Surname Woldter - Meaning and Origin
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Woldter: What does the surname Woldter mean?
The last name Woldter is of German origin, derived from the old Germanic word "wald" which means “forest.” The name likely originated to indicate someone who lived in or near a forest.
Woldter is a common surname in Germany and Scandinavia. In some areas, it has also been associated with aristocracy.
The first recorded spelling of the family name Woldter dates back to 1290 in the German region of Thuringen. Historians have noted that variations in spelling of the name include Woldterer, Waldhauer, and Woltert.
Woldter is a distinctive name, chosen to honor a valiant ancestor who may have been a hunter, farmer, forester, or lumberjack. It may also have signified that someone in the family had honorably served in a German monarchy.
Today, many descendants of the Woldter name live in Europe, North America, Australia, and South Africa. The name is relatively uncommon, driving experts to believe that the original family stock has not been diluted. The same sense of pride amongst the Woldter descendants is still evident today.
Order DNA origin analysisWoldter: Where does the name Woldter come from?
The last name Woldter is a rare surname, primarily originating in the German-speaking countries of Europe. Woldter is most commonly found today in Germany, particularly in the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, according to the 1990 census. Records of the surname also show it to be distributed sparsely across other countries in the region, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
Given its German origin, Woldter is more likely to be an occupational name derived from an old German word, "waltaere," meaning "forest guardian," someone who was legally obligated to look after the forests and woodlands in his jurisdiction. It is also possible that the surname is derived from a name of a place, such as Waldter, an old village near Plettenberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Although the Woldter surname is not widely found in the United States, there are scattered records of the name in the American census, most of which originate from immigrants who have come from German-speaking countries in Europe. Generally speaking, the name is thought to be quite rare in the U.S., with only a handful of Woldters found in census records.
Variations of the surname Woldter
The surname Woldter is of Germanic origin and has variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname include Wöldter, Woeltter, Woeltzer, and Woltter. Spellings of the surname include Woldters, Woldters, Woldles, Wolden, Waldters, Waldtes, Walths, Woltz, and Valtar. Common surnames of the same origin include Walther, Walter, Walters, Wattles, and Wollter.
The name is derived from the Old German personal name ‘waldhar’, meaning a brave ruler or leader, and was a widely popular name in ancient German society due to its positive connotations. It was also a frequent name given to children as a sign of hope and good luck. After the 12th century, the form of the name changed to the more modern Wyldter, Woldter, Voelzer, Walther, and Woltzer.
The different variants and spellings of the surname Woldter are testament to its rich Germanic heritage, and demonstrate the diverse range of names that come from a single source. The near endless variants and spellings of the same origin demonstrate the cultural importance of a name, as it has been handed down through the generations, taking on different forms while still retaining its essence.
Famous people with the name Woldter
- Phil Woldter: Phil Woldter is a Swedish musician, has released multiple studio albums, and is one of the most popular EDM producers in Scandinavia.
- Robin Lundberg Woldter: Robin Lundberg Woldter is a Swedish actor, known for his roles in films such as As It Is In Heaven and Let the Right One In.
- Bjorn Woldter: Bjorn Woldter is a Swedish film producer and actor. He is the director of the award-winning film Guerrilla, and a producer of the internationally acclaimed feature film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
- Jacob Woldter: Jacob Woldter is a Swedish writer, known for the book and theatrical play A Table of Ice: A Story from the Cold War.
- Christer Woldter: Christer Woldter is a Swedish actor, best known for his work in films such as The Saloonkeeper and The Apartment.
- Robert Woldter: Robert Woldter is a Swedish fine art painter, whose work is featured in private collections in Europe and the United States.
- Marcus Woldter: Marcus Woldter is a Swedish engineer, musician, and investor, and he is the CEO of the engineering and technology startup Adaptiva.
- Kjell Woldter: Kjell Woldter is a Swedish novelist and poet, and he is best known for his novel The Night has a Thousand Eyes.
- Niclas Woldter: Niclas Woldter is a Swedish economist, and he is the managing director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics.
- Erika Woldter: Erika Woldter is a Swedish illustrator, and she is known for her work in children's books and magazines.