Surname Kötte - Meaning and Origin
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Kötte: What does the surname Kötte mean?
The surname Kötte is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German word "Kote," meaning "hut" or "hut maker." This likely originates from a profession of hut or hat making, likely denoting someone who made hats for a living at some point in history.
The use of the surname Kötte as a given name has been recorded in Germany since the 14th century. The name is most commonly found in Northern German speaking areas, such as Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Hesse, and the Rhineland.
The spelling variations of the surname Kötte include Kotte, Cotten, Gotte and Gottet. It is also possible that Kötte has been derived from the name Kohte, a variant of the German last name Kohl.
Kötte is generally seen as a patronymic surname, meaning the name was passed on from the father to his son. The original name was likely derived from a profession or geographic location.
The name Kötte has been used in Germany and its descendants for centuries and it is still relatively common in Germany and other German-speaking countries today. Its meaning is likely derived from a profession, indicating someone who was a hat maker.
Order DNA origin analysisKötte: Where does the name Kötte come from?
The last name Kötte is commonly found in German-speaking countries, mainly in Germany and Austria. It is thought to be a variant of the name Kohl, meaning ‘coal’.
In Germany, people with the last name Kötte are primarily concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, and Hamburg. They are also found in East and Southeast Germany (e.g., Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Saxony).
In Austria, Kötte families can be found across the country, but particularly in the cities of Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz.
Kötte is also common in Switzerland, primarily in the cantons of Zurich and Bern.
Due to the German diaspora in the past centuries, the last name Kötte can be encountered even in non-German speaking countries. In the United States, for example, it is represented in large numbers in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Missouri, three states with German ancestries.
The name Kötte is still popular today, and families bearing it can be encountered worldwide.
Variations of the surname Kötte
The surname Kötte is derived from German roots and is thus common among German speakers and forebears. Alternate spellings of the surname Kötte include Koette, Koetté, Koettes, Kötte, and Koetten. Different variant spellings, originating from different dialects, include Kootter, Kooten, Kootes, Kotes, Kott, Kött, Koetters, Kotts, and Kootten.
The surname has also been absorbed into other languages, often as an unavoidable consequence of migration. As such, the surname is found in countries such as Canada and the US, where it is alternately spelled with an initial
When it comes to surnames of the same origin, some of the most common variations that occur alongside Kötte are Koenen, Koehne, Köhnen, Koeppen, and Köpken. All of these surnames are derived from the German word ‘Kötter’, which means small farmer or cottager.
In addition to the variations and spellings found in other languages, Kötte can also be a patronymic surname. This means that it is derived from a male ancestor’s first name. As such, it is usually found in versions such as Köttemann, Köttelmann, Köttermann, or Köte Köttermann.
Overall, the vast number of different variants and spellings of Kötte, as well as its involvment in other languages and with patronymic surnames, make it a very interesting and diverse family name. The many variations provide evidence for its spread and shows how the surname has been incorporated into different languages and cultures over the course of history.
Famous people with the name Kötte
- René Kötte: German downhill skier, competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville
- Frans-Willem Kötte: Dutch cyclist, competed in the 1888 Summer Olympics
- Friedrich Kötte: German resistance fighter during the Second World War
- Johannes Kötte: East German slalom canoeist, competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City
- Johannes Kötte: German swimmer, competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne
- Adolf Kötte: German gymnast, competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics in St Louis
- David Kötte: German sprint canoer, competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin
- Gerd Kötte: German speed skater, competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble
- Klaus Kötte-German bobsledder, competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville
- Armin Kötte: German bobsledder, competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo