Surname Kotzschmar - Meaning and Origin
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Kotzschmar: What does the surname Kotzschmar mean?
The last name Kotzschmar is of German origin and is derived from a personal name, which consists of two components: 'Kotz' and 'schmar'. The first component, 'Kotz', comes from the Old German word 'Kuz', which means 'fool' or 'boaster', while the second component, 'schmar', is derived from the German verb 'schmarren', which means 'to babble'. Thus, the name literally translates to 'fool who babble'.
Historically, the name likely referred to a person who was prone to long-winded boasting, as evidenced by its combination of two words to mean 'fool' and 'babble'. This meaning is also supported by its related name, Kutzschke, which translates to 'garrulous fool'.
In modern-day Germany, the last name is fairly common and is particularly prevalent in areas of Bavaria and Upper Franconia. As supporters have adopted the name, it has sometimes been anglicized to 'Kutzschmar'.
The last name has been borne by several notable Germans, including Theodor Kotzschmar, an American organist of German descent; and Hermann Kutzschmar, a German music publisher and composer. It has also been adopted by several notable Americans, including Charles Kutzschmar, an American painter and illustrator; and Thomas Kutzschmar, a contemporary American musician and singer.
Order DNA origin analysisKotzschmar: Where does the name Kotzschmar come from?
The last name Kotzschmar is most common today in the state of Maine in the United States. It is the 37th most common surname in the state according to a 2013 survey by the Maine Historical Society. There are 675 individuals with the last name Kotzschmar in Maine. While the surname is likely of Germanic origin, most people with the surname settled in Maine in the 19th century. In the early 1800s, members of the Kotzschmar family emigrated from Germany to the United States and mostly settled in the states of Maine and Missouri.
Most of the early settlers of the Kotzschmar family were skilled tradesmen or craftspeople. Several got jobs as furniture makers in Augusta, Maine and the surname became closely associated with the furniture-making trade. There are designs made by members of the Kotzschmar family that continue to appear in furniture stores throughout Maine.
Today, the surname is most common in the Lewiston and Auburn area of Maine as well as southern coastal Maine. Though individual numbers are small, the surname maintains strong ties to the furniture-making trade. Even today, members of the Kotzschmar family own and operate several furniture stores in the Lewiston and Auburn area of Maine. In addition, old buildings and furniture with the Kotzschmar name can still be found in many parts of Maine, especially in the southern coastal towns.
Variations of the surname Kotzschmar
Kotzschmar is a surname of German origin that is most often spelled Kotzschmar. However, there are several possible variants and spellings of this surname, including Kotzshmar, Kötzschmar, Koetschmar, Kotxschmeer, and Kotezschmar. Surnames with a similar etymology may include Kotschenreuther, Kötschmer, Kötschmahr, Kotschmer, Kotschy, Kotshmeer, and Kutschmer.
Kotzschmar is likely derived from the German word “kötz,” which was a dialectal term for a small animal, most likely a donkey, goat, or young calf. This term may have then become further modified to yield a name, indicating that the original family line was associated with caretaking or husbandry of such animals. Alternately, “kötz” may also refer to a badger, and thus the surname may become descriptive of someone who was associated with badgers in some way.
Regardless of the origin of the name, records of the Kotzschmar surname can be found in German documents from the 1500s, indicating that this surname is relatively ancient. Even today, those with the surname live in Germany, and it is also occasionally found in nearby countries such as the Netherlands. Additionally, some with the surname have migrated to the United States, where it has been spelled and pronounced in various ways.
Famous people with the name Kotzschmar
- Erich Kotzschmar (1874–1954), German economist
- Hugo Kotzschmar (1854–1910), German composer and conductor
- Johann Friedrich Richard Kotzschmar (1825–1908), German architect
- Karl August Kotzschmar (1796–1880), German astronomer and mathematician
- Orian Kotzschmar (1889–1971), Norwegian editor, author, and librarian
- Rubin Kotzschmar (1890–1962), Russian-Polish-Swedish art-historian and art collector
- William C. Kotzschmar, American military officer and aviator
- Arthur Hollywood Kotzschmar (1994–2017), American jazz pianist and composer
- Fred E. Kotzschmar (born 1965), American professional ice hockey goaltender
- Daniël Adriaan Kotzschmar (born 1985), South African rugby union player