Surname Overkott - Meaning and Origin
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Overkott: What does the surname Overkott mean?
The last name Overkott is of Germanic origin and is believed to have originated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It is a variant of the name Overkotter, and the two names mean different things. Overkotter refers to someone who lived at or near a cutter, which was a place where grain was cut and stored. The name Overkott, on the other hand, is said to refer to someone who lived by an oak tree.
The oak tree was an important symbol in Germanic culture due to many of its properties and meanings. It was linked to strength, endurance and stability, and was often seen as a symbol of fertility due to it being associated with an abundant and plentiful harvest. The oak tree was also thought to provide protection and shelter, which is likely the reason it became associated with the surname Overkott.
The Overkott surname is found primarily in the United States, with the most common states that this name is found in being New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. It is also found in countries such as Canada, Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland.
The Overkott name is likely to have derived from the Germanic language, and its root meaning is a reference to an oak tree. It is also associated with the concepts of strength and stability, as well as fertility and abundance. The surname remains connected mainly to the United States and other English-speaking countries, where it has been passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisOverkott: Where does the name Overkott come from?
The last name Overkott is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands today. This surname is likely a habitational or topographic name that was derived from areas in Germany called Oberkott, in Franconia, Bavaria, and Thuringia. It is believed to derive from the German word 'Kott' which could refer to small forest settings or enclosed spaces.
Throughout Europe, versions of this surname include Oberkott, Orkot, Oberkohl, Orkohl, Overokk, and Overok. Many people with variations of this name have immigrated to North America, including to places such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
The earliest known mentions of this name appear as far back as the sixteenth century in records such as the Warfield family Bible which reveals a connection between the Overkott and Warfield families dating back to the 1600s. The family bible mentions a Johannes Overkott from 15th century Bavaria as well as his descendant, Simon Overkott of the 40th Regiment of Pennsylvania militia in 1790.
Today, the name Overkott is most prevalently found in the Bavarian cities of Erlangen and Aschaffenburg as well as cities such as Utrecht and The Hague, in the Netherlands. Although English-language records are rare, many people with the name Overkott can be found on genealogical websites like Ancestry and MyHeritage.
Variations of the surname Overkott
The surname Overkott is a German-origin name. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
• Overkott
• Oberkotz
• Oberkott
• Obergott
• Öbergott
• Obercot
• Obergoetz
• Oberkoch
• Obergottz
• Obercath
• Obercutz
• Obergötz
• Oberkech
• Oberkochen
• Obergotz
• Obercatz
• Obergotts
• Obergat
• Oberkecht
• Obercat
• Oberkechte
• Oberkit
• Oberhais
• Oberkecht
• Oberikh
• Oberkechts
• Oberkaae
• Oberguetz
• Oberhaiz
• Obergeat
• Oberkaste
• Oberkeats
• Oberkaat
• Öberkeat
• Obergesch
• Oberkocht
• Oberkeet
• Obergez
• Oberkast
• Oberkeets
• Öberkeid
• Obergeez
• Oberkect
• Oberkeez
• Obergast
• Overcott
• Oberketh
• Oberkeed
• Oberkat
• Obergecht
• Oberkechs
• Oberkeh
• Oberkegt
• Overqott
• Oberkitze
• Oberketz
• Oberkeit
• Oberkottz
• Oberkiht
• Oberkeezes
• Oberkitt
• Oberguecht
• Oberkects
• Oberkehts
• Obergets
The origin of the surname could be linked to the Germanic personal names Obero/Oberraht, which were used in Germany and throughout the Middle Ages. It is likely that the surname may have derived from a place called Oberkott, a town located in the Rhineland somewhere near the modern border between Germany and Belgium. Other possible origins for the surname are the Middle High German words ‘Kotte’ and ‘Kottin’ meaning ‘house’, possibly indicating that at one point the family was associated with a house. The name could also have evolved from a nickname based on the physical features of a person’s appearance. Ultimately, the name could have derived from any one of the many Germanic words, making it difficult to trace the exact origin.
Famous people with the name Overkott
- Ian Overkott: American professional golfer
- Brooks Overkott: Former MLB pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners
- Dave Overkott: American college baseball coach
- Steve Overkott: Former MLB certer fielder who played for the Minnesota Twins
- Tom Overkott: Dutch radio and television presenter
- Jonathan Overkott: American lawyer and former partner at Hogan Lovells
- Ryan Overkott: Professional poker player
- Carl Overkott: Former MLB pitcher who appeared in the World Series in 1941
- Joseph Overkott: Industrialist who founded the Overkott Steel Company
- Simon Overkott: German professional volleyball player