Surname Göttfried - Meaning and Origin
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Göttfried: What does the surname Göttfried mean?
The last name Göttfried is of German origin and can be translated to mean “God’s peace”. This is derived from the German words “Gott”, meaning “God”, and “Fried”, meaning “peace”.
The surname Göttfried is popular across several European countries, including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The Goths, a Germanic tribe, inhabited this region before the establishment of Christianity, so the name has been present in this region for hundreds of years.
Göttfried is still quite common today, and it is estimated that more than 20,000 people are using this name.
Though the name is quite ancient, those with it today are modern-day people, from all walks of life. They make up an eclectic, international group, with people ranging from business people and professionals to tradespeople and labourers.
People with the last name Göttfried come from many different religious backgrounds and ethnicity, which makes them diverse in various aspects.
No matter the lifestyle and identity of those with Göttfried, one thing is certain: they are all united by the blessings of God’s peace that come with the name.
Order DNA origin analysisGöttfried: Where does the name Göttfried come from?
The last name Göttfried is most common today in its current spellings in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is likely a German-language name derived from the Germanic words "Gott" and "Friede," meaning "God" and "peace." The name can also be spelled as "Göttfried," "Goetfried," and "Goettfried."
The earliest recorded use of the name in Germany dates back to 1250. By the 16th century, Göttfried had spread throughout the area and become a popular last name. Since then, the name has become quite common throughout certain regions, especially southern Germany. The name has also spread further throughout Europe, as well as to North America through German immigrants.
Today, it is not uncommon to find instances of the name in the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as other countries. Within Germany, it is most often found in the southwestern region, around Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. However, it is relatively well-distributed throughout the country. In Austria and Switzerland, the name is similarly evenly distributed.
Overall, Göttfried is an old German last name found in various spellings around the world today. Although relatively rare, one can often find it in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and beyond.
Variations of the surname Göttfried
The surname Göttfried is a German surname that derives from the Latin name 'Gottesfridus', meaning 'friend of God', and can be spelled in numerous ways, including GOETTFRIED, GOETTENFRIED, GOETZFRIED, GOTTFRIED, GOTTFERD, GOTTFRIED, GOTTFRID, GOTTFRYED, and GOTZFRIED. Variants of the surname include GOTTFRIEL, GOTTHELF, GOTTSCHLICH, GOTTSCHLICK, GOTZFRIEDEL, and GOTTSFREED.
Göttfried is also a common name in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden, where it can frequently be found spelled GOETT, GOTTFRED, GOETTFRED, and GOETFREID. Norwegian variants of the name include GODFRIED and GODEFRYD, while Danish variations are GODTFRED, GODTFRIT, GODEFRED, GODEFRID, GODTFRID, GODTFRIED, and GOTFRED.
The surname Göttfried is particularly popular in Germany and can also be seen in Austria and Switzerland, where variants like GOTTWIRTH, GOETTFRED, GOETTFREID, and GOTTFRED are most commonly used.
The form of spelling produced by German-speaking countries may differ significantly from what is common in other European countries. In particular, the letter 'f' is replaced by 'ph' in some variants, such as GOTTFRIED and GOTTWIRTH. This change is sometimes accompanied by the replacement of the letter 'd' with 't', as in GOTTFRIET and GOTTTRIET.
Regardless of spelling, the surname Göttfried is an important part of German and Scandinavian heritage and is frequently used in various regions the world over.
Famous people with the name Göttfried
- Reinhold Gøttfried (1935-2015), composer and conductor, best known for composing the music for numerous productions of Martin Schenk's fictitious Orpheus of Oedipus on German radio.
- Heinrich Göttfried (1718–1785), Baroque lute builder. He was the son of lute and harpsichord builder Johann Michael Göttfried, and father of lute- and guitar-builder Johann Carl Gottfried.
- Johann Carl Gottfried (1753–1819), German lute and guitar builder. He worked in Berlin from 1763 to 1819 and was the son of lute builder Heinrich Gottfried.
- Hubert Göttfried (1970-present), German film director, screenwriter, actor, documentary filmmaker and family researcher.
- Clara Göttfried (1818-1895), German actress. She was the daughter of the German actor Joseph Gottfried and sister of the actor and playwright Theodor Gottfried.
- Jakob Gøttfried (1790-1866), Danish-born American cabinetmaker. He was born in Randers, Denmark and moved to Wisconsin in the United States in 1845.
- Judith Göttfried (b. 1963), German actress. She is best known for her appearances in several German and European films, such as "Frauensee", "Die Ermordung des Jesse James" and "Machwerk".
- Antje Göttfried (b. 1975), German pop-rock singer-songwriter. She is best known for her hit single "Die Liebe ist da".
- Kelwin Gøttfried (b. 1984), Danish football goalkeeper. He currently plays for the Danish Superliga side AaB.