Surname Köt - Meaning and Origin
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Köt: What does the surname Köt mean?
The last name Köt is a spelling variant of the German surname Kött. The name means "Casket Maker," and it is derived from the Middle German term "kötteler," referring to a person who made and/or repaired containers or other vessels made of metal. It is also possible that the name refers to an occupation such as a carpenter who produced vessels made of wood.
Köt originated in the Middle Ages in Germany, where it denoted a person of noble social origin. Thus, someone with Köt as a surname was likely of the wealthy landed class, such as a Knight or a squire. During this period, it was often associated with positions of power and prestige, with those who held this surname engaging in administrative and military roles that were vital to the defense and expansion of the German Empire.
In modern times, Köt remains a common German surname, although its status has relaxed somewhat, and it is now associated more with skilled labor craftsmanship than anything else. While many who hold this surname continue to be craftsmen of various sorts, many have found success in other professions such as banking, finance, and technology. Professionals with the last name Köt can be found in all parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKöt: Where does the name Köt come from?
The surname Köt is commonly found in East Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Köt is an Austrian, Swiss-German and East Prussian variant of the name Kotz. It is derived either from the nickname Kotze which means cat in German, or from the Dutch/Flemish word koets meaning a two-wheeled cart or carriage. In both countries the name is associated with a variety of different spellings. Variants include Kötz, Kotez, Kots and Kotz.
In Austria, Köt is a relatively common surname with a few variations such as Kötsch, Kötscher, Kötschl, and Kötzl. In Swiss records, the surname is generally recorded as Kötz, although various records have recorded it as either Köt or Kotez. In East Germany, Köt is primarily found as a spelling variation of Kötz or Kotz.
In terms of population density, the last name Köt is most common in Austria, followed by East Germany and then Switzerland. According to Geneanet, a genealogy website, the surname is most frequently found in the Canton of Thurgau in Switzerland and is particularly noticeable in the cities of Kreuzlingen and Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Köt is also widely represented in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, as many as 1,282 people in the USA bear this surname. Most of these people are located in states such as New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Overall, the surname Köt is a relatively common one in East Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the USA. Its geographical distribution and diversity of spellings demonstrate the various ways the surname has been adopted and adapted across Central and North-Western Europe.
Variations of the surname Köt
The surname Köt is an ethnic German surname most likely derived from the Central German name Kot and is found primarily in Germany, Austria and the United States, with smaller populations in other parts of the world.
Variant spellings and alternative surnames of Köt include: Köth, Koth, Kotte, Koet, Koeth, Köet, Kotz, Kotze, Kötz, Kötze, Koetz, Kautz, Kauts, Kautzsch, Kautsche, Kaute, Kauter, Kautmann, Kautermore, Kautenegger, Kautter, Köhter, Köhler, Köhlmeier, Köhdinger, Köhling and Köhlau.
Kot and its variants are most likely derived from the German word for cottage or hut. The name was likely originally borne as a topographic, occupational or habitational surname to refer to someone who lived in such a dwelling.
The many variant spellings of Köt in the U.S. are likely the result of a combination of phonetic misspellings and inaccuracies during the data entry process in the immigration and naturalization records prior to a standardized spelling system. The listed variant spellings are believed to be an indication of how the name sounded to native speakers upon arrival to the New World.
In some cases, the variant spellings of Köt in the U.S. can be an indication of the family’s origin in their respective migrant country. For instance, the German variant spellings of Köth, Köet, Kötz, and Kötze suggest that the surname may have originated from Germany or Austria.
Families with this surname may have originated in Central Germany, although some likely originate from other areas such as Austria, Switzerland and the Alsace region. The variants of Köt are found in various parts of Europe, as well as throughout the United States.
Famous people with the name Köt
- Alex Köt: German soccer player.
- Viola Köt: German rally driver.
- Jakob Köt: Austrian ice hockey player.
- Jörg Köt: German tennis player.
- Heinz Köt: German businessman and investor.
- Moritz Kötter: German entrepreneur and author.
- Michael Köt: German television producer and director.
- Hans Köt: German architect.
- Gertrud Köt: Swiss psychologist.
- Alexander Köt: German actor.
- Jürgen Köt: German archivist and librarian.
- Rudolf Köt: Austrian mathematician and philosopher.
- Karl Köt: Austrian painter.
- Esai Köt: Dutch musician and record producer.
- Lukas Köt: Czech politician and activist.
- Elizabeth Köt: German singer and model.
- Kelly Köt: German actress.
- Anna Köt: Austrian student and environmental activist.
- Astrid Köt: German historian and publisher.
- Helmut Köt: German musician.