Surname Rothkehl - Meaning and Origin

Rothkehl: What does the surname Rothkehl mean?

The last name Rothkehl is a German name that is derived from the Middle High German words “roth” and “kehlen”, which mean “red” and “throat”, respectively. This name was likely given in honor of someone who had a distinctive red mark on their throat.

Rothkehl is believed to have originated in northern Germany and spread to other places in Europe and beyond. The name is also found among descendants of German immigrants to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.

The original meaning of the word is not entirely certain, but it might indicate a physical trait, or even a certain personality trait that someone was identified with. For example, one might have been considered brave if they had a red throat; this could also be interpreted as someone being an outspoken individual with a fiery temper.

Many people who share the Rothkehl name today can trace their ancestry back to Germany, and this supports the idea that there is probably an element of truth to the original interpretation of the name. This is because German surnames typically tell us something about the ancestry of their bearers.

Overall, the last name Rothkehl is an interesting surname that hints at a proud history and a characteristic trait associated with it. It is a reminder of both a past and present connection to German ancestry, and can offer us insight into our family heritage.

Rothkehl: Where does the name Rothkehl come from?

The last name Rothkehl is most commonly found today in Germany. It is a German surname of Jewish descent, which originated in Central and Eastern Europe. It is believed to have originated in Germany in the early 1800s and spread to other parts of Europe.

The surname is derived from the German words “rothe” meaning “red”, and “kehl” meaning “neck”. Thus, a literal translation of the surname would be “red neck”, most likely referring to a Jewish person who wore a distinctive article of clothing such as a scarf or shawl to identify themselves as Jewish.

Today, the surname Rothkehl is most prevalent in Germany and Austria, although it is also found in small numbers elsewhere in Europe as well. In Germany, Rothkehl is particularly common in Berlin, Cologne and Munich. According to a 2018 report, one hundred two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven people across Germany bore the surname Rothkehl.

The Rothkehl family has a long and distinguished history in Europe. Most famously, Ludwig Rothkehl was the leader of the Austrian Nazi party during World War II and played a major role in implementing Hitler’s Final Solution. However, the majority of Rothkehls living today are not associated with fascism and simply live their lives peacefully in Germany and throughout Europe.

Variations of the surname Rothkehl

The surname Rothkehl is German in origin and can have a variety of variants and spellings, including Rothkehl, Rothkegell, Rothkiel, Rothkuehl, Rothkaul, Rothkaal, and Roth’kehl. Many of these alternate spellings are derived from the same root, the personal name Rot, meaning “red.” This name was used in medieval Germany to refer to people with red hair or a ruddy complexion. As a result, some variants of the surname can also be found with the prefixes Rot- and Roth- instead of Roth-.

Another surname of the same origin is Rathke. This is a combination of the Old High German words for “counsel” and “keel,” which were used to refer to a person with mariners’ experience and a helpful demeanor. In other cases, Rathke may also be a contraction of the personal name Roderich, which is derived from the Germanic elements “hrod” meaning “renowned” and “ric” meaning “ruler.”

A final surname variant related to Rothkehl is Rotkohl, which is derived from the German word for red cabbage. In some cases, this could be a reference to a family’s love for this popular vegetable, or it could also be a sign of the family’s agricultural roots.

Overall, Rothkehl is a Germanic surname that is most commonly derived from the personal name Rot, which was used to describe people with red hair or a ruddy complexion. It can also be related to Rathke, or to Rotkohl, which is derived from the word for red cabbage. In any case, all of these surnames are derived from the same root and have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Rothkehl

• Gabriella Rothkehl: British actress who appeared in the 2016 crime drama series The Fear and the 2015 film Adult Beginners.
• Duncan Rothkehl: Canadian cinematographer who has worked on films including The Great Canadian Opera, A Gift Horse and A Piece of the Sky.
• Michael Rothkehl: German former Olympic track & field athlete who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Henry Rothkehl: American professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1947-1951.
• Tyler Rothkehl: American professional basketball player currently playing for the Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G League.
• Chris Rothkehl: American researcher who authored ‘Heat Shock Protection in Plants’.
• Charlie Rothkehl: British chef and restaurateur. He is the head chef and owner of The Bistro in Jean-Georgi, Sussex.
• Stephanie Rothkehl: Canadian actor and drama educator who acted in the 2011 film Get a Job and appeared in the 2006 television series Neal & Jessie.
• Johann Friedrich Rothkehl: German professor of anatomy at the University of Greifswald who wrote ‘A System of Human Anatomy’.
• Johannes Rothkehl: Austrian composer and organist who wrote multiple works for organ and choir.

Other surnames

Rothkegel