Surname Buschkötter - Meaning and Origin

Buschkötter: What does the surname Buschkötter mean?

The last name Buschkötter is derived from a Germanic language, and is believed to originate in the Old Dutch or Old High German language. The meaning of the name is believed to be related to the word ‘busch’, which means a cultivated shrub or bush. Thus, it can be interpreted that the name means ‘one who is from the shrub’, meaning a person from a dwelling near a cultivated shrub or bush.

The first known bearer of the name is believed to be Otscho Buscotter, who lived in Lippstadt, Westphalia, Germany around 1230. From there, it spread throughout Germany and then to other countries in Europe, such as Switzerland, England, Poland, and across Central and Eastern Europe.

The earliest American settlers with the name Buschkötter date back to around 1700, when the first person to settle in America bearing the name was Philip Buschkott, who settled in Pennsylvania. The Buschkötters of Pennsylvania are believed to be descendants of German settlers who arrived at the colony of Pennsylvania.

Today, the name is widespread throughout many countries, with many bearers coming from Germany, the United States, Australia, and South America. Many branches of the family have branched off throughout the centuries, and the name has taken different variations in spelling, including Büschkötter, Buskötter, Busktter, Buschkuter, and Bueschköter.

The name Buschkötter has a long and varied history, from its initial origins in Old Dutch or High German to its current form, with several variations in spelling. It is an interesting and unique family name that has been preserved throughout the centuries, and which still carries with it the meaning of ‘one who is from the shrub’.

Buschkötter: Where does the name Buschkötter come from?

The last name Buschkötter is most common in northwest Germany today, especially in the small towns and villages of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. It is one of the most concentrated surnames in the country, with approximately 4,000 people, or one in every 3,125, carrying the name. The highest concentrations of Buschkötters—approximately 200 or more per area—are found in the towns and villages of Tecklenburg, Meppen, Cloppenburg, and Ankum, all located in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Though this surname is found primarily in northwest Germany, Buschkötters have spread across the world. Beginning in the late 1700s, Buschkötter emigrants departed from Germany’s ports and headed towards the United States, Canada, and Australia. In recent decades, Buschkötter immigrants have moved to many locations, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Israel, bringing the name’s unique German pronunciation and spelling with them. Today, record of this last name has been found in over 40 countries.

Though there is no specific Buschkötter Coat of Arms, a Coat of Arms representing the region near Tecklenburg, Lower Saxony has been used as a proxy. This coat of arms, which debuted in 1680 and features a blue shield with a silver barred cross, three yellow anchors, and a black eagle, has come to embody the limited family histories held by those who carry the Buschkötter name.

From the small towns of northwest Germany to countries around the world, the last name Buschkötter continues to be carried on. Its prominence in Germany and migrations over centuries have helped keep the name alive and create a unique identity for those who carry it today.

Variations of the surname Buschkötter

The variants, spellings, and surnames of Buschkötter are Bußkötter, Buschkotter, Buschkoe, Buschkoh, Buschköhler, Buschköhle, Buschkötterle, Buschkütter, Buschkute, Buschkütterle, Buschköthe, Buschkoehle, and Buschkühler.

Buschkötter is a German surname, likely referring to a person who lived in a place surrounded by bushes or a marsh. Historically, people with this surname were most likely farmers and/or cattle keepers living in such a place. As families moved around and new generations were born, some spellings changed.

The Bußkötter variant likely originates from a variant of Buschkötter that contained a double-s. In the course of time, this could have been written as a double-ß.

Buschkoe, Buschkoh, Buschköhler, Buschköhle, and Buschkötterle are also likely variants of Buschkötter and could have originated as a result of misreading or mishearing of the original spelling.

Buschkütter, Buschkute, Buschkütterle, and Buschköthe could originate from variants of Buschkötter that contained a double-k, and which could have been miswritten as double-ck or double-k.

Buschkoehle and Buschkühler could originate from a conceptual change of being in an area surrounded by bushes to being in an area surrounded by hills. It appears that people with these surnames likely settled in hilly areas surrounded by trees.

Therefore, the variants, spellings, and surnames of Buschkötter all have their roots in the same place and likely refer to different ways of looking at the same landscape.

Famous people with the name Buschkötter

• Martha Buschkötter: German fashion designer.
• Günther Buschkötter: German actor.
• Ulrich Buschkötter: German economist.
• Joseph Buschkötter: German Politician and Member of Parliament.
• Frieda Buschkötter: German poet and journalist.
• Manfred Buschkötter: German agricultural scientist.
• Lothar Buschkötter: German author and music professor.
• August Buschkötter: German inventor and mechanical engineer.
• Otto Buschkötter: German paleontologist and professor.
• Heinz Buschkötter: German ice hockey player.
• Karl Buschkötter: German forester and nature conservationist.
• Dieter Buschkötter: German designer and typography professor.
• Theodor Buschkötter: German botanist and zoologist.
• Johann Buschkötter: German Catholic theologian and professor.
• Fritz Buschkötter: German sculptor and painter.
• Hans Buschkötter: German physician and psychiatrist.
• Annemarie Buschkötter: German wool designer.
• Josef Buschkötter: German sculptor.

Other surnames

Buschkotte