Surname Rothhöft - Meaning and Origin
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Rothhöft: What does the surname Rothhöft mean?
The German surname Rothhöft is derived from the German word “Roth”, which translates to red. It is believed that Rothhöft initially referred to a person of a reddish complexion or a person who had reddish hair. The word “Höft” is of Germanic origin and means dwelling place, farmstead, or manor house. This ultimately suggests that the Rothhöft family originally were inhabitants of a manor house or farmstead with a reddish complexion.
Rothhöft is a German name indeed but can be found in other parts of Europe like Austria, Switzerland, and other German speaking countries. Records of the surname date back to the 16th century and can be found in numerous ancient documents.
In Germany, the Rothhöft family can still be traced to the late 1700s. The earliest ancestor of the family was Johann Heinrich Rothhöft who was married to Anna Elisabeth Adam circa 1700 in Westheim, Germany. Relocating from Westheim to Zwickau, Johann and Anna are known to have had nine children. After the War of the Austrian Succession in the mid-18th century, the Rothhöft family spread across Europe to North America, where their name is most prevalent today.
The Rothhöft family name is derived from a combination of two German words used to describe a dwelling place of a person with a reddish complexion, and this has enabled the family to trace their ancestry for centuries. The name signifies strength and endurance and has been carried on from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisRothhöft: Where does the name Rothhöft come from?
The last name Rothhöft is most commonly found in Germany today. It's also seen in some parts of Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark. The name is derived from a combination of two German words, "rothen" meaning "red" and "hoft" meaning "court". This indicates that the original bearers of this surname lived near a court of some kind where their last name became known.
In Germany, it's estimated that there are around 4,000 people associated with the last name Rothhöft. It is particularly concentrated in the states of Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria, with the highest frequency occurring in the cities of Berlin, Munich, and Dortmund. This name is also found in some parts of Switzerland, with the highest concentrations in Basel and Zurich.
In the United States, there are fewer instances of this name, although there are still several hundred recorded cases. This is likely due to German immigration to the United States in past centuries, with many Germans taking their last names with them. Although the Rothhöft name is more commonly found in Germany, it also exists around the world due to immigration and intermarriage.
Variations of the surname Rothhöft
Rothhöft is a German surname derived from the name of two towns in the area of Northern Germany, Rothenhöft and Ratthöft. It can be spelt either Rothhöft, Rothenhöft, Ratthöft or Rathhöft.
Variants of the same name can also be found by spelling the last name differently, such as Rottöft, Rotöft, Rahtöft, Rothehöft and Ratheöft. Variants can also be heard depending on the area in which the surname is found, for example, in northern Germany it might be Rodehöft, in southern Germany it might be Röthhöft or in western Germany it might be Roetöft.
Some other common spellings include Rothhöf, Rothhaf, Rothhöffer and Rothhof. There may also be Anglicized forms of the surname, such as Roethof, Rothehofe or Rothehoff. All of these surnames are of the same origin.
Other surnames related to Rothhöft include Rothhöfer, Rothhoff, Rothhölter and Rothhul. These surnames may have also come from the towns Rothenhöft and Ratthöft or been derived from other similar locations.
In conclusion, there are several variants of the same origin for the surname Rothhöft that variously spell out and pronounce the name in different ways depending on the region or language. These variants can include slight differences in spelling as well as surnames that are related to it.
Famous people with the name Rothhöft
- Dr.Hubertus Rothhöft: Current chairman of the European Trade Union Confederation
- Robert Rothhöft: German lawyer and diplomat
- Reinhard Rothhöft: German political scientist and sociologist
- Wolfgang Rothhöft: Actor and comedian, most notably in The Olsen Gang in Trouble TV Series
- Peter Rothhöft: Member of the German Bundestag
- Franz Rothhöft: Sculptor and painter
- Marleen Rothhöft: German non-fiction writer, known for her book series on Germany's military history
- Karl Rothhöft: Violinist and conductor of the Charité City Orchestra
- Hilde Rothhöft: German swimmer and Olympic medallist
- Andreas Rothhöft: German footballer who plays for Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta