Surname Rastätter - Meaning and Origin
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Rastätter: What does the surname Rastätter mean?
The last name Rastätter is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German verb "rasten" meaning to rest. It most likely began as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a guardian of livestock that needed to be kept at rest when being transported from one place to another. As people moved throughout Europe, the name spread. Today, Rastätter is a common surname in parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The surname has also evolved over time and the spelling has been slightly altered: today, it can be written as Rastetter, Rastatter, and Rastater. It is particularly common in the Upper Swabian region of Bavaria, and there are several variants of the name found in the area.
In the modern day, the spelling with an umlaut - Rastätter - is mostly used in Bavaria and other parts of Germany and Austria, while the variant without the umlaut - Rastatter - is more common in Switzerland and other German-speaking countries.
Rastätter is a powerful but humble name that reflects the hardworking nature of its bearers. It's a reminder of the simple yet important tasks that its original bearers performed, and the strength that was needed in order to protect and care for their charges. The name still stands strong in its home countries, and those who carry this surname can be proud of their long history.
Order DNA origin analysisRastätter: Where does the name Rastätter come from?
Rastätter is a German surname originating in southern Germany. It is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Hesse, where more than 8 percent of the entire population bear the name. It has remained fairly localized to these regions, with the vast majority of the surname still residing in southern Germany. The name is derived from the old German word “rasten,” which means a dwelling, settlement, or place for rest in the countryside.
Rastätter is one of the most common surnames in Germany, ranking #10,220 out of 88,799 total last names. People with this surname can be found scattered throughout Germany, with the highest concentration in Bavaria. In the United States, the name is found mostly among descendants of German immigrants, with Minnesota and Wisconsin having the biggest number of occurrences. In California, the name is fairly uncommon, with less than 5,000 individuals estimated to be using it.
The coat of arms for the Rastätter family is a black and white shield with a red tree in the center and two silver arrows at its base, and lions flanking either side. The shield is encircled by small gold stars and a green garland, which symbolizes peace and strength. As is common for German families, the Rastätter coat of arms is quite elaborate and has a long history associated with it.
Although the Rastätter surname is still fairly prevalent in its native region, it has been spread far and wide as a result of immigration. Whether people settled in the United States, Canada, Australia, or elsewhere, those with the last name of Rastätter have left their mark. Despite the name’s relatively low visibility, the Rastätter family tree is still relatively intact, with various lines in different countries connected by their shared heritage.
Variations of the surname Rastätter
The surname Rastätter, primarily of German origin, has many variant spellings, surnames, and forms of the same name that have changed over time. These include (but are not limited to) Rasstater, Rostetter, Röstator, and Rastetten.
Many of the most common variants in spelling began with the ending of the surname, which is most often found spelled as -Rastätter, -Röstetten, -Rostetter, or -Rasstater. For example, Röstetten is a variant spelling of Rastätter, whereas Rostetter is the spelling of the same surname found in Switzerland. Hailing from Germany, the Rastätter surname can also be found spelled as Rastatter, Rasstetter, or Rastat.
At times, the letter ‘e’ was added in between the two words that form the surname, resulting in spellings such as Raesteatter, Raestatter, and Röestetter. In some cases, the letter ‘e’ was doubled, producing spellings such as Räesteatter and Räestätter, or the consonant ‘t’ was repeated, yielding spellings like Raesttetter and Rassttater.
Additionally, other surnames of similar origin have been used in place of Rastätter throughout history. These names include Rasteter, Rasteder, Raesteder, Rösteder, Roesteder, and Rassteder. In any event, all of these surnames share the same combination of root European words, ‘ras’ meaning ‘game’ and ‘täter’ meaning ‘hunter’. Thus, all of these surnames are believed to denote a hunter of game.
Famous people with the name Rastätter
- Geo Rastätter, Austrian composer and musical director
- Johannes Rastätter, German civil servant and SPD politician
- Otto Rastätter, Swiss Protestant theologian and editor
- Johannes Rastätter, German folklorist and author
- Karl Rastätter, German painter and academic
- Cornelia Rastätter, German-Swiss philologist and professor
- Adolf Rastätter, Polish writer and journalist
- Gottfried Rastätter, Austrian action painter and sculptor
- Erwin Rastätter, Austrian-Swiss psychologist
- Willi Rastätter, German organist and choir conductor