Surname Todte - Meaning and Origin

Todte: What does the surname Todte mean?

The last name Todte is primarily of German origin and can mean a variety of different things. The most common meanings are derived from the German word "toter" which translates to mean "dead" or "dying". This name could have been given to an ancestor who was deceased at the time of the initial recording of the name. In some cases, it is speculated that this surname could have been a status name for someone who was responsible for burying the dead.

In some parts of Germany, this surname could also have been derived from the Middle High German word "tod" which translates to mean "death". This implies dark connotations and could have referred to someone who was involved in the study or practise of death or even someone who had a morbid fascination with death.

The surname Todte also makes an appearance in Jewish genealogy and originated with German Jews. After the mid-17th century, it was common practice for Jews to adopt the given name of Todte, meaning "dead" or "dying". This highlighted the fact that many Jews who were persecuted had died in the Holocaust.

The origin of this last name is not clear cut but the meanings behind the word appear to be consistent. Regardless of its origin, the surname Todte carries with it a rich and thought-provoking history.

Todte: Where does the name Todte come from?

The last name Todte is a German surname, and is most commonly found in Germany and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is also found in the United States and Australia, where it is amongst the thousands of German immigrants who moved to those countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In Germany, the last name Todte is most prevalent in the states of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hamburg. Its origin is thought to derive from the German for "dead" or "unnatural death" and stem from a profession or habitation related to death.

In the US, the last name Todte is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan and Ohio - all states that were heavily populated with German immigrants. It is also found in Canada, Australia and South America.

The last name Todte is often found intertwined with other Germanic surnames, and may have had many variations over the centuries, such as Tott, Diet, Dietz and Dietrich. Today, there are approximately 5,100 individuals who bear the last name Todte in the US, and the numbers are constantly changing, depending on where individuals are born or move to.

Variations of the surname Todte

The surname Todte is derived from the German word ‘tod’ which means ‘death’. Variants of the name include Tod, Tott, Todts, Totts, Todtz, and Tottz. The name can also be spelled in a variety of ways including Tode, Totte, Todse, Toydte, Todtey, and Todtne. It can also be found as a surname in various countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Czech Republic.

In the British Isles, variants of the surname are found as Tod, Todd, Tott, and Tutte. In German, there are various spellings such as Tot, Tote, Tott, and Totz. In Norway, the surname is spelled either Todt or Tote. In the United States, variants can be seen as Toot, Todt, and Tedd.

The name Todte is also found as an occupational surname for a tax collector, grave digger, guard or undertaker. It can also be found as a nickname for an individual who was familiar with death or dealt in death-related matters. Variants of this occupational surname are Toten, Todten, Totten, and Totzen.

Surnames associated with the same origin are Talbot (from the ‘talebot’ meaning ‘foolish person’), Taler (from the German word ‘talen’ meaning ‘to account’), and Townsend (from ‘ton’ meaning ‘village’ and ‘en’ meaning ‘son of’).

Famous people with the name Todte

• Alice Todt (American actress)
• Mikkel Todt (Danish artist)
• Arndt Tödt (German poet)
• Rudolf Tödt (German poet)
• Teresa Todt (German figure skating coach)
• Adriane Todt (Brazilian volleyball player)
• Jason Todt (American baseball coach)
• Robert Tödt (German politician)
• Eva L.Tödt (German author and publisher)
• Doug Todt (American television editor)
• Johann Valentin Todt (German theologian)
• Leila Todt (Swedish film director)
• Marie Tödt (German politician)
• Helen Todt (American photographer)
• Simon Tödt (German poet and playwright)
• Karen Todt (American politices and lawyer)
• Anthony Todt (American businessman and philanthropist)
• Christine Todt (American artist)
• Humphrey Todt (German actor)
• Meher Todt (American actress)

Other surnames

TodtTödtTodtleben