Surname Katte - Meaning and Origin
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Katte: What does the surname Katte mean?
The last name Katte is an occupational name, derived from the Middle German term ‘katte’ which was used to refer to a middle-man who oversaw contracts and transactions. By extension, the term 'Katte' can also refer to money lenders, brokers, and vendors.
In some cases, the name may have been derived from old German terms such as ‘Kettel’, meaning ‘kettle’ or ‘Kotter’, meaning ‘boat’, representing an ancestor who worked as a boatman or ferryman.
The name is believed to have originated in the Lower Rhine area at the start of the 12th century, situated between modern-day Germany and the Netherlands. Katte was popular as a surname in the region. Over the centuries, various spelling variations of the name have emerged, including Katt and Katz.
The name Katte appears to have come to Germany through Jewish immigrants, brought to the region by the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisition dating back to the 16th century. In parts of central Europe (notably Prussia and Poland) the last name Katte is derived from the Dutch word 'kat', meaning 'cat'.
The term was adopted as a surname by many members of the Jewish community as a symbol of freedom, luck and prosperity. This may explain why the surname has spread to many other countries, with examples of the name Katte appearing in the Netherlands, England, the United States, and more recently, Israel.
Overall, the last name Katte appears to have originated from Middle German and early Dutch references, with various possible meanings associated with the name. It is not known exactly why the name came to be, but over time it has become an iconic name, associated with luck, freedom, and prosperity.
Order DNA origin analysisKatte: Where does the name Katte come from?
The surname Katte is commonly found in parts of Europe today. The largest concentrations of people with the Katte surname are primarily located in Germany, Netherlands, and Denmark, with smaller populations found in Sweden, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
The earliest known origin of the Katte surname is from Germany in the 16th century. It is believed to be a habitational name, created from the name of a place of origin. Some people with the surname may have been descended from the Katte family, which resided in Heide, Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany.
In Denmark, the Katte surname is most commonly found in the cities of Copenhagen, Aalborg, and Nykøbing Falster. In the Netherlands, the Katte surname is particularly common in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. In the United Kingdom, people with the Katte surname may be concentrated in the cities of London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
The Katte surname may have originated from Germanic personal names which spelled as "Kathar", "Kade" or "Kate". It is also possible that the surname is a shortened version of the Dutch word "Katten", which means "Cat". Some people with the Katte surname may be descended from a well-known family of Danish merchants, headed by Jochim LundKatte in the 17th century.
Variations of the surname Katte
The surname Katte is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "kate", which was used to refer to a kettledrum. Variants and spellings of this surname include Kaate, Katt, Kate, Kaat, and Kattig.
Katte-variant surnames are also found throughout various parts of the world, with some variants reflecting different countries and regions of origin. In the Netherlands, variants such as Kattenberg and Kattenbrink are common. In England, variants such as Kattebrooke and Kattego are used. In Scotland, the variants Katewood and Katewine are used. In Sweden, the variant Kattefors is common, while in Norway, Katteberg is also a popular surname.
In German-speaking countries, the surnames Kattenberger, KATTIigs, KATZLE, KATTLER, KATTLOR, and KATTERNUMER are all variants. Additionally, common variations of Katte include KATTERMANN, KATZBACH, KATZESIEBER, KATZMILLER, KATZSCHER, KATZWINKEL, KATZMEIER, KATZSCHMANN, KATTENWEGER, and KATTLER.
In the United States, various immigrants have adopted variants of Katte for their surnames. Some of the most common variants are KATZENBERGER, CATTER, CATLIN, CATTEN, CATTERSON, KATA, CATTELL, KATTEL, KATTEOFF, CATTERY, CATTON, KATTEL, KATTINGER, KATTMAN, KATTSINGER, and KATZEMA.
Regardless of which variant is used, the surname Katte is a unique surname that is rich in history and has a diverse range of international origins.
Famous people with the name Katte
- Sven Katte: former German GDR cross country skier
- Bart Ceuppens: singer-songwriter from Belgium
- Theodor Katter: former international footballer from Germany
- Kami Katte: award winning documentary filmmaker from Australia
- Matthias Katte: German Paralympic swimmer
- Edgar Katte: International equestrian show-jumper
- Torsten Katte: German Grand Prix motorcycle rider
- Robert Katte: Fijian rugby union player
- Stefan Katte: German kickboxer and actor
- Alexander Katte: German footballer