Surname Rowedder - Meaning and Origin
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Rowedder: What does the surname Rowedder mean?
The surname Rowedder is derived from the Middle High German word "Rudari," meaning "roe deer." It was most likely used as a nickname for someone with a physical strength resembling that of a roe deer. The popularity of this name spread through the Middle Ages, likely reaching the Low Countries in the form of "Roweder, Rowdur, and later Rowedder."
Given the patronage traditions of the Middle Ages, the Rowedder family was likely of blue-blooded, aristocratic origin. According to the website Surnamedb.com, the earliest known record of the Rowedder family appears in German records during the 16th century, indicating the family was established in Germany long before their arrival in other parts of Europe.
Due to the spread of Germanic cultures, the name eventually spread to other parts of Europe such as the Netherlands and Belgium. It was more recently adopted as a surname by those emigrating from these regions.
The Rowedder surname is used in some form or another by people from Europe (especially the Netherlands and Belgium), the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. With such diverse origins, it is likely that Rowedder family members have some interesting stories to tell of their ancestors and journeys.
Order DNA origin analysisRowedder: Where does the name Rowedder come from?
The name Rowedder can be found today in a few different countries, primarily in Europe and the United States. In Europe, the name is most prevalent in Germany where it has been documented since the early 1800s in the state of Hessen. Other areas include Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In the U.S., the name is most common in the states of Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio.
The history of the name appears to trace back its origin to the Germanic language and its variants ‘Rodder’ and ‘Röder’, meaning ‘horseman’ or ‘rider’. Rowedder is likely an Anglicized version of this older spelling of the name and replaced the ‘ö’ with a ‘w’.
It appears that many of the original German Rowedders relocated to the United States in the late 1600s and early 1700s, primarily settling in the Midwestern states. It is very common to see some members of the same family spread out throughout different countries, as is the case with the Rowedders.
Over the course of time, the Rowedder name has undergone different variations as seen in different countries. In the United States, the name is typically spelled ‘Rowedder’ whereas in parts of Europe it is spelled as ‘Röder’. Despite this, there is still a general connection to the original Rowedder family of Germany, making the last name Rowedder a bit of a global phenomenon.
Variations of the surname Rowedder
The surname Rowedder is an ancient German moniker that dates back to medieval times. Spelled variously as Rowedder, Roter, Rodders, Roder, Roedder, and Raeder, this name reflects thepresence of German immigrants in countries like the US, UK, and Canada. Rowedder is a patronymic name referring to someone’s ancestral 'father' or 'forefather'.
Aside from the established spelling of Rowedder, other variants include Rodder, Roeder, Roter, and Rodders. As the name moved through generations, some members of the Rowedder family altered the spelling to Roedder, and Raeder, which is a more modern surname used by members of the Rowedder family in the US.
Due to the adaptability of adopted surnames, variants of the name can be found in countries with large German immigrant populations. It is possible that an Rowedder ancestor may have left Germany for the US or another country, and then changed the name's spelling to fit the country's linguistic preferences.
In Germany, the roots of Rowedder can be traced back to a small village called Roten in the northern region of the country. It is possible that the name was originally spelled Roten, and adopted its modern, variations as it moved through generations.
The Shortsen Dictionary of American Family Names also points out that alternative forms of the name are related to Robert, which is derived from the Germanic name “Hrodberht”, which is composed of two elements: hrod, meaning renown, and berht, meaning bright or famous. This makes sense given that a patronymic surname refers to one’s “fatherly renown”.
In summary, the Germanic surname Rowedder has a variety of spelling and variants, such as Roten, Rodder, Roeder, Rodders, Roter, Roedder, Raeder, and many others. Each of these spellings ultimately refers to the same familial heritage.
Famous people with the name Rowedder
- Audra Rowedder: A professional makeup artist from California who has been featured on the website, Pop Sugar
- Frances Rowedder: An American actress and singer
- Jacob Rowedder: A musician based in New York who plays keyboards and produces
- Morgan Rowedder: Nominated for BroadwayWorld Music Awards in Las Vegas with her single “On the Radio”
- Jeff Rowedder: An American film, television and theater producer
- Stephen Rowedder: Bobsledder and gold medalist in the 1970 FIBT World Championships
- Janet Rowedder: A successful author known for her science fiction novels
- Magnus Rowedder: A popular YouTuber with nearly 500,000 subscribers
- Stuart Rowedder: A professional football player from Oxford
- Susan Rowedder: A Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter originally from Wisconsin