Surname Lotter - Meaning and Origin
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Lotter: What does the surname Lotter mean?
The surname Lotter is of German origin and is an occupational name for a tax collector or the keeper of one of the public lotteries so popular in medieval Germany. It is derived from the German high middle ages word ‘lot’ which referred to the act of drawing lots as a means of allocating resources on a fair and equitable basis. The wearers of the name Lotter are believed to have come into its possession during that period of history.
Lotter is also a derived surname and can have several spelling variations, such as Lotterer, Lotterer, Lotters and Lotterer. It has been suggested that the Lotter last name is possibly derived from other names such as Schlotter or Schlatter, and has since changed into Lotter as a result of dialectal variation.
The Lotters have certainly kept it in the family for several centuries, with records of the name found in Germany as early as the 12th or 13th centuries. Historical records using the name Lotter were also found in parts of Germany during the 1500s and 1600s. The migration of the Lotter family to other parts of Europe began in the 1700s with a number of Lotter families settling in the United States.
The Lotter last name truly represents a striking family of much history. Whether it be a tax collector, a lottery keeper or another possible origin, the surname Lotter carries with it a unique legacy, one that serves to represent all of the families who have borne this name for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisLotter: Where does the name Lotter come from?
The last name Lotter is most commonly found in Germany. In this country, it is one of the most popular surnames with around 5,750 people having this name. It is also fairly common in the United States, where it ranks close to 5,000 in popularity. In addition to the United States and Germany, the last name Lotter is also found in France, Brazil, Austria, Canada, Poland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
The origin of the last name Lotter is from Old German and it translates to mean "one who lived in a prosperous locality". As a result, this name is still popular in areas of the German speaking world that have had long standing traditions and prosperity, such as Switzerland and Austria.
The last name Lotter is derived from the Latin personal name “Laetus,” which in turn comes from the Latin phrase “laetus”, meaning “happy” or “prosperous”. It would not be a surprise to learn that people with this name typically tend to enjoy a good degree of financial success, as the name suggests.
In summary, the last name Lotter is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, France, Brazil, Austria, Canada, Poland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Its origin is believed to come from Old German and refers to a person that is living in a prosperous locality.
Variations of the surname Lotter
The surname Lotter has many varied spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. These include Loter, Lutter, Louther, Lauter, Latzer, Latz, Latscher, Latsch, Latch, Lacher, and Lehetter.
Lotter is an occupational surname from Germany which was derived from the word lott meaning “puddler” or “puddling”. This was a term used for the process of creating wrought iron by heating and stirring molten pig iron with an iron rod in order to produce a more malleable form of iron. Someone who performed this process would be referred to as a Puddler or Lotterer, which eventually evolved into the surname Lotter.
The first recorded spelling of Lotter was found in 1468 when Johannes Lotter was mentioned in records from Württemberg, Germany. This suggests that the name likely dates back further than the 1400s, however, records from this time period are difficult to uncover. The earliest known bearer of the surname was Erycz Loter who was mentioned in documents from 1500.
The surname Lotter has strongly spread throughout Germany and surrounding countries with many European families bearing the name today. According to records found in the house of Abraham Lotter in 1722, the name can be found in a range of German states including Rhineland Palatinate, Saxony, Bavaria, Prussia, and Austria.
The variants and spellings of the surname Lotter are a testament to the various forms of regional dialects and the complexities of the German language. As such, the variants of this surname will continue to evolve as the language changes over time.
Famous people with the name Lotter
- Trevor Noah: South African comedian, television host, producer, political commentator, and actor.
- Charlize Theron: Academy Award-winning South African actress, film producer, and fashion model.
- Tom Lotter: South African professional golfer who has won multiple championships and tours on the Sunshine Tour.
- Tessa Lotter: South African rancher, reality television star, and founder of the grassroots organization Keepers of the Wild.
- Charl Lotter: South African singer-songwriter known for his melodic folk-pop-jazz hybrid style.
- Abraham Lotter: Early 18th century South African apothecary and herbalist.
- August Wilhelm Lotter: German engraver and publisher active in the 18th century.
- Jean Jacques Lotter: French painter and engraver active in Paris and Rome during the 18th century.
- Wilhelm Lotter: German theologian and professor at the University of Heidelberg during the early 19th century.
- Max Lotter: German physician, entomologist, and zoologist active in the early 20th century.