Surname Nöth - Meaning and Origin
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Nöth: What does the surname Nöth mean?
The surname Nöth is a German name of pre-medieval origins. It is believed to have sprung from the Middle High German word “not”, which means “courage” or “boldness” and was used in reference to individuals of strong will or courage.
The surname may have initially been used as an honorific title for brave or bold individuals and gradually became adopted in a hereditary fashion.
The surname is likely to have been derived from a nickname; as in the Middle High German period nicknames were very commonly used as identifiers.
The ancient records relating to the name date back to the 16th century in the German state of Bavaria, where records of first mention of the name include one Jacob Not in 1527, and Hensel Not in 1582, amongst many others.
The surname Nöth can be found scattered across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other German speaking regions of Europe. It is believed to be quite rare in comparison to other German surnames.
The direct English meaning of “Nöth” is “not” or “nothing”; however, the name itself represents far more than this connotation. It hints at a past descendant of courage and a person of strong will and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisNöth: Where does the name Nöth come from?
The last name Nöth is most prevalent in Germany, where it ranks as the 457th most common last name. There it is found mainly in Bavaria in the south, as well as in the neighboring states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Thuringia. It is also found in other parts of central Europe such as Switzerland and Austria. Outside of this region it is uncommon.
The origin of the name Nöth is uncertain. It could be an altered form of the German word Noeth, meaning ‘undergrowth’ or ‘bushes’, or it might be derived from a first name such as Notger or Nothelm. It is also possible that it developed from a place name; there is an area called Noeth in East Bavaria which could potentially be the origin of the name.
Today, Nöth is quite widespread in Germany and other parts of central Europe. As people move further afield, be it to other continents or within Europe, the name is becoming increasingly rare. It is likely that in the future, the name will be mainly concentrated in the countries where it is found today, with few people bearing the name in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Nöth
Nöth is a German surname which comes from the Middle High German "FIcit," which was derived from the word "not" meaning fame or honour. This surname is also known by many other variants and spellings.
Variants of the surname Nöth include Nothe, Notheh, Noth, Nothman, Nott, Notthoff, Noting, Notz, Notto, Nothwehr, Noeth, and Noth, among others.
The surname Nöth is more common in certain regions of Europe; the variant Nothe is found predominantly in Germany, while the variant Noth is more pronounced in the United States. The variant Noting is commonly found in Austria and Switzerland.
In addition to different variants of the Nöth surname, there are also various spellings of the surname, for example, Noth without the umlaut, Nothwehr with the addition of "wehr", and Notz replacing the "th" with a "z".
Alternative surnames which are related to the Nöth family include Kempthorn, Konop, Kloth and Thom. These surnames are found through Germany, usually in regions where the Nöth family has a presence.
The origin of the Nöth surname is denoted in many coat of arms, which are composed of a black bird perched on a golden rock. This illustrates the root of the surname Nöth, as it refers to the German word "not," meaning honour or renown.
Famous people with the name Nöth
- Alexander Nöth: German-Croatian pianist and composer, born in 1949 in the former Yugoslavia.
- Ernst Nöth: German entomologist, born in 1895 in Austria-Hungary.
- Johann Karl Nöth: German botanist, born in 1811 in Germany.
- Karl Nöth: German physicist and mathematician, born in 1903 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
- Ingrid Nöth: French writer and poet, born in 1954 in Germany.
- Ursula Nöth: German musician and composer, born in 1962 in East Germany.
- Volker Nöth: German lawyer and political activist, born in 1945 in East Germany.
- Jörg Nöth: German painter and sculptor, born in 1953 in East Germany.
- Ulrike Nöth: German dancer and choreographer, born in 1965 in East Germany.
- Elisabeth Nöth: German ceramist and illustrator, born in 1948 in East Germany.