Surname Rothhans - Meaning and Origin
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Rothhans: What does the surname Rothhans mean?
The last name Rothhans is derived from the German surname "Roth." The literal meaning of the term is "red," a reference to someone having red hair or a ruddy complexion. Over time, the last name was appended with the Scandinavian suffix "-hans," which translates to "son of," thus Rothhans signifies "son of red."
Historically, the surname is traced to regions around Germany and the Netherlands between the 12th and 15th centuries. Because surnames weren’t common prior to this, most references to Rothhans were made up of first names and locations. So for instance, one might have found mention of “Peter of Rothenburg,” which would signify a man belonging to the Rothhans family living in Rothenburg.
Given its German origins, Rothhans has seen many more variations over time. In Dutch, for instance, it might appear as Rotheens, and in southern Germany, a more common variation was Rothansch. Over time, the variation Rothains became popular in France, while people belonging to the Rothhans family in Switzerland often carried the spelling Rothand.
Those with the Rothhans surname can trace their ancestry back to these regions, and to the red-haired or ruddy-complexioned characteristics those early generations would have possessed. The Rothhans surname continues to be borne by people around the world, carrying with it centuries of history.
Order DNA origin analysisRothhans: Where does the name Rothhans come from?
Rothhans is a German surname that is relatively common throughout Europe. It is particularly found in and around Germany, in the region that was once the Kingdom of Bavaria. Bavaria was the most prominent Germanic state before German unification in 1871.
In Germany, Rothhans is most frequently found in the southwestern states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. It is also found in the southern states of Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Thuringia. The surname may be found in other parts of the world as well, including places in the United States, Canada, and other regions of Europe.
Rothhans may be a diminutive form of the German surname Rothenbans, which means "the red banner" in Old German. It originates from a place name, possibly the city of Roth in Bavaria. The average spelling of this surname is “Rothhans”, but it may also be spelled "Roethans" or "Roethan".
Rothhans is an uncommon name in the United States, but there is still a small concentration in Michigan, California, and Texas. It is likely that descendants of German immigrants living in these states share the Rothhans surname. In Canada, one can find the name in the province of Ontario.
Overall, the Rothhans surname has survived the centuries, although its name bearers are found primarily in Germany and countries with German-speaking populations. Its reach has extended to other places in the world, but the name remains especially associated with its roots in Germany's southwestern and southern regions.
Variations of the surname Rothhans
Rothhans is a surname of German origin, derived from the given name "Roth" (meaning "Red-haired") with the suffix "hans" added. The name is often spelled with different variations, including Rothhans, Rothhansen, Rothhansson, Röthhans, Röthhansen, or Röthhansson.
The surname Rothhans is frequently found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in various European emigrant hosts in North America and Australia. In Germany, the surname is particularly common in the north and is often found in areas near the border with Denmark.
Other variations of the surname Rothhans are Rothhanssen, Rothhanser, or Rothhanse. Surnames derived from this same origin include Rothhaug, Rothhagen, Rothhausen, and Rothhaupt. Spelling variations may have arisen due to cultural influences or immigration, or to differentiate ancestral lines where the spelling was not set in stone.
In addition to the spelling variants, there are a number of related surnames with the same origin, such as Rothford, Rothfuss, Rothfaust, and Rothberger. These surnames are found in various countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe, from Germany to Ukraine.
Overall, Rothhans is a fairly common surname in Germany and its related spellings and surnames are widely dispersed throughout Europe and North America, albeit with varying degrees of prevalence in different locations.
Famous people with the name Rothhans
- Anthony Rothhans: American actor, director, writer, and producer known for his work in the television series Orange Is the New Black, Girls, and How I Met Your Mother.
- Bryan Rothhans: American professional golfer who has won two PGA Tour events over the course of his career.
- David Rothhans: American banker and investment banker, best known for being the CEO of investment banking firm Goldman Sachs.
- Eric Rothhans: American actor, best known for his starring role in the 1995 film Forrest Gump.
- George Rothhans: German-American engineer and physicist, known for inventing the first practical method to record television signals in 1931.
- Hans Rothhans: Austrian physicist and astrophysicist, best known for his research on gamma ray bursts and black holes.
- Jared Rothhans: American physicist and asteroid researcher, known for designing the first space debris removal system in 2009.
- Joseph Rothhans: German-Austrian novelist and journalist, best known for his 1926 novel The Radetsky March.
- Philip Rothhans: American mathematician, computer scientist, and philosopher, best known for his research on artificial intelligence.
- Steve Rothhans: American screenwriter, director, and producer, best known for his work in the film Iron Man 2.