Surname Wottava - Meaning and Origin
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Wottava: What does the surname Wottava mean?
The last name Wottava is believed to have originated from Bavaria, Germany. It has been suggested that it is derived from the middle high German term "wot which translates to mean "man of God" or "priest". This suggests that Wottava was a name given to individuals who held a religious or spiritual position within their community.
The name Wottava appears in records from the 12th century, and has been found to be used in many places throughout Germany and the Austrian province of Carinthia. In Carinthia, the name is believed to be derived from the Slavic term “wotan” – a pagan god associated with war and fertility. It is possible that the name Wottava came to be associated with people from traditionally religious backgrounds, although this is not known for certain.
The Wottava name has since spread around the world, particularly to the United States and Canada. It is now quite common to see the name Wottava in these countries.
The exact meaning of the name Wottava is uncertain but its legacy in Germany and Austria suggests that it may have had a religious interpretation. Its continued popularity over centuries of change hints at the value individuals have placed on the spiritual significance of the name since its origin.
Order DNA origin analysisWottava: Where does the name Wottava come from?
The Wottava surname is most strongly associated with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but it has been present elsewhere in Eastern Europe as well. In Slovakia, records show the Wottava family earliest presence in the early 1600s in the eastern regions, and from there the family spread as far as the outskirts of Prague. Today, the surname appears in slightly modified forms in Russia, including Votovat, Wudtowa, Wottowa, and Votava. As of the year 2000, the Wottava surname had the greatest concentration in the Czech Republic, where it ranked number 621 out of all the surnames currently present in the country. However, it has seen a general decrease in frequency across the entire region since then.
Despite its Eastern European roots, the Wottava surname can also be found in the United States, Canada, and even New Zealand. In the United States, it appears mainly across the eastern states, particularly in major metropolitan areas such as New York and Philadelphia. In Canada, it appears mainly in Québec and Alberta. There are also some Wottavas scattered around Europe, such as in England, Germany, France, and The Netherlands, as well as in Australia.
Given the spread of the surname, it appears that the Wottava family has found its home in many countries across the globe, with most descendants having their origin in the Slavic region.
Variations of the surname Wottava
The surname Wottava is likely derived from the Slavic name Votava, which is thought to be derived from the Old German name Wido. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Wottava include Votava, Wido, Wiedo, Vida, Widukind, Wiedukind, Vitus, Widos, Wodos, Vota, Wyttel, Wiederhold, Wiederholtz, and Wutzel.
The variant Votava comes from the Slavic word "vot" or "voda", which means water. It is thought that this was originally used to describe someone with a connection to the water or a water-filled region. It is also possible that it is derived from the German root word "wot", which was used to describe someone who was wise, or mindful of the future consequences of their actions.
Variations of the name with the suffix "-kind" may have referred to someone's physical characteristics, such as tall height, or the possession of a particular skill or talent. Similarly, the suffix "-s" was sometimes attached to indicate a person in a position of leadership, such as a commander or ruler.
Variants ending in "-el" were typically derived from elements of nature, such as a meadow or thicket, or a particular animal or bird. Variations ending in "-holtz" referred to a person who lived near a particular type of tree, such as an oak or a holly.
In English-speaking countries, the surname Wottava is often Anglicized to Wottawah, Wuttle, Wuttel or Wuttell, while the German spelling Wottau is sometimes changed to Wottow, Wottowa or Wottowa.
Famous people with the name Wottava
- John Wottavich: American bodybuilder and powerlifter.
- Giaretto Wottavar: Austrian singer-songwriter.
- Djivid Wottavar: Italian artist and musician.
- Karl Wottavar: Austrian actor and writer.
- Steve Wottavar: American business executive.
- David Wottavar: Portuguese professor and author.
- Piotr Wottavar: Polish fashion designer.
- Hans Wottavar: German Olympic gymnast.
- Oleksiy Wottavar: Ukrainian footballer.
- Nayara Wottavar: Brazilian actress.
- Pål Wottavar: Norwegian landscape photographer.
- Alexandra Wottavar: Russian figure skater.
- Abe Wottavar: Japanese judoka.
- Bridget Wottavar: British opera singer.
- César Wottavar: Spanish performance artist.
- Erik Wottavar: Danish painter.
- Fred Wottavar: American electric guitarist.
- Giacomo Wottavar: Italian composer.
- Gustavo Wottavar: Venezuelan yogi.
- Insa Wottavar: German film director.