Surname Rowetter - Meaning and Origin
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Rowetter: What does the surname Rowetter mean?
The last name Rowetter originates from the German language, and is a variation of the surname Rotwetter. The root of the name is the German word “rot” which means red. This most likely refers to a distinguishing physical feature (such as red hair, skin, or eyes) of a person with this last name.
The name may also have originated from a person who lived somewhere near a red body of water, such as a river or a lake. Alternatively, it may also refer to someone from a place with red soil, such as a desert.
The name may also be a form of the Old Germanic personal name “Hrodwihard” which means “famous among the people”.
The surname Rowetter may also be found in other German speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. It can also be found in England and other parts of Great Britain.
The Rowetter family may have moved from their homeland to other parts of Europe or the world due to military service, famine, persecution, or economic gain.
This surname is not overly common, but with the internet and other genealogical records it is possible to trace a family tree and discover more about the origin of the last name Rowetter and its history.
Order DNA origin analysisRowetter: Where does the name Rowetter come from?
The last name Rowetter is most commonly found in Germany today. This is unsurprising since the vast majority of the Rowetter family comes from Germanic countries, including parts of Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
The earliest recorded Rowetter family can be traced back to the city of Dortmund in Lower Saxony, Germany in the 15th century. This family later spread to the nearby cities of Hamm and Borken, and also to the former Duchy of Westphalia.
Nowadays, the last name Rowetter is commonly found in Germany's Lower Saxony region, especially in the cities of Dortmund, Hamm, and Borken. The Rowetter family is also scattered throughout Germany as a result of the increased mobility of the German population in the past hundred years, and some Rowetters have also moved to other German states and even abroad in the last couple of decades.
In 2017, the last name Rowetter was ranked 5,633rd in Germany according to Statista's annual survey of surname distributions, indicating that the surname has quite a low frequency of occurrence in the country. This suggests that the Rowetter family has a smallish presence, dispersed throughout Germany.
Variations of the surname Rowetter
The surname Rowetter originates from Germany and there are several variants, spellings, and surnames which have derived from this root. Some of them include Roetter, Rötter, Röttger, Röttger, Roedder, Rödder, Rödiger, Rüdiger, Ruedtger, and Rotger.
Rowetter is derived from the old German word "rod" which means "reed". This suggests that the original Rowetters were people who either lived by or worked with reeds during the Middle Ages.
The Rötter/Roetter variations of the surname derive from the Middle High German "roter', which means "red", and could have referred to red-headed individuals or families who used the river to dye their wool.
The Röttger variation of the surname derives from the Middle High German "roedegar", meaning "woodcutter" or "timberman", suggesting that the original Rowetters were woodcutters who harvested wood for lumber.
Rödder and Roedder derive from the Middle High German "roeter", which translates into "clearer", indicating that the original Rowetters were clearing streams and rivers of debris or obstructions.
The Rüdiger and Ruedtger variations of the surname derive from the Middle High German "rüdtger", which translates into "counselor". This is believed to be an occupational name for people who offered counsel to high ranking individuals.
These variations of the Rowetter surname are all closely related and offer an interesting insight into the roots of the Rowetter family. Each variation and spelling provides a glimpse into the life and livelihood of the original Rowetters during the Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Rowetter
- Maria Rowetter, a violinist and conductor known for her contributions to modern chamber music.
- Hans Rowetter, a German navigator, explorer, and surveyor of the 17th century.
- Emma Rowetter, a German philanthropist and social worker in the 19th century who promoted education and health care.
- Jürgen Rowetter, a 20th century German politician who was a leader of the Green Party in the Bundestag.
- Paul Rowetter, a sculptor from Bavaria known for his figurative statues.
- Rita Rowetter, an Austrian silent film actress who starred in a few films in the 1910s and 1920s.
- Sandy Rowetter, an American actress and singer who starred in a number of musicals in the 1940s.
- Carl Eric Rowetter, a Swedish physicist and entrepreneur who gained fame for developing an improved phonograph in the 1800s.
- Sam Rowetter, a British engineer and inventor who developed some of the earliest cars and taxis in the ancient world.
- Joe Rowetter, an American film composer and arranger who worked on some of the most popular films of the 1950s.