Surname Oberkötter - Meaning and Origin
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Oberkötter: What does the surname Oberkötter mean?
The last name Oberkötter is of German origin and is derived from the word "ober", which translates to "upper". It is typically thought to be an occupational surname, denoting a person of higher social standing who lived near the upper part of a village or town, or one who lived on an elevated area of land.
The surname is often attributed to a classes of nobles or wealthy merchants who held a status "above the commoners". This meaning follows the Germanic tradition of denoting social level by referring to one's geographical position.
Not much is known about the exact origin of the surname Oberkötter, but its usage has been documented in various parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. Records of the family name can be traced as far back as the 16th century in the Netherlands.
The contemporary spelling of the surname can vary. In Germany and other German speaking countries, the letter "ö" is used (Oberkötter). In other areas such as Scandinavia, the letter "ö" may be replaced with an "oe" (Oberkoetter).
Despite the fact that the Oberkötter caconym is found all over the world today, its origin is still uncertain. The name may have derived from a particular region in Germany where many families with the surname Oberkötter originated, or it may have been derived from a common ancestor with the name. Either way, Oberkötter is an interesting and unique last name that has been around for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisOberkötter: Where does the name Oberkötter come from?
The last name Oberkötter is predominantly a name found in Germany. It has its roots in North Rhine-Westphalia, an area in the northwest of the country. In 2013, it was estimated that there were just over 50,000 individuals with the last name living in Germany at the time. The name has been around since the Middle Ages, derived from a profession shared by many in that time period – the master cooper, or Oberkötter. The last name is also found outside of Germany, particularly from those who have emigrated from the country in the past few centuries. People with the last name Oberkötter can be found in few European countries, including Austria, Switzerland, and The Netherlands, and in some areas of the US, particularly in states with a large German American population such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. The last name is still quite rare and is likely to remain exclusive to those with German ancestry.
Variations of the surname Oberkötter
The surname Oberkötter has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variations found in German-speaking countries include Oberkoetter, Oberkoetter, Oberköter, Oberköetter, Oberkoetter, Oberkötter, Oberköttger, Oberkueetter, Oberkütter, Oberkutter, and Oberköeter.
In the United States and other countries, the Americanized spelling is Oberkotter, which has many variants including Oberkottar, Oberkotterr, Oberkettar, Oberkettar, Oberkotar, Ockerotter, Ockerotar, Okarotter, and Okarotterr.
Other surnames of the same origin include Kötter (Kotter), Köttger (Kottenger, Kottger, Kottiger), Kötterman (Kotterman, Köddermann), Kötting (Kotting, Koetting, Küitting, Köttinger), Kötz (Kotz, Koetz, Kutz, Kötz-Kluft, Kützle), Kötterhein (Kotterhein, Köteren, Kötgern, Köttermann), Kötte (Kotte, Ködde) and Kötterheinz (Kotterheinz).
A few spelling variants are Körner (Korner, Kohner, Körniger), Köpping (Kopping, Köpetz, Köppengeyer, Koppinger), Köpke (Kopke, Kopshi, Kopke-Hagen), Köper (Koper, Koppar, Köpperling, Köppenhöfer, Köpper), Kösbacher (Kosbacher, Köpsbacher, Kösge), Köster (Koster, Köstner, Köstler) and Köstermann (Kostermann, Kösterman, Kösner, Köster-Seibt).
These spellings may not match any existing family name, as many of them are dispersed through many generations of people and adopted by different families in different countries. However, all of the spellings are originates from the same source, the surname Oberkötter.
Famous people with the name Oberkötter
- Jonas Oberkötter: A German musician and singer-songwriter from the Lower Rhine region of Germany. He has released three studio albums; his latest one is called “From The Ground”.
- Catharina Oberkötter: A German television presenter and actor of multi-cultural origin. She hosts the German broadcast show “Switch Reload” on ZDF and has appeared in several films, including “Sonne, Strand und Satire”.
- Peter Oberkötter: A prominent German film director and producer. He is best known for his Academy-Award nominated documentary “Kaputt: A Psychedelic Journey Through The Occupation Years”, as well as the television series “Deutschlandfunk Letzte Chollinacht”.
- Robert Oberkötter: A German biologist and paleontologist. He is known mainly for his research on plant fossils from the Jurassic period, and for his work on the Amami Plateau in Japan.
- Benedikt Oberkötter: A successful German entrepreneur and investor. He has founded several companies, such as the online job portal XING, the online marketplace Sofort, and the financial technology company Payoneer.
- Ludwig von Oberkötter: A German chemist and pharmacist from Berlin, who made significant contributions to the development of modern pharmacy, including the introduction of plastic containers, standardized drugs, and quality control systems.