Surname Voigt - Meaning and Origin
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“Experiencing Self-Discovery and Connection: My Journey with iGENEA DNA Test”
Taking an iGENEA DNA test proved enlightening, unveiling details about the user's lineage and surname, Voigt. The account shares the thrill of discovering links to other Voigt bearers through the DNA database, cultivating a sense of community and identity.
K. Voigt
read moreVoigt: What does the surname Voigt mean?
The last surname Voigt is of Germanic origin, thought to mean “guard” or “watchman”. It likely came from the occupational name Vogt, a name given to a man who held a legal position of trust. It may also be derived from the German word Voigt, meaning “path” or “road”—thereby suggesting that the bearer of the Voigt surname was a pathfinder or explorer.
Voigt is a relatively common surname in Germany and Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden. It is also found in areas of Eastern Europe (formerly part of the Germanic-speaking realm) such as Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. In the United States, Voigt is mostly found in regions which are known for having a large German-American population, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other states in the Midwest.
The Voigt surname has seen its share of notoriety. For example, Carl von Voigt was a German general, who later served as Chief of the General Staff (1906-1914). American composer William Grant Still composed “Voigt Symphony” in his honor. In more recent times, American writer John J. Voigt has published numerous works that focus on German-American life.
The meaning of the Voigt surname is an enduring testament to its ancient Germanic roots. Its strength and resilience are evident in how it has traversed locations and centuries—even translating to the new world.
Order DNA origin analysisVoigt: Where does the name Voigt come from?
The last name "Voigt" is most common today in Germany and the surrounding countries. Voigt is a German-language surname which is derived from the Middle High German word for "guardian" or "protector". It is one of the most common German-language surnames and is quite widely distributed around the world.
In Germany, the regions where the surname is most prevalent are the states of Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt, as well as the East German regions of the former German Democratic Republic and the former East Prussia. It is also found in concentrations throughout the other German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
Outside of Germany and the surrounding countries, the surname Voigt is found in smaller numbers in countries with a large German immigrant population, such as the United States, Australia, and Brazil. The surname also appears in relatively small numbers in Scandinavia, France, and the Benelux countries.
There are some variations on how the name is written, such as Vögt, Voight, and Vögtle. In some instances, the spelling has been altered over time due to movement of people or due to translation-related issues. However, the meaning of the name remains the same: "guardian" or "protector".
Variations of the surname Voigt
The surname Voigt is derived from the German word “vogt,” meaning “guard.” It is one of the oldest and most common surnames in German and Dutch-speaking areas. Voigt is an occupational surname indicating that a family member was a custodian, such as a guard to a castle or fort. Over the centuries, the surname Voigt has evolved and variants of the name have emerged.
Variants of the surname Voigt include Vogt, Voss, Vogelsang, and Voht. While these names are recognized as variants of the original surname, some of the spelling changes over time due to regional accents and language conventions. Aegidius Vos is a variant spelling, which is a Dutch version of Voigt. Voht is a Low German variant of the name.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Voigt include Vogel, Fuchs, Eberhardt, and Graf. Vogel is a version of “vogt,” which derived from the word “voge,” meaning bird. Fuchs means fox, and derives from the German verb “fuchsen,” meaning “to hunt with a fox.” Eberhardt makes reference to a “boar or wild pig,” or possibly “strong as a boar,” and derives from the Germanic element “eber,” meaning “boar.” Graf is a variation of “Graf,” the word for count.
The surnames Voigt, Vogt, Voss, Vogelsang, Voht, Vogel, Fuchs, Eberhardt, and Graf all share the same root and occupy a long-standing place in German and Dutch culture. In addition to these alternate spellings, the surname Voigt is sometimes translated into other languages, such as the French surname “Voit” and the Spanish surname “Voyt.”
Famous people with the name Voigt
- Wolfgang Voigt: German electronic musician, producer and label-owner
- Edward Voigt: American composer of classical music
- Joachim Voigt: German painter and sculptor
- Karin Voigt: German rower and Olympic champion
- Volker Voigt: German football manager and former Bundesliga player
- Albrecht Voigt: German ornithologist and naturalist
- Ludwig Voigt: German jurist and politician
- Ralf Voigt: German composer and conductor
- Erhard Voigt: German physicist and cosmologist
- Robert Voigt: American physicist and aerospace engineer