Surname Wältermann - Meaning and Origin
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Wältermann: What does the surname Wältermann mean?
The last name Wältermann is a German surname derived from an occupational name for a warden, a person responsible for overseeing and managing a particular area or territory. The German word “Wälter” derives from the Middle High German “walderer”, which means “one who oversees the forest” or “a forest guard”. In this sense, the name Wältermann could also be translated to mean “forest guardian” or “keeper of the woods”. Although a common German surname, this name may have evolved from a regional variant to Wälterer, Wälterle, Wälterermeister, and Wälterleobel.
In terms of its etymology, the suffix mann in the name Wältermann indicates someone of high social standing and indicates that the Wältermanns were people of some standing in their local community. Indeed, many of the earliest records of the name belonged to people with the status of “Herr”, such as Simon Wälterman, the mayor of the village of Roth in Bavaria around 1590.
Today, it’s likely that descendants of Wältermann’s still live in Germany as well as other countries around the world like the United States, Canada, and Australia, having emigrated during the 19th and 20th centuries. However, no matter where those with this surname now live, their original ties to the Wältermann name likely indicate they are descended from an ancestor that was involved in the guardianship of nature.
Order DNA origin analysisWältermann: Where does the name Wältermann come from?
The last name Wältermann is most commonly found today in Germany, France, and Switzerland. The name is Germanic in origin and was historically common in Germany, France, and Switzerland since the early Middle Ages. Today, it is estimated that there are about 1,500-3,000 people with the last name Wältermann living in Germany. Some of them resided in Berlin, Bavaria, and Hamburg.
In France, the name is relatively rare with only a few hundred Wältermann households reported. Most of these families live in the Alsace region in northeastern France. The same goes for Switzerland, where there are around 200 households with the last name Wältermann living in the country. Most of them reside in the cantons of Basel, Aargau, and Zurich.
In the United States of America, there are a few hundred people with the surname Wältermann. Most of them are descendants of German, French, and Swiss immigrants. However, it is not as common as it is in Europe and is primarily found in states such as Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York, but has a small presence in other states as well.
Overall, the name Wältermann is still relatively common in the countries of origin and in the United States for those of Germanic heritage. Although not as abundant as it was before, it is still found in small numbers in certain regions and countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Wältermann
Waltermann is a German surname that is derived from the personal name Walter. It is found throughout Germany, but is most common in the northern region. Variants of the surname include Waeltermann, Waeltelmann, Waeltmann, Waldermann, Walderman, Walerman, Waltermand, Waltermann, Waltermans, Wattelmann, and Wattelman. These variants are often used interchangeably in different areas and time periods.
The earliest form of the name was Walther or Walter, which was very popular in medieval Europe. The suffix -mann originally just meant "man", but it was eventually used as a way to identify people as coming from the same family or place, much like a patronym or matronym. Over time, the surname evolved to take on a variety of spellings as regional dialects changed.
The variant spelling Waeltelmann is particularly common and is found all over Germany, including the modern-day Rhineland-Palatinate states in the southwest. An interesting offshoot of the family is Watzelmann, which can be found in some parts of the Netherlands.
Waltermann is also the anglicized version of the name. This form of the surname is most common in the United States where many German immigrants settled. This spelling may also be found amongst people of Scottish, English, or Dutch ancestry who may have adopted it during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Overall, the Waltermann surname can take on many forms and is used interchangeably all over the world. While all these variants of the surname are distinctly related to a German origin, each has evolved to suit the dialect or nationality of the area it is found in.
Famous people with the name Wältermann
- Ulrich Wältermann: German PhD student and radio producer
- Cordula Wältermann: German author, librarian, and activist
- Mathias Wältermann: German pianist and composer
- Peter Wältermann: German politician and lawyer
- Lothar Wältermann: German politician and former member of the German Bundestag
- Markus Wältermann: German professional footballer
- Monika Wältermann: German actress and screenwriter
- Thomas Wältermann: German cinematographer, editor, and director
- Martin Wältermann: German producer, singer, and songwriter
- Heinz Wältermann: German rally driver and racing driver
- Sabine Wältermann-Braun: German psychologist, political scientist, and professor
- Bärbel Wältermann: German entrepreneur and former director of the Wältermann GmbH enterprise