Surname Gotfried - Meaning and Origin
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Gotfried: What does the surname Gotfried mean?
The last name Gotfried is derived from the old Germanic personal name “Gotfrid” which is composed of two elements. The first element, “Gott” means “God” and the second element “Frid” means “peace”. The name thus means “God’s peace”.
This last name is quite old and has been passed down through generations of families. The highest recorded incidence of the name was in the year 1330 in the area of Frankfurt, Germany. It was also quite popular in Austria and Switzerland in past centuries.
Throughout the years, the inner meaning of the name inspired those who held it, urging them to bring peace to their families and to their communities. It was a reminder of what they could do to make the world a better place for everyone.
Today, the Gotfried surname has expanded and is found in various countries around the world. There are Gotfrieds in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.
The trait of bringing peace and hope to others is still a strong one for those with this name, and many times it is seen in the charitable works they do in their communities or through various charitable organizations.
The name Gotfried is a reminder that even in today’s fast-paced world it is important to bring a sense of peace and hope to others.
Order DNA origin analysisGotfried: Where does the name Gotfried come from?
The last name Gotfried is most often associated with German and Jewish backgrounds. The modern-day distribution of the last name can be found predominantly in Germany, the United States, and Israel.
In Germany, the Gotfried surname appears to have originated in the northeastern part of the country, including the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. It is most widely spread in these regions today.
In the United States, the Gotfried surname arrived in approximately the 1880s, with many of its first bearers originating from German states such as Prussia. These immigrants were mainly Ashkenazim of Jewish faith, and settled in US cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, and New York. The surname is now found in many other states, including California, Florida, and New Jersey.
In Israel, the surname began to appear in the 1940s and 1950s, with the arrival of German Jewish immigrants. The Gotfried name is especially common in cities such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, where large German Jewish populations can be found.
Overall, the last name Gotfried is a relatively common one. It is still widely found in Germany, the United States, and Israel, and its bearers can trace their roots to German and Jewish backgrounds.
Variations of the surname Gotfried
Gotfried is an Anglo-Saxon name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the name "Godafrid or Godafred", which is composed of two elements. The first being "Goda", meaning "God", and the second being "frid", meaning "peace". Thus, the complete name implies "God's peace or peace of God".
The spelling Gotfried is the English version of this surname, although variations abound. Gotfrid, Gotfryd and Godfried are common variant spellings, while more rarely seen variants include Godafred, Gottfridd, Gotfreed, Gottfrid, Gottefrid, Gottfried and Gotfriede.
Surnames with similar origins are also derived from the same name. Godafrey, Godefroi, Godefridi, Godefried, Godfrid, Gottfrid, Gotfrido, Gudfrid, Gudfryd, Gudfridi, Gudfreed, Gudfried and Gudfriede are all alternative surnames related to the name Gotfried.
In addition, the name Gotfried can also have local variations or more specific spellings in different countries and regions. Some of these variants include Gudffriad in Wales, Cettfried in Scotland, and Godafrith in Ireland.
The presence of such a large amount of variants is due to population and phonetic changes that occurred in the past. For example, the “d” at the end of "Godafrid" sometimes turned to “t” due to phonetic influences. This left “Gotfrid” as a variant form of the name. Similarly “d” beginning of words was sometimes softened, turning it into “f”. This led to the development of spellings like “Gofrid” and “Gotfried”.
Famous people with the name Gotfried
- Gilbert Gottfried, Actor
- Josh Gottfried, Author
- Martin Gottfried, Playwright and Theater Critic
- Ilene Gottfried, Photographer
- Genevieve Gottfried, Painter
- Katherine Gottfried, Author
- John Gotfried, Director of Photography
- Paul Gottfried, Historian
- Jonathan Gotfried, Actor
- Helene Gotfried, Actress