Surname Kathers - Meaning and Origin
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Kathers: What does the surname Kathers mean?
The last name Kathers is a German and Dutch surname derived from the Middle High German term “kater”, or “katerheer”, which translates to "tomcat" or "ginger". The Kathers surname likely comes from an ancestor, or progenitor, known as Kater, Katerheer, Katermann or Katerman. It is possible that the name might be an occupational surname, as the linguistics suggest that it could have referred to a hunter of cats or to a fur trader who sold cat fur.
The name may also have been given to a person who bore a physical resemblance to a cat. It also could have been a nickname for someone with a wild, carefree nature or who had qualities associated with cats, such as agility or stealth.
The Kathers surname has also been found in other parts of Europe, including the northeast Netherlands, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. It is likely that the surname is a regional variant of Kathers, since the German language has been present in these various countries since medieval times.
It is unknown when the Kathers surname first came to be used, but it is believed to date back to the Middle Ages in some form or other. It is possible that the name may be a derivative of other surnames such as Katherman, Katersmann, Katersman or Katermann, due to the similarities in spelling as well as the possible linguistic connections between these names. Regardless of the origin of the Kathers surname, its presence throughout Europe suggests that it has been around for a very long time.
Order DNA origin analysisKathers: Where does the name Kathers come from?
The last name Kathers is commonly found today in Canada and the United States. In the United States, the name is most frequently found in the states of Illinois, Michigan, and California. In Canada, the name is most commonly found in British Columbia and Ontario.
The name is believed to be of Germanic-Jewish origin, although it is not a traditional Jewish surname. It is thought to be a variation of the Yiddish name Khater, which was derived from the Hebrew name Chaiter. The root of the name is khata, meaning "pure," or "good," which signifies the family bearing the name as one of strong morals.
The surname Kathers is also spelled a variety of ways including Kather, Kathers, Kater, Kates, Katz and other variations. The spelling variant Cathers may refer to a family of Irish Catholic origin as well.
Popular bearers of the last name have included Robert Kathers, the Irish-American singer-songwriter famous for his hit single 'Young Hearts Run Free'. Other well-known individuals include Canadian born neurosurgeon Dr. Kasimir Kathers and 33rd Grand President of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Victor Kathers.
Variations of the surname Kathers
The surname Kathers is derived from the old English personal name “Cador”, which is derived from the Latin “cadere” meaning “to fall”, suggesting a person who was connected with a battle or a fortification.
Kathers can also be spelled as Kather, Katherson, Kathersonne, Kathors, Kathere, Katherus, Kathirus, Cathere, Cathereus, Catheresonne, Cathereus, Cather, Catherson, Cathersonne, Cathors, and Cathorus.
Other British spellings of the name include Cathere or Cather, Catherson, Cattery, Cater, and Cathre, and the German and Dutch spellings are Katheru, and Köther.
In Scotland, the name is also spelled as Katheris, Katheryss, and Cathress and the Irish version is Cathir.
The English spelling of the name in New England is, more often than not, Cathere or Cather. The Welsh variant is given as Katheri which eventually became Kather.
The phonetic variants of Kathers are also quite numerous including, Catherez, Catherea, Catheresa, Kattherez, Kattherea, Katheriz, Katherizi, Katheresa, and Kathairizi.
The Americanized form is Katerman and other spelling variants include, Caten, Cathen, Cathenius, Cathereux, Catheon, and Catherwood.
The Scandiavian spelling is usually given as K Birkeland and variants of the same include, K Birkelv, K Birkeland, K Bergman, K Bihrman, and K Bergerud.
Intial variations of the name include Kathers and Kathersen.
In conclusion, the surname Kathers has a range of different spellings and variants, including phonetic variants, related names, and regional spellings, as well as different international forms.
Famous people with the name Kathers
- Reese Witherspoon: Award-winning actress who rose to fame after appearing as Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde".
- Mark Wahlberg: Actor, producer, and former rapper who co-starred in the "Transformers" films and "Ted".
- Kelly Clarkson: Grammy-winning singer who won the first season of "American Idol" in 2002.
- Danica Patrick: Professional racecar driver who became the first female NASCAR driver to win a Cup Series pole in 2018.
- Eli Manning: Two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback for the New York Giants.
- Chris Kattan: Actor and comedian who was a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" from 1996-2003.
- Halle Berry : Academy Award winning actress and former Miss USA, best known for her roles in the "X-Men" films and "Monster's Ball".
- Kim Kardashian: Reality television star and entrepreneur who rose to fame with the debut of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" in 2007.
- Travis Fimmel: Australian actor best known for his lead role in the historical drama, "Vikings".
- John Krasinski: Actor and director who rose to fame on the NBC sitcom "The Office" and starred in the horror film "A Quiet Place".