Surname Vetterli - Meaning and Origin
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Vetterli: What does the surname Vetterli mean?
The last name Vetterli is of Swiss-German origin and is believed to have originated during the medieval period. Its literal meaning is "cattle man" or "man of the cattle". It is also thought to derive from the old German word, Vetter, meaning "kinsman". It is likely that the name refers to a family or clan that herded cattle during the Middle Ages.
The earliest known bearer of the name was Johannes Vetterli, who was born in 1639 in Canton of Zug, Switzerland. Over time, the Vetterli family spread throughout Switzerland and other parts of Europe, particularly Germany, Austria, and Italy.
In modern times, the Vetterli name is still quite common in the Switzerland. It has also made its way to the United States, with numerous Vetterlis having emigrated from Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.}
Today, many people bearing the Vetterli name continue to live and work in Switzerland. As the name began to spread farther afield, its literal meaning of "cattle man" or "man of the cattle" was replaced with its figurative meaning of a noble, principled, and welcoming leader of a large extended family. This could refer to either a biological or an adopted family, suggesting the traditional values of loyalty, acceptance, and kindness are still strong within the Vetterli family.
Order DNA origin analysisVetterli: Where does the name Vetterli come from?
The last name Vetterli is most commonly found today in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. It is thought that the name originates from Switzerland, as people first bearing this name are known to have resided in the canton Ticino in the 13th century.
Today, many Swiss citizens own the surname Vetterli. The Swiss website, Wer ist Wer, which highlights notable Swiss citizens, has at least 30 records that include the surname Vetterli. This number is very likely much larger due to the sheer amount of Swiss people owning the surname Vetterli.
Other countries in Europe with notable numbers of individuals with the last name Vetterli include Germany and Austria. The website GeniWorld Family Trees lists numerous individuals with the patronymic Vetterli in German-speaking regions of Europe. One of the most prominent individuals associated with this surname was Johann Vetterli, an Austrian-born Swiss soldier and firearms designer who developed the Model 1867, a Swiss army rifle.
The surname Vetterli is also found in the United States. Although this is a much rarer occurrence, individuals with the last name Vetterli have emigrated the United States from Switzerland, among other countries. In fact, there are many people living in the United States today who have ancestors with the last name Vetterli.
In summary, the last name Vetterli is most common in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria but can also be found in other areas of Europe and the United States. Though the origin of the name is thought to be Swiss, it has spread down through generations and can now be seen all around the world.
Variations of the surname Vetterli
The surname Vetterli is of German and Swiss origin. It is derived from the Old German word "vêtera", meaning "a huntsman". This surname can be spelled in many different ways, including Vetterli, Vetar, Vetter, Vetterly, Vettery, Vettor, Phetterly, Fetterly, and Fetterlie.
In German, the surname is usually spelled either Vetar or Vetterli. In Switzerland, it is usually spelled Vetar or Vettery, although some families may use Vettery, Vettery, or Vetteryly. In the United States, the name is usually spelled Vetterli.
In the United States, the Vetterli surname is often abbreviated to Vet, Vett, or Vitt. It can also be combined with other names to form hyphenated surnames. Examples of this include Vet-McDonough, Vitt-Roth, and Vet-Svobodny.
In some cases, Vetterli may be used in combination with other surnames, which then become hyphenated surnames such as Rat-Vetterli, or Gett-Vetterli, or Rosen-Vetterli.
In Switzerland, the surname is often Anglicized as Fetterlie or Fetterly. In Germany and the United States, it is also sometimes Anglicized as Phetterly, although this is not as common.
No matter how it is spelled, the origin of the surname Vetterli remains the same. The Old German term “vêtera” translates to “a huntsman.”
Famous people with the name Vetterli
- Maria Vetterli: Swiss Alpine ski racer, freestyle skier, and ski instructor.
- Joe Vetterli: former Swiss footballer and manager.
- SS Peter and Paul Vetterli: Swiss sainthood.
- Susan Vetterli-Waller: former American diplomat and immunity expert.
- Lucas Vetterli: Swiss artist and musician.
- Heinrich Vetterli: Swiss engineer and firearms designer.
- Roy Vetterli: Swiss philosopher and educator.
- Eric Vetterli: former Swiss hockey player.
- Anastasios Vetterli: Swiss youth educator and Olympian.
- Paul Vetterli: Swiss counter-terrorism specialist.
- Henry Vetterli: Swiss watchmaker and designer of the Vetterli rifle.
- Mark Vetterli: Swiss minister and theologian.
- Rebecca Vetterli: Swiss children’s author.
- Kimberly Vetterli: American nurse and poet.
- Elisabeth Vetterli: Swiss lawyer and businesswoman.
- Holger Vetterli: German business executive.
- Marcel Vetterli: Swiss composer and musician.
- Christen Vetterli: Swiss-American woodworker and sculptor.
- Wilfried Vetterli: Swiss-German radio personality.
- Adolphe Vetterli: Swiss inventor and botanist.