Surname Rettmar - Meaning and Origin
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Rettmar: What does the surname Rettmar mean?
The last name Rettmar is of German origin and is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is derived from the German words 'Rett' meaning 'sermon' and 'Mar' meaning 'famous'. The name therefore means 'famous sermon'.
Throughout German history, the surname has taken many forms such as Rettmeier, Rettmeiers, Rettmayer, Reichmar and Retmar. It is believed that the name could also derive from the German word 'retten' meaning 'to rescue', making the literal meaning of Rettmar 'to rescue famous'.
The Rettmar family are believed to have had noble origins and to have descended from Westphalia, a region that is now part of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The earliest recorded mention of the name Rettmar is in 1612 when one George Rettmom was recorded in Dithmarscher Militarisches Wochenblatt; a 16-volume journal of military records from Germany.
Today, the Rettmar name is a relatively rare one, only found in a few, scattered parts of Germany. It is likely that further research into the history of the surname will reveal much about Rettmar's family origins and connections.
Order DNA origin analysisRettmar: Where does the name Rettmar come from?
The last name Rettmar is most commonly found in Germany today. In fact, records from the year 2000 show that more than 2,000 families in Germany used the name. It is also believed that the surname can be found in Poland and Slovakia as well, though the numbers are significantly lower than in Germany. The name is thought to have originated in Germany and is derived from the personal name Retta, which was popular in the early Middle Ages.
In the modern era, the surname Rettmar has spread outside of Europe. It can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries. Also, an increasing number of people with the surname Rettmar are living in South Africa. The 2000 US Census showed that there were just over 200 people who held the name Rettmar in the United States, the majority of which were located in California and Ohio.
The Rettmar name is believed to have initially been used as an occupational name, referring to those who were boatmen who navigated rivers. It has since evolved to a more widespread surname. The name is popular among Rettmar family members, and many people proudly bear the name.
Variations of the surname Rettmar
The surname Rettmar is a German name that originated from a place name meaning “red marsh” in Old German. Variants of this name include Retmar, Redmar, Redemar, Radmar, Raudmar, Retmar, and Redmarck.
The German dual-part surnames have the tendency to be altered as they are passed down through the generations. As a result, it is common to find variants of Rettmar that are similar to the original but may include other spellings, such as Reddmar, Redmarck, and Redemar. There is also a Dutch variant of this name, Retemar.
The surname may also be changed when other languages are involved. For example, an Anglicized version of Rettmar could be Retmar or Reutmar. Similarly, when the surname is brought to the United States through immigration, some spelling alterations may occur, such as Retmoar, Retmore, and Retmer.
Surnames that share the same origin as Rettmar include Reddmaer, Reddemar, Rademer, Redmaer, Rödmar, Roddman, Roedman, Raedemar, Retmair, Retmore, Rotmur, Rotmair, Rotman, Rotmeier, Rotmeyer, Rotemeyer, Rautemeyer, and Ratmeyer.
Most of the variants listed here stem from a more traditional German spelling, such as Rödmar, Rademer, or Retmair. For instance, Retmair may be a variation of Rödmair or Raudmar, while Retmore could stem from Rödmore or Roedman.
Variations of the name may also differ from country to country. For example, a French variant could be Rademar, while a Spanish version may be Ryedmar. Ultimately, there are many possible spellings and surnames of the same origin as Rettmar.
Famous people with the name Rettmar
- Antti Rettmer: Finnish ice hockey player
- Markus Rettmer: German mountaineer and cyclist
- Darin Rettmar: former American football punter
- Mikaela Rettmer: Danish Olympic swimmer
- Maren Rettmer: German artist
- Sebastian Rettmer: German professional tennis player
- Thorsten Rettmer: German classical cellist
- Alex Rettmer: American actor
- Maddie Rettmer: Canadian figure skater
- Fritz Rettmer: German post-war architect