Surname Nauta - Meaning and Origin
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Nauta: What does the surname Nauta mean?
The last name Nauta is of Dutch and Northern German/Frisian origin. It is derived from the old Dutch word naut, which means “sailor”. It is associated with maritime professions and those living along rivers and canals.
In the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, names ending in “-naut” or “-nauta” show a connection with water-related occupations. This relates to the word “naut”, which referred to a shipping and trading profession.
The name is likely to have originated as a patronymic surname, meaning that it was derived from the personal name of the father of an individual. In other words, the name was derived from a personal name which would have been modified to include the “-naut” suffix. By this point it had become a family name, being passed down from father to son.
In some cases, the name may have been linked to the Dutch “schout”, meaning sheriff or bailiff. It was also associated with sailors, messengers, and riders.
Nowadays, the name has spread all over the world. It remains a strong connection with maritime professions, but it can also be found in families with no link to the sea. As with many surnames, the stories behind the name have been lost over time. But for those with the surname Nauta, it serves as a great reminder of their Dutch maritime heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisNauta: Where does the name Nauta come from?
The last name Nauta is most commonly found in the Netherlands. This Netherlands surname actually has its roots in Frisian, where ‘naut’ means ‘boat owner’ in the Frisian language. As such, it is a Dutch occupational surname for someone who owned or worked on boats or other vessels. Today, it is still relatively popular in Holland, with over 10,000 registered Dutch citizens bearing the last name Nauta, with additional bearers scattered across other Dutch speaking countries, particularly Belgium and the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.
Nauta also exists across other parts of Europe. In France, the variant ‘Nautin’ is popular, having been brought to the country by Dutch settlers. Similarly, German bearers of this name can be found in the Netherlands, having similarly been brought to the region by settlers.
Outside Europe, there are many bearers of the name in the US and Canada, though many of them are descended from Dutch settlers who came to North America over the last couple of centuries. Quite a few Nautas live in South America, too, particularly in Brazil and Peru. And interestingly, bearers of the name are also found in some parts of the Middle East, particularly in Jordan.
All in all, the surname is still relatively common worldwide today, and while its meaning remains the same, the geographic spread of the name now has more to do with historical immigration than seafaring.
Variations of the surname Nauta
The surname Nauta is derived from the Dutch word for sailor or navigator, hence its literal meaning "one who sails the sea". It is a common surname in the Netherlands, and can also be found among families in other countries, such as Norway, Finland, Estonia, and the United States.
The variants, spellings and surnames of Nauta include Naut, Noord, Naude, Naudez, Hamburger, and Nauwt. Naut is a Dutch variant of the surname, while Noord and Naude are derived from the Dutch word for North. Naudez is a Spanish variant. Hamburger is a variation based on the German word for 'sailor' and Nauwt is a German spelling.
In the United States, Nauta can also be spelled Naught, Naughton, Naughte, Notto, and Natt. Naught and Naughton are the most common spellings. Notto is an Italian variant, while Natt is of German origin.
In Norway, Nauta may also appear as Naut, Nodt, Nooth, and Nauth. Nodt and Nooth, are derived from Naut, and Nauth is a variant of Natt.
Some families of Dutch heritage may also spell their surname as Noudt, Noude, or Noort. Noudt is a Dutch variant, while Noort and Noude are derived from the Dutch word for 'north'.
In Finland, Nauta may appear as Notk, Notko, Notlu, and Notla. Notk and Notlah are Finnish variants, while Notko and Notlau are Germanic variants.
No matter how the surname is spelled, it will always have the same literal meaning; Nauta: one who sails the sea.
Famous people with the name Nauta
- Luca Nauta: Italian ENGVAR footballer, currently playing for Benevento Calcio in the Italian Serie A.
- Hendrik Nauta: Dutch historian and researcher, currently a professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
- Jorrit Nauta: Dutch professional cyclist who has competed in multiple events on the UCI WorldTour.
- Julian Nauta: Dutch football Goalkeeper who plays for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.
- Vincent Nauta: Dutch snowboarder, currently participating in Big Air Snowboard competitions throughout Europe.
- Rob Nauta: American professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
- Darcy Nauta: American actress and model, starred in the film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in 2012.
- Jim Nauta: American basketball coach, currently in charge of the varsity basketball team at Central Michigan University.
- Catarina Nauta: Portuguese audio engineer and producer, worked with multiple famous names in the music industry.
- Nicolaas Nauta: Dutch sculptor renowned for his life-sized sculptures of creatures found in the wild.