Surname Gottfert - Meaning and Origin

Gottfert: What does the surname Gottfert mean?

Gottfert is an old German surname originating from the pre-medieval period. The name itself has both German and Flemish origins. The literal meaning of the surname in old German is “God’s Favour”, which is usually linked to a belief in some sort of divine will or destiny.

In its Flemish form, Gottfert has been used as a given name since the early Middle Ages. The Flemish form of the name is thought to be a recognized variant of Goffredo, which means “peaceful ruler” in Latin.

The surname has also been linked to the old baptismal name of Godfrid, which is believed to be derived from the Old German words “Gott” meaning “God” and “frid” meaning “peace”. The surname may have been taken on to honour a family’s divine blessing, or to demonstrate a special sacred faith in God.

The Gottfert family may have originally been situated in the old Germanic regions of the Holy Roman Empire, though some people of this name can now be found scattered through various parts of Europe.

Today, the surname Gottfert is generally quite uncommon. It is believed that there are not many living bearers of the name, as the name has fallen out of fashion in recent generations.

Gottfert: Where does the name Gottfert come from?

The last name Gottfert is a German name that is most commonly found in central and northern Europe today. The name is particularly common in Germany, where it is most highly concentrated around the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. It is also found in the Czech Republic and Austria.

The meaning of the name Gottfert is “divinely blessed”, and it is thought to be a combination of the German names Gott (“God”) and Friedrich (“peace”). It is believed that the name originated during the Middle Ages, when parents wished to use the power of a respected divine being to provide a good future for their children.

The Gottferts of today are relatively rare. In the United States, there are only 45 people with the name living in the country. However, there is a sizeable population of people with the Gottfert name living in Germany, as well as some individuals living in Austria, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.

Despite being rare today, the name Gottfert still continues to be celebrated and respected for its link to the proud history of Germany. That being said, with the name’s steady decline in popularity, the future of the Gottferts remains uncertain.

Variations of the surname Gottfert

The surname Gottfert has many variants and spellings from various languages. It is derived from a combination of the German words ‘Gott’ meaning ‘God’ and ‘Friede’ meaning ‘Peace’ and can be translated to mean ‘God’s Peace’.

The German spellings of the surname Gottfert include Gottfried and as well as Göttfert. In Dutch the surname is spelled as Godefridus, Gottefridus or Godefroy. The Swedish spellings include Gottfrid, Gudfrid, Guttfrid, and Gutfridsen.

In English, the surname Gottfert has Anglicised spellings that include Godfroy, Godfrey, Godfrid, and Godfri. The Americanised spellings for the surname Gottfert include Godfread, Godfray, Godefred, Godfrey, and Godfree.

In addition to the various spellings, the surname has several surnames of similar origin which could represent different branches of the Gottfert family. These include Gotter, Gote, Gotte, Gotthelf, Gutter, Gottheuser, Gotten, and Gottschalk.

The variants and spellings of Gottfert are related to the cultural heritage and language of each country the surname has been found in. As the surname is of German origin, and many of the recent spellings have come from the German language, one can assume that the meaning has remained the same throughout history, which is God’s Peace.

Famous people with the name Gottfert

• Mark Gottfert: professional diver for the British Olympic team from 1987-1996.
• Karl Gottfert: Austrian painter and graphic artist known for his works in Vienna from 1950-1970.
• Harry Gottfert: American actor and voice performer from the 1930s.
• Hubert Gottfert: German sculptor known for his works of public art and religious sculpture.
• Gustav Gottfert: German zoologist and entomologist who studied in Munich in the 19th century.
• August Gottfert: Prussian statesman and diplomat from the mid-1800s.
• Johann Gottfert: German organist and composer who lived in the 18th century.
• Dieter Gottfert: Austrian chemist and Habilitation in Solid State Chemistry who specialized in crystal engineering aspects and structure elucidation.
• Richard Gottfert: German-American business executive and entrepreneur who founded and led the Gottfert Corporation for over 50 years.
• Johann Gottfert-Müller: German painter and professor who specialized in portraiture and religious art.

Other surnames

Göttferd