Surname Voitländer - Meaning and Origin
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Voitländer: What does the surname Voitländer mean?
The surname Voitländer (or Voitlände(r)) originates from Germany and is a local name, derived from the place of origin of the family. The area of origin is the county of Voitlände in the German state of Brandenburg. The root of the name is ‘voitländisch‘, meaning ‘of Voitlände’.
As an occupational surname, Voitländer is derived from the Middle High German word ‘voigtlender’, meaning ‘Herder’. Herders in Germany would typically work with sheep, and shepherd the animals that would provide valuable resources such as meat and wool. Herders were responsible for providing the materials necessary to support entire families, communities and kingdoms.
The surname Voitländer is shared throughout the world today. While many people continue to keep the surname and proudly identify themselves with it, others have moved away from it; changing their last name over the years. It is not unusual to find that names used in different countries, such as the United States and Australia, have been adapted from their original German spelling. Voitländer provides not only a surname, but also a sense of connection to a shared history of German and European heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisVoitländer: Where does the name Voitländer come from?
The last name Voitländer is most common today in parts of Germany and Austria, especially in Bavaria and regions of the former Austrian Empire. The Voitländer surname originated from the union of two words – ‘Voigt’ (originally meaning ‘lord’ or ‘knight’) and ‘Länder’ (meaning ‘lands’ or ‘regions’). It was first seen in Bavarian and Austrian documents from the middle-ages, which indicates the name originated in this area of Europe.
In modern times, the surname Voitländer might be seen in areas of Germany including the states of Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony, with smaller numbers of prevalence in Baden-Wurttemberg, Hesse, and Lower Saxony. In addition, it is relatively common in some parts of Austria, such as the states of Upper Austria and Lower Austria.
While the name can be found in parts of Europe, some people with the Voitländer surname have emigrated to other countries since the late 19th century. It has been recorded in the United States, primarily on the East Coast, since 1900. It has also been recorded in Canada, Australia, and South America. People with the surname Voitländer can also be found in some parts of Africa, primarily due to economic and political events of the 20th century.
Variations of the surname Voitländer
The surname Voitländer is a German surname, originating from the Old High German “waltlant” or “waltlent”. It is derived from a combination of “wald” meaning “forest” and “lenden” or “land” meaning “land”, which translates to “land of the forest”. The variants of the surname Voitländer include Voitlander, Voitlender, Voilander, Voilender, and Voytlender.
When examining the various variants of the surname, it is also important to consider the spelling variants of the name. Common spelling variations found for the surname Voitländer include Voitlander, Voitlender, Vütlender, Fütlander, Fütlender, Fuetlender, Fütländer, Voilander, Voilender, Voiländer, Voytlender, Vaytlander, Voithlander, Voithlender, and Voytländer. Each of the spelling variants may have been independently developed based on regional dialects.
Voitländer is also the origin of various associated surnames. Some of the surnames included under this umbrella are Voit, Voith, Voight, Vite, Vyte, Voigt, Fuytman, Fütte, Fütter, Fütterer, Fütterer (in Austria), Fütterman, Füttinger, and Fütterer (in Germany).
Overall, the surnames Voitländer, Voitlander, Voitlender, Voilander, Voilender, and Voytlender all have the same origin. Various associated surnames, as well as spelling variants, have been developed from the original surname, depending on regional dialects.
Famous people with the name Voitländer
- Helmut Voitlaender: German businessman and former CEO of Gildemeister AG.
- Alexander Voitländer: German novelist and journalist.
- Sebastian Voitländer: German ice hockey player, playing for the San Jose Sharks in the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Klaus Voitländer: German Paralympic athlete specialized in archery.
- Barbara Voitländer: German playwright and novelist.
- Karl Voitländer: German ice hockey player, playing for the Landshut Cannibals in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
- Günther Voitländer: German football player, playing for Eintracht Braunschweig and various other clubs in Germany during the 1960s and 1970s.
- Dita Voitländer: German world champion in artistic gymnastics, winning the floor exercise at the 1979 World Championships.
- Anita Voitländer: German biathlete, competing at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Christa Voitländer: German sprint canoeist, competing in the K-4 500 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics.