Surname Wotten - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wotten: What does the surname Wotten mean?
The last name Wotten is of French origin and is derived from "wotan" which refers to the ancient Germanic chief god of war and sky. The spelling of the name has evolved from "Wotan" to "Wotten" over time.
Originally, Wotten was spoken mostly in Normandy regions of France, and the name is found written in various old manuscripts dating back to the 13th century. The Wotten family was highly involved in war-related crafts and professions and were often titled knights or barons, who held considerable land and political power in the areas around Normandy.
In the present day, Wotten is still a very common name and is often found across Europe, especially the United Kingdom. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 Wotten living in the United Kingdom alone. In modern times, the surname is carried by musicians, writers, footballers, athletes, and even evangelists.
The meaning of the Wotten surname reflects how far it dates back; the word wotan is derived from an ancient Germanic chief god, Wotan, and when sequenced into the surname, it is symbolic of great strength and power.
Order DNA origin analysisWotten: Where does the name Wotten come from?
The last name Wotten is most commonly found in English-speaking countries today. It is a relatively rare surname, estimated to be shared by fewer than 500 individuals worldwide. Of these individuals, the vast majority are found in the United States and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, the most frequent states of residence for individuals with the surname Wotten are Florida, Ohio, California, and Texas. According to the 2000 US Census, there were approximately 130 individuals with the last name Wotten living in the United States, with the vast majority of those being found in the states mentioned.
In the UK, the surname Wotten is also quite a rare one. According to the UK Genealogy Records, there were a total of only 26 individuals with the surname Wotten living in the UK in the year 2016. Of these, the majority were located in the English county of Surrey, with a few scattered across other counties.
The Wotten surname most likely originated in England, as there is an exact spelling of the last name found in the Great Domesday Book of 1086. This suggests that the Wotten last name was established in England during that time period. The Wotten name is also highly likely to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "wod" and "tun," meaning a "wood town."
Variations of the surname Wotten
Wotten is a British surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. Variants of the same origin include Wotan, Wottan, Wotton, Wuttan, Wootan, Wooton, Wouten, and Wouton. Common spellings would include Wootten, Wotten, Woetten, Wouten, Wotton and Wutten.
Surnames of the same origin derived from the Wotten surname include Wettin, Whitten, Whiton, Whitton, Wootten, Woeten, Wotting, Wottinger, Wottringer and Wuttringer.
In some cases, the surname can be modified if the original spelling has been lost over generations in a family. Spellings such as Wotten, Wootten, Wotte, Wot, and Wotted can result if the surname has undergone further modifications.
A few distinct variations of the Wotten surname include Wottenberg, Wottenburg, Wottheim, Wottenfeld, Wottenberg and Wottendorp. Other non-Anglo Saxon surname variants include Wotansky, Wotanski, Wottanski, and Wottvansky.
In the United States some Americanized versions of the Wotten name are Wootten, Whooten, Woeten and Woten. All of these variants have the same origin but have been changed by individuals over time.
Overall, Wotten is a British surname of Anglo-Saxon origin which has many different spellings and variants. Over the years, the name has been adapted and modified based on the varying locations and environments individuals have found themselves in. Whether an individual is looking for their Anglo-Saxon roots or a new perspective on a name, there are many spellings and variations of the Wotten surname to explore.
Famous people with the name Wotten
- Janelle Wotten, star of the 2019 movie Disasters Of The Sun and 2020 movie Black Magnet
- Jenkins Wotten, music producer and arranger of the hip hop group Centerline and jazz trio Three-Dee
- Patrick Wotten, former lead singer of the West coast band Empty Bottles
- Raymond Wotten, former NFL player who played as linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
- Troy Wotten, renowned author of the critically-acclaimed novel "Silent Voices".
- Warren Wotten, jazz saxophonist and member of the American Music Club.
- Bob Wotten, professional race car driver and winner of two NASCAR championships.
- Christine Wotten, best-selling author of romantic fiction novels.
- Elizabeth Wotten, former figure skater and US Olympic Gold Medalist.
- Chris Wotten, award-winning video game designer and creative director.