Surname Thode - Meaning and Origin

Thode: What does the surname Thode mean?

The last name Thode is of German origin which suggests it may have come from the Middle High German word “thiot” or “diot”, meaning brave. It could refer to someone who is courageous, confident, and daring.

The Thodes may trace their root from the northern region of Germany, specifically Thuringia. It is likely they were warriors, as evidenced by their name. Families with the last name Thode are documented in many parts of Germany and most likely represent those who traveled from their original settlement.

Thode is a relatively uncommon name and those who carry it today may think of themselves as a tight-knit family who share a common ancestor. Those who have this surname can be proud knowing their ancestors were brave and probably quite respected.

Additionally, the Thode last name could have evolved from other variations in other regions. For example, the French version from the same root is Thoede and in the Netherlands it can be Thoede, Theodde, or Thoet.

Regardless of its exact origins, the last name Thode is one of respect, courage, and adventure. It is one that serves as a reminder of a distant ancestor's bravery and of the journey of those who have followed in his path down the generations.

Thode: Where does the name Thode come from?

The last name Thode is a common surname in Germany, Denmark, Northern France, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland and parts of Belgium. It is also found in some parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwestern states.

It is derived from a Germanic language and is thought to have been a descriptive nickname for a determined individual. It is a combination of the Old German "thoton", meaning to contend, and the Old High German "heid", meaning condition, form, state. Thus, the literal meaning of the name Thode is "struggle or contend for a condition".

In Germany, Thode is particularly common in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Rhineland Palatinate, along the Rhine and in the central and western part of Germany. It is likely that ancestral Thodes emigrated from these regions during the extra waves of migration from 1830-1890, when many Germans moved to America in search of a better life.

In America, the majority of Thodes are to be found in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, Kansas, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. There are also some branches of the Thode family in Texas and the western part of the United States, although these are considerably smaller in numbers.

Overall, the last name Thode is most common in German-speaking regions, but is also to be found in other parts of the world, particularly in the USA.

Variations of the surname Thode

The surname Thode has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The variant spelling of Thode is Thoede and can be found in records dating back as far as Medieval Germany. The earliest records of the Thode family name originated from the German region of Swabia, where they were in the feudal system.

The surname Thöde is thought to be derived from the Old German words ‘thoda’ and ‘tude’, which both mean ‘people’ or ‘family’.

The surname Thode is often seen spelled as Thoedt, Thödt, Thöedt, and Thodt as well.

Other surnames of the same origin include Thodeen, Thoedten, Thoeth, Thöde, Thödte, Tode, Thaete, and Thaeth.

The Thode surname is found in many parts of Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and other parts of Europe, with many emigrating to the United States of America.

In addition, the Thode name is seen in other forms such as Tode, Thodey, and Thoden, and the Thodey surname has been common since the 1500s.

The Thode surname is also seen in combination with other surnames, such as Thode-Adams, Thode-Dahl, Thode-Fritz, and Thode-Hoehne.

The surname Thode is also seen in combination with place names, such as Thode-Hamburg and Thode-Hamburgen.

Overall, the surname Thode and its many variants, spellings, and combinations are widely spread across Europe and North America.

Famous people with the name Thode

• Atamarie Thode: Fed Cup and Davis Cup tennis referee
• Christian Thode: Danish ballet dancer and actor
• Christian Thode-Segers: Belgian sprint canoer
• Dick Thode: American college basketball coach
• Kristina Thode: German swimmer
• Phil Thode: British-American tax expert
• William Thode: German-American psychiatrist
• Adolph Thode: 19th-century German poet and activist
• Hans Thode: German historian and author
• Geerther Thode: Austrian writer
• Karl Thode: German classical archaeologist
• Karl Friedrich Thode: 19th-century German classical scholar
• Prince Heinrich of Prussia: German field marshal and son of Emperor Wilhelm II and Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein
• Georg Friedrich Thode: 19th-century German professor of classical philology
• Friedrich Thode: German physicist and astronomer
• Adolf Thode: German actor and theater director
• Wilhelm Thode: German theologian and philosopher
• Elizabeth Thode: German painter and etcher
• Mary Thode: British-Australian sculptor
• Rachel Thode: American typical classic rock singer and songwriter
• Helmut Thode: German sculptor and potter
• Franz Thode: German philosopher and philologist
• Ludwig August Thode: German geologist, mineralogist and poet
• James Thode: American painter and sculptor
• Edgar Thode: German educator and historian

Other surnames

ThodamThodenThodte