Surname Pöttker - Meaning and Origin
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Pöttker: What does the surname Pöttker mean?
The last name Pöttker is of German and Dutch origin, and is associated with a number of meanings. It can refer to a potter, someone who makes a wide variety of items from clay. It may also refer to a house builder, as the word ‘pöttken’ means small houses. Another meaning is ‘humble dwelling’, referring to an unassuming and modest home.
The name is also sometimes seen with the variant spelling ‘Pötker’, and can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was a popular name among the Dutch tradesmen. It is believed to have been derived from a number of different geographical locations in Germany, suggesting that it was a fairly widespread surname.
The family name Pöttker is often associated with strong work ethic, and those registered with this surname have a proud tradition of being successful in their respective fields. It also suggests an affinity with the craftsman, as well as a desire to build a legacy through hard work and toil.
In modern times, the name Pöttker is still around. As with many surnames, it is now used in different countries, including the United States, where it is often seen in combination with other last names. In the digital age, it is easier than ever to trace the origin of this distinctive name, and many holders of the Pöttker surname will be keen to know something of their family's past.
Order DNA origin analysisPöttker: Where does the name Pöttker come from?
The last name Pöttker is most commonly found in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia today. Variations of the surname are also common in neighbouring states such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Hesse. It is possible to find the surname occurring in other German states, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and in parts of Belgium as well.
In North Rhine-Westphalia the highest proportion of the surname is found in places like Münster, Düsseldorf, Köln, Bonn, Bochum, Dortmund, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Duisburg, Bielefeld, Minden and Aachen. The surname is also found in small numbers in the provinces of Schleswig-Holstein, Thüringen, Brandenburg, Sachsen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen-Anhalt and Berlin.
The biggest single source of the Pöttker surname is the Bielefeld city district in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to surname data collected in 2009, the Pöttker name was recorded 1,419 times in that area, and it is the most popular surname in Bielefeld. Outside of Germany the surname can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, France, and the United Kingdom, though it is more common in Germany than in any other European country.
It is likely that the common forerunner of the Pöttker surname was someone from a village called Petricke in North Rhine-Westphalia. This is speculation, however, as the earliest known uses of the name date from the sixteenth century, when it was already quite common.
Variations of the surname Pöttker
Pöttker is a German surname of Low German origin. It is derived from the pit, conical, incline-shaped sink filled with muddy clay and water used to separate the crushed ore from its accompanying rock matrix, as utilized by miners in bygone times. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are:
Pöttker – It is most commonly used form of the name. This variant is mostly found in German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Pöttkär – This variant is also widely used outside Germany like in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
Poteker – This spelling is found in the Netherlands and Germany.
Potter – This is the anglicized version of the name which is mostly found in United States, England, and Canada.
Putker/Pütker – This is another Low German form of the surname and is used in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium.
Püttcher – This variant is commonly used in Germany.
Poetker – This variant is used informally in some parts of the United States and Germany.
Puttkär/Püttkär – This variant has the same spelling and meaning as Pöttkär and is used in Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
Pölker – This variant is used in Germany and Austria.
Potendorf – This variant is more commonly found in Germany.
Pöltker – This variant is also widely used in Germany.
Putter – This variant is commonly used in England, the United States, and Canada.
Pötker – This variant is found in some parts of Germany.
These are some of the most common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin commonly found in Germany and other Germanic speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Pöttker
- Axel Pöttker: Axel Pöttker is a renowned German pornographic actor and director, who has directed more than 130 films since 1983.
- Christian Pöttker: Christian Pöttker is a German former footballer who played as midfielder for various clubs. He is the father of Axel Pöttker.
- Maximilian Pöttker: Maximilian Pöttker is a professional swimmer from Germany who specialises in breaststroke. He has set a few national records in his swimming career.
- Franz Pöttker: Franz Pöttker was a professional footballer from Germany who mainly played for Eintracht Frankfurt.
- Timo Pöttker: Timo Pöttker is a former professional ice hockey player from Germany who played for National Hockey League teams from 1975-1984.
- Frank Pöttker: Frank Pöttker is a German entrepreneur and the founder of the e-commerce company OTTO.de.
- Werner Pöttker: Werner Pöttker is a German former Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1952 summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.
- Wolfgang Pöttker: Wolfgang Pöttker is a biochemist from Germany who has made important contributions to the field of medical biochemistry.
- Mike Pöttker: Mike Pöttker is a former professional volleyball player from Germany.
- Armin Pöttker: Armin Pöttker is a German television presenter who is known for hosting several talent shows on German television.