Surname Gopfarth - Meaning and Origin

Gopfarth: What does the surname Gopfarth mean?

Gopfarth is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word “gop­fer”, which was used to refer to a cooper, or someone who makes or repairs barrels. This name is still commonly found in Germany, and is most likely to have been given to a family who used to make or repair barrels as a trade.

In the Middle Ages, making and repairing barrels was a highly-skilled craft that required patience and experience. Barrel-makers were highly valued in the community and worked with many materials, such as wood, iron, copper, and leather. They also used several tools, including hammers, chisels, saws, and axes, to complete their work. They created a wide array of objects, such as water buckets, musical instruments, wine barrels, and even wells.

It is likely that most of the people with the surname Gopfarth are descended from those German cooper families. Today, those with the last name Gopfarth are likely to use it as a reminder of their family’s proud heritage and to commemorate the hard work of their ancestors. The Gopfarth surname carries with it the rich history and memories of a skilled craft that played an important part in the lives of German families for centuries.

Gopfarth: Where does the name Gopfarth come from?

The last name Gopfarth is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This name is also seen among German-speaking immigrants who settled in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. It is estimated that there are around 50,000 people with this surname worldwide, with around 20,000 living in Germany alone.

Gopfarth is likely a derived from either a place name or a given name. The place name is derived from the old Bavarian word “gaf”, meaning hill, while the surname is derived from a short form of the given name “Gothsfrid”. The name can also be found in the form “Goffarth”, which is a variants of Gopfarth.

The origin of the name is rather obscure, but some suggest that it could be a reference to an ancient spiritual belief in the Germanic regions of Europe. Several medieval German sources refer to a mountain in Bavaria known as “Gopfrihalden” (Gopf ridge). This mountain is said to have been a site where sacrifices of gold and silver were made by the ancient Bavarians.

The Gopfarth surname has been used for over 500 years in Germany. Today, the name is widely used and has spread across the country’s borders. It is most common in Southern Germany, but it can also be found in Austria and Switzerland. In the United States, the name is mainly found in large metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Variations of the surname Gopfarth

The surname Gopfarth can be found in different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant is Gopfert, also spelled Goepfert or Göpfert. It is most common in Germany, as well as Austria, Liechtenstein, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It is derived from the Middle High German word “ophfer”, meaning “supplier”, and refers to someone who provided goods or services to a community. In some cases, the ending was altered to “-hardt”, meaning “hard, strong”.

Gopfert is also the root of the German surnames Gopfert and Goepfert, as well as the surnames Göpfardt and Gopfardt. It might also be found as Gopffarth, Gopffert, Goepferth, Göpferth and Gopfhard.

The surname can further be found in other countries, such as England, where it is often referred to as Gophert, Gopher, Gopherd or Gopherth. It can also be found as "Goffard" in France, which derives from an old Gallic word meaning "high/tall", and "Gapfart" in Russia, which is derived from the Greek word “gopher” meaning “tomb/grave”.

There are also surnames that have been derived from Gopfert, such as Gopfrich, Gopfrig, Gopffried and Gopfrid. These surnames are believed to have been derived from the Old High German “gopfrich”, which means “valiant” or “strong”.

In conclusion, the surname Gopfarth can be found in many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Gopfert, Goepfert, Gopfardt, Gopffarth, Gopffert, Goepferth, Göpferth, Gophert, Gopher, Gopherd, Gopherth, Goffard, Gapfart, Gopfrich, Gopfrig, Gopffried and Gopfrid.

Famous people with the name Gopfarth

• Leonard Gopfarth: German cuckoo-clock maker and Baumeistermeister mechanic
• Christoph Gopfarth: German organ and harpsichord maker
• John Gopfarth: jazz musician, composer and arranger
• Bill Gopfarth: United States Navy veteran and naval political advisor
• Jeffrey Gopfarth: American senior military analyst and Pentagon strategist
• Deborah Gopfarth: American songwriter and record producer
• John H. Gopfarth Jr.: American Army veteran, officer, and officer instructor
• Craig Gopfarth: American electrical engineer and entrepreneur
• R. Heinrich Gopfarth: German doctor of medicine and educationist
• Kurt Gopfarth: German Olympic luger participant

Other surnames

Göpfardt