Surname Voogt - Meaning and Origin

Voogt: What does the surname Voogt mean?

The last name Voogt is an old Dutch occupational surname. Voogt (pronounced "voo-hht") is derived from the Dutch word "voogd," which means "guardian" or "protector." Historically, a voogt was a high-ranking administrative position responsible for carrying out decisions of the local nobility or magistrates. The title survived throughout much of the Netherlands and, as an uncommon name, was eventually adopted as a surname.

The prevalence of the surname Voogt is low, as records of its usage date back to just the 15th century in the Dutch province of Zealand. However, use of the name has expanded since then and is now primarily found in northern and western Europe, including Germany and countries in Scandinavia.

Although the origins of the name Voogt remain a mystery, many facts lead to the conclusion that the name refers to someone influential at an old governmental level. Thus, it can be said that the name Voogt holds meaning in a deep respect for authority and guardianship.

Voogt: Where does the name Voogt come from?

The last name Voogt is most commonly seen in the Netherlands today. It is a Dutch name that has been around for centuries, originating in the medieval period. The roots of the name can be traced back to the Dutch words 'voogd' and 'voogt', which both mean guardian or guardian of the estate. The last name Voogt was historically found primarily in the northern part of the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland, but it can now be found all over the country.

In the Netherlands today, the name Voogt is one of the Twenty most common surnames. The Voogt name is also currently found in parts of Belgium and Germany as well as in some countries outside of Europe, such as Canada and the United States. There are many spelling variations of the name Voogt to reflect local dialects, such as Voocht, Vooght, and Voogdt.

Interestingly, the famous Dutch painter and etcher, Wenzel Ferdinand Voogdt, adopted the last name Voogt upon his conversion to Catholicism, while his own family did not take the name until 1743. Today, the last name Voogt is associated with Dutch heritage and is often linked to Dutch cities such as Leeuwarden. In the Netherlands, the last name Voogt is seen as part of the larger Voogt family, which is connected to many prominent people in the country’s history.

Variations of the surname Voogt

Voogt is an old Dutch surname with several variants. The most common spellings of Voogt are Vought, Vooght, Vaught, Vogt, and Voght.

Vogt is the most widely used spelling, and was first recorded in ancient Dutch records. A Vogt was an official appointed by the feudal lord to administer justice and administer the estate, and the surname was derived either from this position or from the estate itself. Voogd is another variation of the surname, derived from the Dutch word for protector.

In the Netherlands, Voogt is a variant of the Vincentius family, while in Germany it is a variant of the Vogt family. The German form of Vogt is also commonly seen in Dutch countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

In the United States there are several spellings of the surname, including Vaught, Voigt, Vought, Vugt, Vuight, Vight, and Vyght. The Vought spelling is especially common in America, likely because it underwent a spelling change to better fit English pronunciation.

Finally, there are many other surnames of similar origin that have derived from Voogt such as Voghel, Voghele, Vogler, Vogl, Vogth, Voghney, and Vogel. These names can be found in several countries, and are often the result of spelling changes or individual variations.

Famous people with the name Voogt

• Maarten Voogt: Dutch politician from the Christen Democratisch Appel
• Jeroen Voogd: Dutch entrepreneur, co-founder of Redwood Capital, a venture capital firm
• Yannick Voogt: Dutch football player
• Dirk Voogt: Dutch football player and coach
• Alies Voogt: Dutch politician from the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy
• Mathijs Voogt: Dutch social entrepreneur and founder of the International Institute for Sustainable Development
• Gepke Voogt: Dutch researcher, specializing in marketing and branding
• Loes Voogt: Dutch film producer
• Paul Voogt: Dutch percussionist, composer and music instructor
• Remco Voogt: Dutch musician, singer-songwriter, bandleader and music producer

Other surnames

VoogdVoogdt