Surname Rothhaupt - Meaning and Origin
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Rothhaupt: What does the surname Rothhaupt mean?
The last name Rothhaupt is of German origin. It is thought to have originated during the middle ages when many people adopted surnames to make them easier to locate in times of need. The literal translation of Rothhaupt is “Red Head” or “Red Cap”, likely referring to a person with red hair. Variations of the name are Rott, Rothe and Rothenberg.
The Rothhaupt surname is often associated with the military, as many German soldiers adopted the name when they joined the military in the 17th and 18th centuries. Similarly, some Rothhaupts have been linked to religious groups such as the Mennonites, who were persecuted and often found refuge in the military.
In modern times, the Rothhaupt name is still found in Germany and nearby countries, but it is also quite common in the United States due to German immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Family histories have tied many families with the Rothhaupt surname to the Midwest and Pennsylvania in particular. Because of this, it is believed that the Rothhaupt family originated in Pennsylvania before they spread out to other states.
Today, the Rothhaupt name is found around the world, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its bearers. For many, it has become a symbol of resilience and courage in the face of adversity. For others, the name is a reminder of a shared ancestral history as it travels from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisRothhaupt: Where does the name Rothhaupt come from?
The surname Rothhaupt is most common in Germany, where records indicate its presence since at least the 18th century. The regions of Hessia and Hesse-Nassau—particularly in and around the cities of Frankfurt, Offenbach, and Darmstadt—have the highest percentage of people bearing Rothhaupt as their last name. It’s often seen in other parts of Germany, such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, as well as the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Today, there are over 7,800 Rothhaupts living in Germany according to the Meyers Gazetteer of Names.
The small town of Roethausen, located in the middle of Hessia, is thought to be the ancestral home of the Rothhaupt family. First appearing in documents in 1351, the town is likely the root of the Rothhaupt name, with the surname perhaps evolving from the town's name.
Outside of Germany, the surname Rothhaupt can also be found in the US, mostly among the descendants of German-American immigrants. This includes large concentrations in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, with small numbers elsewhere. According to the Social Security Administration, there are just over 1,000 people bearing the surname Rothhaupt in the United States.
Overall, the Rothhaupt surname is concentrated in Germany, particularly in Hessia, as well as in the United States among the descendants of German-Americans. Its presence in other countries is small but significant, showing the spread of the Rothhaupt name throughout Europe and the world.
Variations of the surname Rothhaupt
Rothhaupt is a fairly rare German surname. It is likely to have been derived from a place name, derived from the German words "Rot" meaning "red", and "Haupt" meaning "head or top". The most common variants of the name Rothhaupt include Routhaupt, Rothhaupter, Rothop, Rothhof, Rothhöfel, Rothhöver, Rothhofer, and Rothhäupler.
The surname Rothhaupt is found all over the world, with immigration of families bearing the name to other countries having taken place as early as the 19th century. It is particularly common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
The other surnames which are likely to have the same origin as Rothhaupt include Ruhaupt, Rotpfel, Rothoff, Rothfels, Rothhahn, Rothhaus, Rothheuser, Rothkopf, Rothkope, and Rothkötter.
While many individuals with the surname Rothhaupt retain their original spelling, some have adapted and altered the original spelling over time. Common alternative spellings, or variants, of the Rothhaupt surname include Rathhaupt, Routhaupt, Rothheuser, Roothoff, Rothhost, Rathhost, Roethhaut, Roethhaupt, Rothhaeuler, Rothhauen, Rothheiser, Rothheusel, and Rothhüser.
Famous people with the name Rothhaupt
- Jordan Rothhaupt: Jordan Rothhaupt is a German reality TV personality, best known for competing in the ninth season of German edition of Big Brother, in which he finished in fourth place.
- Paul Rothhaupt: Paul Rothhaupt is a German television actor and director. He is best known for his roles in series such as Verona Feldbusch: Das ist Leben!, Dr. Krott: Der Bürgermeister and Die Drei vom Pfandhaus.
- Edwin Rothhaupt: Edwin Rothhaupt is a German cable car engineer, best known for his design for the "Imst-Buba" cable car system, which is publicly owned by the municipality of Imst.
- Andreas Rothhaupt: Andreas Rothhaupt is a German mathematician and physicist and a professor of chemical engineering. He is known for his work on thermal processes and energy engineering.
- Rudi Rothhaupt: Rudi Rothhaupt was a German puppet-maker and sculptor who helped to create the marionettes used by the internationally renowned Salzburger Marionettentheater in Austria.
- Alfred Rothhaupt: Alfred Rothhaupt was a German painter, sculptor and engraver who studied with Max Liebermann in Berlin and later moved to Munich. His works predominantly feature portrait and genre scenes.
- Günter Rothhaupt: Günter Rothhaupt was a German film and television director who was also a major influence in East German television. He directed the classic science fiction film Die Zeitmaschine in 1961.