Surname Rothaar - Meaning and Origin
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Rothaar: What does the surname Rothaar mean?
The last name 'Rothaar' is a German surname, which translates to 'red-haired' in English. This type of name is referred to as a denonymic name because it is derived from a physical characteristic of the family. It originates from the Middle High German 'Rodharr', which began to be used in the Middle Ages. It was given to those people who had prominent red hair, corresponding to the word 'Roth', which is German for 'red'. This surname was likely given to those of the same family and then remained widespread in the region over time, with some variations in spelling.
The Rothaar surname is first found in Styria, where the family was traditionally associated with the noble class of that region. The earliest recorded mention of the name dates back to the year 1324, when a priest named Rudolfus Rotar is referenced in a document from the Beschenk monastery.
The popularity of the Rothaar surname grew in the centuries that followed, and today it is widespread throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Even with its prevalence, it still pays tribute to its original meaning: the Rothaar family are those who proudly have red hair, a characteristic that has linked them to one another and to their shared history for hundreds of years.
Order DNA origin analysisRothaar: Where does the name Rothaar come from?
The last name Rothaar is most common in Germany. As of 2021, records show that it is the 6,734th most common surname out of approximately 1.2 million surnames in Germany. It can also still be found in other countries across Europe. For example, there are records of people bearing the name living in the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria - perhaps due to historical migrations.
The last name is common in the United States too, where it is the 22,812th most common surname out of approximately 8 million surnames. Records indicate that people with the last name Rothaar can be found in almost all 50 states. This indicates a lot of individuals or families bearing the surname have migrated to the United States at some point.
Rothaar is also found in South America - it is especially prevalent in the countries of Argentina, Colombia and Peru. Again, its presence in these countries could be due to historical human migrations.
Overall, the last name Rothaar is still common all over the world, indicating how dynamic human migrations have been since the family name was first established.
Variations of the surname Rothaar
The surname Rothaar, also spelled Rother, Rothhaar, Rothar, Rothert, Rothharr, Rothhar, Rotter, Rotther, Rothhär, Rodhaar, and Ruthaar, is derived from a German word for “red hair”. It is a habitational name for someone from a place where red hair was prevalent, such as Rother in Bavaria.
The Rothhaar name has been used in many countries and cultures over the centuries. In Germany, the family was known as early as 1277, when Guntzar Diener von Der Redchaw (sometimes spelled Der Redhöw) appears in a record with the title of Redka, a nobleman. The family was also prominent in the city of Breisach, located on the Rhine River. In the Netherlands, a family of the name Roters is recorded as early as the 15th century.
In the United States, the Rothhaar family began with immigrants from the German region. They were among the earliest Pennsylvania immigrants, arriving in the early 1700s. Other variants began to appear in America in the 19th century when immigrants from Germany, like many other European immigrants, began anglicizing their spelling to fit the phonetics of English.
Other related family names include Rothenberg, Rotherford, Redhair, Redhay, Redhen, Rothermal, Rothman, and Redich. All these surnames are derived from ‘Rothaar’, and while they may have slightly different spellings, they all link back to the same familial origins.
Famous people with the name Rothaar
- Michaëlle Jean Rothaar: Canadian-Haitian Sociologist, Author and Politician
- Ruth Rothaar: German Politician
- Pat Rothaar: American Voice Actor
- Joachim Rothaar: Author and German Recreational Therapist
- Werner Rothaar: Austrian-American Sculptor
- Jürgen Rothaar: German Politician
- Elisabeth Rothaar: German Cross Country Skier
- Miina-Liisa Rothaar: Estonian Actor
- Leo Rothaar: Austrian Actor
- Ödön Rothaar: Hungarian Speaker, Teacher and Psychiatrist