Surname Textor - Meaning and Origin
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Textor: What does the surname Textor mean?
The surname Textor is believed to be of German, Dutch and English origin and is derived from the Middle English word “textor”, which originally meant “weaver” in Old English. It is thought to have been used to refer to someone who worked with textiles or an occupational surname used for a weaver or tailor.
The earliest known record of the Textor name was in the early seventeenth century, in Germany. Records of the surname in England date back to 1639, when one Henry Textor was recorded as living in the city of New York. He was later known as Henry Textor of Londinburg.
Textor may also derive from an old nickname, referring to someone who liked to play about with textiles or words. This could refer to someone who enjoyed writing, reading or using clever turns of phrase. This could relate to an occupation, but could also refer to a more hobby-based skill.
The Textor surname is also found in different variations, such as members of the Teyßtor and Tekstor families from the Netherlands and Germany. This implies that the surname originated from a variety of different language origins, and could even be a nod to the nomadic heritage of the Textors – an apt surname for a family who travelled across several countries.
Overall, the Textor surname is associated with weaving or textiles, or perhaps an interest in words. It is possible that the Textors were a family of weavers or tailors, or perhaps a family who enjoyed reading and writing. Either way, the Textor surname provides some insight into the heritage of this family.
Order DNA origin analysisTextor: Where does the name Textor come from?
Textor is a German surname with many different geographic variants, most notably from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Over the centuries it has also spread to other countries. In modern times, it is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, with smaller numbers of Textors located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, South Africa, Denmark, Spain, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Australia and the Dominican Republic.
Textor is most commonly found in Southern and Western Germany, where traces of the surname can go as far back as the 12th century in the region. Other parts of Germany, such as Thuringia, also have large populations of Textor. The Switzerland regions of Basel and Zug are also known to have high concentrations of Textors. In the Netherlands, the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Zeeland are known to have a high percentage of Textors.
The United States is home to many Textors, mostly tracing their ancestry back to Germany. States with the highest concentrations of Textors include Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York and Missouri. There are also significant pockets of Textors located in Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia.
Overall, the Textor surname remains most common today in its countries of origin, particularly in Southern Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Textor
The surname Textor is a German or Ashkenazic Jewish surname. It is a topographic surname for someone who lived near a spinning wheel or weaving device and derives from the Middle High German term ‘textor’ meaning ‘weaver’.
The variants and spelling of the surname include Tector, Tegtmeier or Tettemer. In some cases, the 'x' has been changed to a 'g', and this surname can be seen as Tegtor, Tegetor or Tegter. The surname has also been Anglicised to Texton or Texten.
The surname Textor may also be found as the Jewish surnames Textmann or Textman. These surnames were formed by adding the suffix ‘-mann’ or ‘-man’ which is German for ‘man’. This suffix was popular among Ashkenazic Jews and served both to differentiate them from non-Jewish neighbours and to emphasise their social standing as tradespeople. The surnames were formed from an original Jewish surname which was derived from a trade.
The surname Textor may also be found in Jewish names ending in -baum or -baum which refers to a ‘tree’. This suffix is found in names derived from family \"trees\" or from a settlement named after a tree, such as Textorbaum.
Finally, the surname Textor may also be found as Textes or Textess. This is an altered form of the German surname, where the 'x' has been changed to 's'.
Famous people with the name Textor
- Richard Textor: Global investor and philanthropist
- Matt Textor: American investor and entrepreneur
- Nickolaus Textor: German businessman and venture capitalist
- Lewis Textor: British arranger, composer and orchestrator
- Charles Textor: American sculptor
- Ernest Textor: German judge and legal scholar
- Michael Textor: German linguist and Semiticist
- Wesley Textor: American memoirist, novelist, and housesitter
- Gregory Textor: American poet and editor
- Ralph Textor: Swiss alpinist and mountaineer