Surname Böttner - Meaning and Origin
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Böttner: What does the surname Böttner mean?
The German surname Böttner is an occupational name referring to a person who worked with barrels. It likely originates from the Middle Low German word 'buder', meaning barrel maker. The derived Middle High German word was 'boytman' or 'boiteman' until the 18th century when the modern spelling was established. In the early forms, the 'ö' was missing from the surname, but eventually the spelling was adapted to the German language rules.
The last name Böttner has spread to various regions around Germany, including Bavaria, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and the Rhineland region in the early 19th century. Böttner is a common German name, with people bearing it still living in German-speaking countries today.
In early Germany, it is likely that the Böttner family was part of the growing rural economy as the barrel industry developed. The Böttner family likely moved to other regions with the growing industry and, as a result, the name spread. The surname has been retained throughout the ages and is likely to continue having an influence over Germany's population well into the future.
Order DNA origin analysisBöttner: Where does the name Böttner come from?
The last name Böttner is commonly found in Germany today. It is a German name and surname, and is primarily used in German-speaking countries and territories such as Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. The name is thought to originate from the German occupational name “Bote” or “Botter”, which means “messenger” or “porter”. The frequency of the name’s occurrence in Germany has been estimated to be one per every 500,000 people, with a higher concentration in Saxony.
In the United States, the surname Böttner is much rarer, but still present in some areas, mostly in states with strong German heritage, such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. There is no reported concentration of the surname Böttner in any one area in the United States, although the aforementioned states do contain the largest number of people with the surname.
In some parts of Europe, particularly Central and Eastern Europe, the surname is found with greater frequency than in the United States, suggesting that some emigration from Germany and Central Europe into parts of the United States, such as the aforementioned states, occurred at some point in the past.
Thus, it is clear that the last name Böttner is most commonly found in Germany today, although it has some presence in other parts of Europe and also other parts of the world, such as the United States.
Variations of the surname Böttner
The surname Böttner has several variants that may be found in records across the world. Most commonly, Böttner is spelled "Boettner," an alternate spelling of this German surname. The German spelling of Böttner makes use of the letter ö, which is often substituted with oe when searching for records overseas.
Variations of the German surname Böttner include Böttcher, Bottner/Boettner, Botner, Botter, Butner, and Butnern. Böttner is derived from the old German word "Bote," meaning a messenger or herald. Thus, many derivatives of the name likely indicate some ancestral connection between the messenger profession and the surname itself.
The Böttner name is found in many countries, particularly in German-speaking regions. Variations of the surname can be found in Austria, South Africa, France, Australia, and parts of the United States.
In addition, Böttner may be found in other spellings in records from northern and eastern Europe, such as Butnari, Bytnari, Bítnari, Byte, Böte, and Bittner.
Although the exact origin of the Böttner name can be hard to pinpoint, there is evidence to suggest that it dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe. This time period is marked by noble families in Germany who bore the surname. Families bearing this name are still found in numerous countries and it remains a popular surname throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Böttner
- Franz Böttner: German diplomat and politician
- Gitta Böttner: Austrian actress
- Cordula Böttner: German theologian
- Fritz Böttner: German screenwriter
- Karl Böttner: German sculptor
- Johannes Böttner: German conductor and composer
- Emil Böttner: German sculptor
- Johanna Böttner: German mezzo-soprano
- Ernst Böttner: German politician
- Linda Böttner: Austrian singer and actor