Surname Vögtlin - Meaning and Origin
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Vögtlin: What does the surname Vögtlin mean?
The last name Vögtlin is a German toponymic surname, which means it's derived from the location where the first person to bear the surname lived. The suffix "-lin" is an old form of the German word "lein" which means "small", and the prefix "Vög" likely refers to a settlement or a farmhouse. The name can be traced back to early records in Upper Alsace, in France, and in Switzerland, in the areas around the Upper Rhine.
Generally speaking, Vögtlin is thought to have been derived from the Middle High German "Volckilin" or "Volcklein". This name likely alludes to a person or family that lives in a small settlement or farm in a rural area. The word 'Volck' may mean something like 'people' or 'serf', or a 'small group of people living on a farm', and 'lein' signifying 'small'.
The name Vögtlin is quite common and distributed throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and several other countries. Those bearing this name often trace their heritages back to the area of the Upper Rhine, as this is where it could be found in the earliest record. Vögtlins are most likely descendents of German-speaking families that have been living in the area for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisVögtlin: Where does the name Vögtlin come from?
The surname Vögtlin is most commonly found in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. The cantons (states) of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, Aargau, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, and St. Gallen have the highest concentration of Vögtlin families. The Basel area has historically had the highest numbers of people with the name.
The Vögtlin name is derived from the German word “vogt,” which means an official appointed to administer a village, district, or court. The name could have been used to denote a family of officials or the leaders of a certain area. In Switzerland, the name is quite common and has been around since at least the 1500s.
Roughly 1,500 people still carry the Vögtlin name in Switzerland today, and the name is becoming increasingly rare in other countries. In the United States, the name can still be found scattered across the country in small numbers, primarily among German-American or Swiss-American families, and is also present in Argentina and Chile.
The Vögtlin name is associated with several notable people, including German-born industrialist Franz Vögtlin, Swiss curator Mathilde Vögtlin, and German sculptor Elma Vögtlin. The name is also connected to a German military family from the 19th and 20th centuries, whose members include Carl Rudolf Vögtlin, who commanded the Bavarian Army during World War I, and Max Vögtlin, who was a prominent figure in World War II.
Variations of the surname Vögtlin
The surname Vögtlin is an old Swiss surname that dates back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Germanic word voegt, meaning “keeper of authority”.
The name has several variant spellings and surnames, all of which are derived from the same source. Variants of the name include Vögtel, Vogtel, Foggtel, Vögtule, Vogtlin, Vögtelin, Foggtlin, and Vögtelle.
The surname Vögtlin can be found in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the United States. In Switzerland, the name is most common in the cantons of Basel-Land, Graubünden, and Appenzell Ausserrhoden. In Germany, the surname is prevalent in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, and the Rhineland-Palatinate.
In addition, two distinct surnames can be found in the United States who can trace their origins back to the Swiss Vögtlins: Foggtel and Vogtel. The Foggtel surname originated in the early 1800s when Carl Jacob Foggtel emigrated from the Swiss canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden to the United States. His great-great-great-grandson, Joseph Foggtel, changed his surname to Fogel in the early 1900s.
The Vogtel surname originated in the late 1700s when Johannes Vogtel emigrated from Switzerland to the United States in 1786. His great-great-great-grandson, William Vogtel, changed the spelling of the surname to Votaw in the early 1900s, although most descendants still carry on the original surname of Vogtel.
Overall, the surname Vögtlin has a long and varied history, with numerous related variations. All of these surnames and spelling variants are connected through Swiss heritage, with the origin of the name being loosely translated to "keeper of authority".
Famous people with the name Vögtlin
- Urs Vögtlin: Swiss entrepreneur famous for the creation of Ava, a women's health technology
- Gordon Vögtlin: Swiss politician, member of the Swiss Parliament as well as of the cantonal council of Graubünden
- Yvonne Vögtlin: Swiss fencer who represented Switzerland in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp
- Konrad Vögtlin: Swiss amateur wrestler who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
- Franya Vögtlin: Dunken Swiss Olympic figure skater
- Ivan Vögtlin: Swiss racecar driver, who competed in the 1949 Formula One season
- Ferdinand Vögtlin: Swiss painter, draftsman, and sculptor
- Veit Vögtlin: Swiss quartz crystal processing specialist and politician
- Jürg Vögtlin: Swiss economist specialising in econometrics and energy
- Michael Vögtlin: Swiss jazz pianist and music producer