Surname Görtgens - Meaning and Origin
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Görtgens: What does the surname Görtgens mean?
The surname Görtgens is of German origin, and belongs to the category of habitational or topographical names, which were often derived from the place where an individual lived or held land. In this case, Görtgens is derived from the town of Görten (meaning ‘little garden’) located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. The area was originally inhabited by the Germanic tribes, and its first recorded use of the name dates back to the 13th century.
The Görtgens name can also be traced to Eastern Europe. In particular, it is concentrated around Lithuania, and is thought to have been derived from the German settlement of Görtigau (meaning ‘Goertingen’), which was located near the Lithuanian city of Krevo in the 16th century.
Due to its association with the two regions, the Görtgens surname has evolved into a number of different variations in spelling over the centuries. In Germany, Variants of the name include Goergens, Görgens and Görtcke; in Lithuania, variants include Gorcok, Gortzen and Gortsen.
The Görtgens surname is a reminder of the rich history and cultural heritage of the German and Lithuanian people, and how their paths have been intertwined throughout the years. It’s also an indicator of the ongoing global mobility of people, and serves as a reminder that we are all tied together in one way or another.
Order DNA origin analysisGörtgens: Where does the name Görtgens come from?
The Görtgens surname is most common today in Germany and other surrounding countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. It is also present in parts of Scandinavia, primarily Sweden.
The Görtgens surname can be found to originate in the northern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. Although rare, Görtgens families can be found in the regions of Saxony, Thuringia, and Westphalia. In addition to Germany and its nearby countries, Görtgens surname is also found in North America, Australia, and some parts of Eastern Europe.
The Görtgens surname likely derives from the German name “Görtgen,” which is derived from the masculine personal name “Godegerus” or “Godorie.” The name Godorie itself is a combination of two words: “gode” meaning “God” and “gerus” meaning “spear.” Therefore, the original bearer of the surname Görtgens likely acquired the name as a reference to their connection with divine strength.
In modern days, Görtgens is often spelled differently in countries such as the Netherlands (Gortgens). Depending on the country, the Görtgens surname can also be spelled as Gortgen, Görtgen, Görtgen, and Gortgens.
Overall, Görtgens is still an uncommon last name, with the largest concentrations located around northern Germany and its neighboring countries.
Variations of the surname Görtgens
Görtgens is a patronymic surname of German origin, which means son of Gört. Variations of this surname include Gortgen, Görtgen, Gertgen, Görgen, Gergen, and Görgens. In some cases, the initial G has been replaced by K—such as Kortgen, Kortgens, or Körgen—although this spelling is less common.
When tracing back the history of Görtgens, one finds that it originated in Germany and migrated to countries such as Belgium, France, and Denmark throughout the centuries. It is likely that at some point, certain variants of this surname were created to better fit with the local language in those countries.
For example, in Denmark, Görtgens was converted to Gergens, Görgens, or Gergen. In France, the spelling became Gortgene, Gortgens, Gortgenne, or Gorget to adapt to the French language. Similarly, in Belgium, Görgens was shortened to Gortgen, which is why the initial G is often replaced with a K.
Today, variations of Görtgens may be found throughout Europe, as well as North and South America. People with this last name or any of its variants may find it helpful to search through old records in order to trace their family’s history and discover when their ancestors first immigrated.
Famous people with the name Görtgens
- Florian Görtgens: Florian Görtgens is a German lawyer and corporate advisor from Berlin.
- Jörg Görtgens: Jörg Görtgens is a former professional cyclist from Magdeburg, Germany.
- Uwe Görtgens: Uwe Görtgens is a German incoherent nuclear physicist and researcher from Berlin.
- Frank Görtgens: Frank Görtgens is a German entrepreneur and business owner from Lindow.
- Franklyn Görtgens: Franklyn Görtgens is a German DJ and producer from Munich.
- Wiebke Görtgens: Wiebke Görtgens is a German singer, songwriter, and music producer from Berlin.
- Peter Görtgens: Peter Görtgens is a former German international soccer player from Lingen, Germany.
- Heiner Görtgens: Heiner Görtgens is a German anthropologist from Berlin.
- Martin Görtgens: Martin Görtgens is a German green energy specialist from Frankfurt.
- Monika Görtgens: Monika Görtgens is a German marketing specialist from Hamburg.