Surname Vaters - Meaning and Origin
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Vaters: What does the surname Vaters mean?
The last name “Vaters” is of Germanic origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name “Vater,” which is a combination of two elements -- the first meaning “father;” and the second element, “-s,” an ending which had the meaning “son of.”
In some instances, the surname “Vaters” may have originated from a nickname used to describe someone who adopted the behavior of a particular animal. For example, the name “Vater” could be derived from a word meaning “otter.” There were also simple variants such as the German word “Vatter” which means “bailiff” while the diminutive form, “Vattele,” means “little bailiff.”
The surname “Vaters” is also thought to have originated from a place name, and in some instances, could have been derived from the German words “vater” or “vaeter,” in which case the origin could be traced back to an ancestor who had lived in one of these places.
Among the earliest recorded bearers of the surname “Vaters” was Henry Vetter who was born in County Elkes in the 1600’s. The name has since spread to other parts of the world, as many bearers of this name migrated to the United States and elsewhere, in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Today, the surname “Vaters” is most common in the United States, Canada, and Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisVaters: Where does the name Vaters come from?
The last name Vaters is most popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. While Vaters is not a particularly common name in the United States today, there is some presence of this last name, as it was brought to America by German immigrants in the 19th century. Most of the Vaters family members in the U.S. today can trace their lineage back to these immigrants. Today, the majority of Vaters are found in communities across the Midwestern and Eastern states, particularly Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New York.
In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the last name Vaters is much more common, with the name originating as a shortened form of "Vater," meaning "father" in German. The earliest record of the Vaters name is found from the 13th century in the Magdeburg region in Germany. It is believed that Vaters initially referred to a family member of the priest or pastor in a town and gradually developed into a family name over time.
Today, Vaters is still a fairly common last name across much of Europe, but in the United States, it remains largely concentrated within the Midwest and Eastern states within the U.S. due to the influx of German immigrants in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Vaters
The surname Vaters is of German origin and is typically found in areas that were formerly part of the German Empire. A variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin can be derived from the name Vaters.
One variant of the name is Fäters, which is typically found in North German and Rheinland regions. The spelling Väters is also sometimes encountered in areas of North Germany, and is a variant of Vaters. Alternately, Vöthers and Vöters are found in some areas, and are variants that begin with a “V” but omit the d.
Patronymic surnames derived from the Vaters surname are Fahters, Faetters, Faters, and Featers.
The Preuschdoff variant is found in some East German and Prussian regions, while the French surname is Wipers.
In various parts of the former German empire, the Vaters surname can be found in different spellings, including Femers, Faemers, Faders, and F execres.
Finally, Uters could also be encountered in certain regions, although this spelling is quite uncommon. It is derived from the German word “uter,” which means "father" or "ancestor."
All of these variants, spellings, and surnames form the same origin as the surname Vaters and can be found in various regions of what was formerly known as the German Empire.
Famous people with the name Vaters
- Dan Vaters: Drummer from the rock band "Projected" fronted by Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist, Mark Tremonti.
- Brad Vaters: Professional bass angler and tournament charterer.
- Jeff Vaters: Radio announcer and former soldier who was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq.
- Matt Vaters: Naval officer and member of the Advisory Committee for the Office of Naval Research.
- Brian Vaters: Actor best known for his roles in the television series One Tree Hill and The Vampire Diaries.
- Kayla Vaters: Professional stand-up comedian and podcaster who has appeared on the American reality competition series Last Comic Standing and Penn & Teller's Fool Us.
- Tony Vaters: Actor best known for his roles in the films The Social Network and The Amazing Spider-Man.
- Rachel Vaters: Award-winning baker and Food Network television personality.
- Daniella Vaters: Author and chef who is the host of the cooking show Deliciousness.
- Brianne Vaters: Singer and member of the popular pop group Wreckless Love.