Surname Wittkop - Meaning and Origin
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Wittkop: What does the surname Wittkop mean?
The last name Wittkop is derived from a German-language surname. It is a combination of two words: "Wit" which means "name," and "Kop," which means "head." This denotes a person who is head of the family or perhaps of a small community. Alternatively, it could mean a leader in a particular field of endeavors.
The surname Wittkop is believed to have originated in the 15th century and was typically found in the region of Northern Germany. During this era, many German families adopted surnames to give added meaning to their heritage and provide a unique identity in their communities.
The Wittkop surname can also be traced to have historic roots in the culture of the ancient Franks, who lived in the northern part of Germany between the 1st and 8th centuries. As part of the Germanic tribe, they helped shape German culture with their values, customs and beliefs.
Today, due to migration, the Wittkop surname can be located in many different areas throughout the world, including North America, Central America, Europe, Africa and beyond.
Ultimately, the Wittkop surname is a reminder of the vision and values of the Franks, and the family roots of the Wittkop family—made up of strong individuals who sought to make their marks in the world.
Order DNA origin analysisWittkop: Where does the name Wittkop come from?
The surname Wittkop is a Germanic occupational name from the Middle Ages primarily associated with dressmakers. It is believed to have originated in the Northern part of Germany, particularly in the regions of Prussian-Brandenburg, Saxony, and Hanover. The last name is still very common today primarily in Germany, but also in some regions in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. It has been found in records dating back to the mid-16th century, with the earliest known recorded instance belonging to a Johannes Wittkop of Boitzenburger Land, Germany in the year 1556.
The concentration of those bearing the Wittkop surname is highest in Germany and Austria, though there are some with the last name found in the United States, particularly in states formerly part of the early German diaspora such as Pennsylvania and Ohio. The name has been cherished by many families since its inception and has endured throughout the centuries. The Wittkop name appears to have maintained its prevalence, despite the numerous changes to the geographic and political landscape of Europe over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Wittkop
The surname Wittkop is a German surname originally derived from Middle High German variants of the word wikeup meaning a “watchtower”. The modern, German spelling of the surname is Wittkop, but there are many variants and spellings of this name found in records all over the world.
Variants of this name include Wittke, Wittkowski, Wittkopp, Wittcoup, Wikkop, Wikkup, Wickop, Wykop, Wykoff, Wykeup, Wikup, Wikupp, Wickeup, Witcop, Wycoup, and Wykeup.
Surnames that share an origin with Wittkop include Wikoff, Wiker, Wicker, Wycoff, Wykoff, Wyse, Wyckoff, Weikop, Weicop and Wiecke.
In the United States, records show that the Wittkop surname has been present since the mid-1800s, when records were kept of immigrants fleeing Germany due to religious and political turmoil. It was during this time that many of these variations of the same surname spread around the world.
Today, in the United States, Canada, and other countries, records continue to show the presence of these surnames. The United States Census Bureau records show that Wittkop is most common in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. In the United Kingdom, it is most common in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and Cheshire, among other counties.
Wittkops may be found all over the world, but regardless of what spelling the name has taken on or how far it has traveled, it is a part of German tradition and culture that is still carried on today.
Famous people with the name Wittkop
- Erwin Wittkop: German Jesuit priest
- Kylee Wittkop: award winning painter, designer and printmaker
- Ole Wittkop: Danish architect
- Christian Wittkop: German actor, director and screenwriter
- Wilhelm Ernst Wittkop: German architect
- Annegret Wittkop: German sculptor and ceramist
- Norman Wittkop: German actor
- Benedikt Wittkop: German photographer
- Annekatrin Wittkop: German film director
- Christiane Wittkop: German author
- Susanne Wittkop: German film director and screenwriter
- Hans-Heinrich Wittkop: German sculptor
- Franz Wittkop: German zoologist and biologist
- Felix Wittkop: German abstract artist
- Elke Wittkop: German exhibitions organiser and artist
- Peter Wittkop: German stage designer
- Paul Wittkop: German author and editor
- Alice Wittkop: German art historian