Surname Rotfuss - Meaning and Origin
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Rotfuss: What does the surname Rotfuss mean?
The last name Rotfuss can be found primarily in German speaking countries and regions, and it has no direct English equivalent. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word “Roth” meaning “red" and “Fuß” meaning “foot” or “leg”. This could have been a physical description of the person who first took the name, or indicated a profession related to red textiles or leather.
The Rotfuss surname has been found since at least the 14th century in parts of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It is unlikely that people with this name were related to each other, since the name was not originally very widespread. It is only in more recent times that the name has become common in many parts of the world, as people migrated and took their surnames with them.
Rotfuss is often associated with an interesting German proverb, “Roth Fuss tut gut”, meaning “a red foot does good”. This likely has its origin in the proverb “ungeschuetzter Fuss tut gut”, meaning “an unprotected foot does good”. This proverb suggests that those who work hard and do not take the easy route can benefit from a long term outlook.
The Rotfuss surname is still being carried throughout the world, indicating that its bearers are both hardworking and wise. This name brings with it a certain sense of pride and admiration for the qualities it embodies.
Order DNA origin analysisRotfuss: Where does the name Rotfuss come from?
The last name Rotfuss is most commonly found in countries or areas of Eastern European and Slavic descent, like Khazars (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Poland). It is also present in the United States, where it has likely been passed down from generations of immigrants who settled there.
The name is of German or Jewish origin, and one of the earliest occurrences is in the General Register Office (GRO) Index in 1875. Later on, it appears in a variety of different records in the United States of America and even in other countries like Canada, Australia, and England. It has many different spellings such as Rotfus, Rotfuss, Rottfuss, Rotovuss, and Rotovus.
Rotfuss can also be located in records associated with Polish, Ashkenazi Jewish, and German families. Jewish Rotfusses have originated from Lithuania and Belarus. Meanwhile, many of the people with the Rotfuss surname that appear in German records are from decades ago.
In modern times, the name Rotfuss is likely still carried by generations of families with Eastern European roots. Finding relations living in the United States and Europe is not particularly difficult; there is a Rotfuss family tree on Ancestry.com that includes some 1,445 members from both Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Rotfuss
The variants, spellings and surnames of origin for the surname Rotfuss can be quite varied.
Generally, it is spelled Rotfuss, Rotfuß (with an umlaut over the ‘u’), Rotefus, Rotephys and Rotifus. This is the spelling used most prevalently in Germany and Austria.
In the United States and Britain, it is more commonly spelled Rothfuss or Rothfuß (again with an umlaut over the ‘u’).
The variants of the surname Rotfuss all come from the same origin, which is German. It is derived from the Germanic words ‘rothe’ which means ‘red’ and ‘fuss’ which means ‘foot’. Together, they literally translate to ‘red foot’.
Rotfuss is also connected to other surnames such as Rothenberg, Rothes and Rothenfuss, Rothehut, Rothhaupt, and Rothhut. All of these surnames derive from the Germanic ‘ rot (red)’ and are usually used for individuals of the same family.
Interestingly, there also exists a surname called Rothenfusser. This is believed to have originated as a result of misspelling of the name Rothehut.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of origin for the surname Rotfuss are quite varied, yet all of them share the same origin with the Germanic words ‘rothe’ and ‘fuss’, which translates to ‘red foot’.
Famous people with the name Rotfuss
- Robert Rotfuss (actor).
- Florian Rotfuss (German competitive sailor).
- Monica Rotfuss (opera singer).
- Maddy Rotfuss (TV presenter)
- Marion Rotfuss (athletic coach).
- Jimmy Rotfuss (producer & actor).
- Christine Rotfuss (student and current founder of a student record label)
- Marcus Rotfuss (former German professional football player).
- Karl Rotfuss (renowned conductor and violinist).
- Philipp Rotfuss (cyclist).