Surname Wittkopp - Meaning and Origin
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Wittkopp: What does the surname Wittkopp mean?
Wittkopp is a German surname that can be traced back to the proto-Germanic name composed of two elements, “wita” and “kopp” which translate to “wood” and “head” respectively. This combination could be interpreted to mean, either “leader or chief of the woods” or “head of a wooded area.”
Originally, the name was likely given to someone who was either a prominent figure in the region or who held a certain amount of power or influence in a wooded area. This is indicated by an early record of the name referring to a person who owned land in or near a wooded area.
The name Wittkopp is common in Germany, though it is not exclusive to that country. It can be found in nearby countries such as Denmark, Austria, and Poland, as well as in the United States where it was common among German immigrants.
The Wittkopp family has a rich and diverse background and can be traced to at least 1444 when Prussian noble Jakob Wittkopp owned land. Today, the Wittkopp surname is still common and is shared by many people of German descent all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisWittkopp: Where does the name Wittkopp come from?
The last name Wittkopp is most commonly found in Germany, where it is estimated that there are well over 1,500 people with the name. The name is also found in smaller populations in Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It is possible that the name originated in the Schleswig-Holstein or Mecklenburg regions of Germany.
The name likely has its roots in the Middle Low German word ‘wittekopp’ which means ‘white head’. This may have referred to the person’s hair colour, or it may have been a nickname or moniker. The slight variation between Wittkopp and Wittekopp is a result of dialectal differences in spelling.
As with many surnames, there may have been a significant population shift at some point that saw emigrants take the name to other countries. Immigration records from Germany from the 19th and early 20th centuries show evidence of Wittkopp migrating to countries such as the United States and Canada. Later generations of Wittkopp descendants have relocated to other parts of the world, and the name can now be found in many different locations.
Variations of the surname Wittkopp
The surname Wittkopp is of German origin, and can be spelled in a few different ways. Alternative spellings for Wittkopp include Wiedkopp, Wietkopp, Wittkoppen, Wiedkoppen, and Wietkoppen. It is derived from the German given name “Wido,” with the “kopp” suffix meaning someone or something belonging to Wido. Related surnames to Wittkopp include Wied, Witt, Witte, Widdowson, and Wittke.
The surnames Wittkopp and Wiedkopp can be found in northern Germany, especially in Lower Saxony and Mayen- Corswagen. The surnames Wietkopp and Wiedkoppen and can be found in western Germany, mainly in Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, and Saarland. The spelling Wittkoppen can be found in the former East Germany, particularly in Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. The related surname Wittke is more concentrated in the former East Germany, and can also be found in western Germany near the old East Germany border.
The most common use for the surname Wittkopp today is as an occupational surname for someone who works in a kiln or in an oven. It is also sometimes used as a variant of the name Widdowson, which means a “son of a widow.” Over the centuries, the spelling of Wittkopp has changed and evolved due to human error or the desire to create a unique spelling for a specific individual, which is why it appears in so many different forms today.
Famous people with the name Wittkopp
- Ellen Wittkopp: German figure skater
- Matt Wittkopp: American politician
- Robert Wittkopp: German footballer
- Satu Wittkopp: Finnish naturalist
- Schuyler Wittkopp: American swimmer
- Wally Wittkopp: Canadian educator
- Gustav Wittkopp: German entrepreneur
- Joe Wittkopp: American politician
- Hannah Wittkopp: American soccer player
- Tracey Wittkopp: American rugby player