the United States and Canada, in both historically German-speaking areas, as well as newer immigrant populations. It is also seen in the Netherlands, Mexico, France, and Spain, as well as other countries. In the US, it is the 4,577th most common surname.
Variations of the surname Gotthold
The Gotthold surname has a variety of spellings and variants, some of which are noted below.
The most common variants are Gottlieb and Gottlob; the former is also sometimes anglicized further as: Gottee or Gotte. Gotte, Gottel, and Gotthel are various other versions of the same name.
Gotthold can also be spelled Gothold, Gottwald, Gottheld, Goethold, Götthold, Goetthold, Goetheld, Gothler, and Gothold to name a few variations. Each of these variations comes with a unique accentuation and spelling, expressing the changing back-and-forth of accents, consonants, and vowels as the surname has evolved over time.
Other surnames with similar roots or shared etymology include Gotthard, Gottfrid, and Gottwalt. Gottheiner, Gottheiner, Gottlieb-Gutwein, and Gottfreund are also variations on the same name.
The Gotthold surname has its origins in German language, originating from the word for “God” and “rule”. It is generally understood to mean “one favored by God” or “friend of God”.
The range of spelling and variations originates from the name being spoken over time, transcribed in different styles of handwriting and multiple language translations, as well as Romanization of the German language. The Gotthold surname is still widely in existence, and the many spelling variations linked to it allow for further exploration of genealogy and ancestry.
Famous people with the name Gotthold
- Jens Gotthold Max Christiansen (1962-), German comic artist and illustrator
- Johann Gotthold Pierer (1773-1858), German businessman and publisher
- Gustav Gotthold (1903-1981), German architect
- David Gotthold (1952-2004), American painter
- Johannes Gotthold von Grundwerg (1751-1815), German theologian
- Ferdinand Gotthold (1839-1909), Austrian industrialist
- Wilhelm Gotthold (1831-1911), German ophthalmologist
- Jan Gotthold (1756-1825), German-Polish singer and dramatist
- Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781), German writer and philosopher
- Henry Gotthold von Blomm (1881-1951), German World War I and World War II general