Surname Ehrentraut - Meaning and Origin
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Ehrentraut: What does the surname Ehrentraut mean?
The last name Ehrentraut is a German surname that has origins as an occupational name for a person who was involved with honor or respect. It derives from the German words “Ehre”, which means honor, and “traut”, which means trust. Historically, the Ehrentraut family likely served in some public capacity that required them to exemplify trustworthiness or integrity in the community. Over the centuries, Ehrentraut has become an established German surname that has spread to many countries, especially in America.
The Ehrentraut family name can be found primarily in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, as well as in areas where German-speaking people have immigrated, such as the United States, Canada and Australia. Members of the Ehrentraut family are believed to have emigrated from Germany in the 19th century, seeking economic and political stability in other parts of the world.
Today, Ehrentraut can be found as a family name among people of Germanic origin, though the meaning behind the last name is still largely known and shared by its bearers. Individuals bearing this surname today may express their own personal interpretation of the meaning behind Ehrentraut by adhering to their sense of honor, trustworthiness and respect for others.
Order DNA origin analysisEhrentraut: Where does the name Ehrentraut come from?
The last name Ehrentraut is most commonly found in Germany today. The earliest records of the name can be traced to sources such as the 14th century tax records of the region where there were references to individuals by this name. Despite the German origin, the name is today spread across many countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In Germany the name can still be found concentrated in some of the states in the southern half of the country. Here it is found primarily in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Berlin. In these states the name has been most concentrated in the larger cities and towns - primarily in the larger metropolitan cities such as Munich, Stuttgart, and Berlin. Beyond Germany, the name has also been heavily concentrated in the United States across states such as California, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Texas.
The meaning of the name is believed to be based on the combination of 'Ehre' and 'Traut', meaning 'honour' and 'daring', respectively. The meaning of the name today is likely to have shifted slightly to represent an individual who holds themselves to a high standard or an individual who is courageous and honourable. Its use as a given name is relatively rare, although it is still possible to come across in some places.
Variations of the surname Ehrentraut
Ehrentraut is a German surname derived from the words ‘Ehren’, meaning ‘honor’, and ‘traut’, meaning ‘trust’. It is most commonly found in Bavaria, a southern state of Germany.
The variants, spellings and surnames of Ehrentraut are: Ehrentroth, Ehrentrott, Ehrentrodt, Ehrentrout, Ehrentraud, Ehrentrot, Ehrentrott, Erentraut, Ehrentrutt, Erntraut and Earnestrouth.
The variants with a ‘u’, such as Ehrentraud, Ehrentrutt and Erntraut are most commmonly found in Bavaria, while the variants with a ‘o’, such as Ehrentroth, Ehrentrodt and Ehrentrott are more common in other parts of Germany.
The surname Ehrentraut is occasionally Anglicized to Earnestrouth or Earnestraut.
It is also often combined with other German surnames to form a double-barreled surname. Examples include Ehrentraut-Schmidt, Ehrentraut-Klein, Ehrentraut-Müller and Ehrentraut-Schneider.
Ehrentraut has also given rise to many variants of Ehrentreu: Ehrentreu, Ehrenträu, Ehrentreau, Ehrentraeu, Ehrentray, Ehrentrey, Ehrentry, Ehrentraye, Ehrentrayu, Ehrentraeou, Earnestray and Earnestrey.
Famous people with the name Ehrentraut
- Diane Ehrentraut: an American former child actress who became famous for her role as Gretchen Kraus on the popular sitcom Benson.
- Erika Ehrentraut: a German actress and model who appeared in the 2002 movie Goodbye, Lenin!.
- Robert Ehrentraut: a professional poker player whose career began in the early 2000s on the International Poker Federation circuit.
- Michael Ehrentraut: an American fil maker who wrote and directed the award-winning short film “The American Dream” in 2008.
- Henry Ehrentraut: an American artist known for his abstract landscape and figurative paintings. His work is currently exhibited in galleries across the US and in Europe.
- Eric Ehrentraut: a German scientist who was part of the team responsible for developing the modern atomic bomb.
- Dr. Marvin Ehrentraut: a German physicist and Nobel Prize winner who invented the CRT television.
- Sebastian Ehrentraut: a renowned Australian musician, dancer and performer of the late 19th century.
- Joseph Ehrentraut: a German-born, Carinthian engineer and inventor who improved upon the German Mannlicher Rifle.
- Paul Ehrentraut: an American military historian who wrote extensively on the wars between Native Americans and American settlers throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.