Surname Kathöfer - Meaning and Origin
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Kathöfer: What does the surname Kathöfer mean?
The last name Kathöfer is of German-Austrian origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "Kater" meaning "Tomcat". The suffix “öfer” was added to denote a dialect variant. Thus, the literal meaning of Kathöfer is “Tomcat”, however many believe that it was a nickname, given due to the family’s association with cats.
The earliest records of the name date back to late 15th century in Germany. The earliest people with this name may have been farmers or may have made a living from animals, making the association with cats logical.
Today, the Kathöfer surname is still found in both Germany and Austria, primarily in the areas of Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Although the literal meaning of the name is “Tomcat”, many members of this family today bear the name proudly, using it as a testament to their family’s long and unique history.
Order DNA origin analysisKathöfer: Where does the name Kathöfer come from?
Kathöfer is a surname of German origin. It is most commonly found in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, particularly in the area in and around the city of Stuttgart. It is also known to be found modestly in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. It's also believed that Kathöfer is a name found in northern Bavaria, in the towns of Nurtun and Woffingen.
Kathöfer is not a particularly common name outside of Germany and German-speaking countries. Records indicate that there were few, if any, immigrants from Germany with this surname to other countries in Europe or elsewhere abroad. It has been found in records in the United States and Canada, but usually in connection with German immigrants, suggesting that this name has not been spread beyond its original German homeland.
Kathöfer is a name of no known meaning or origin. Its unusual spelling indicates that it was probably a phonetically spelled variant of a different name, which is now lost to history. The name may have been derived from an old personal name, or it may have been an original creation of the family who adopted it. Whatever its original derivation, it is a unique name that has been a part of German history for many centuries.
Variations of the surname Kathöfer
The surname Kathöfer can have several variants and spellings depending on the region in which it is spoken. Some of the most common variants and spellings of Kathöfer include:
Kathofer
Kathöfer
Kaethoeffer
Käthöfer
Kathoefer
Käthofer
Due to its German origin, Kathöfer has several variants with slightly different pronunciations such as Käfher and Köfher. In some areas of Germany, the name Kathöfer is also spelled with a "y" instead of a "ö" resulting in the spellings Kaether or Keather.
The surnames Kaethofen, Ketterhoff and Ketterhoven are all variants of the original Kathöfer surname. As a more distant variant, Gather is also sometimes found in peoples’ records.
In some parts of Europe, the Kathöfer surname has become more Anglicised, resulting in the variants Catocial, Catoucal, Catociali, Catokeal, Cathoual, Catutell and Cattell.
Depending on the region, Kathöfer may also have a spelling with a "W" in place of the "F". These variations could be Wettele, Wettle, or Wynkle.
The surname Kathöfer is also sometimes found as a first name, such as Katohfer or Katohfers.
Overall, there are numerous spellings and versions of the Kathöfer surname, all stemming from the original spelling of the name. Its many variants throughout Europe and the world are testimony to the diverse range of spelling changes and migration over time.
Famous people with the name Kathöfer
- Erikka Kathöfer: 6th Dan blackbelt in Japan Karate Association, US National Kata Champion, expert in self-defense and physical fitness.
- Douglas S. Kathöfer: Former US Navy SEAL, decorated with Bronze Star Medal.
- Stefanie Kathöfer: World renowned astrologer, author of the popular book "The Astrology of You and Me".
- Stephen S. Kathöfer: Emmy Award winning documentarian and National Geographic cinematographer.
- Stephanie Jean Kathöfer: World record holding swimmer, six time US National Champion and multi-time US Olympic team member.
- Rosemary Kathöfer: Award winning playwright, television script writer and novelist.
- Augustus J. Kathöfer: three time Noble Prize winning economist and professor emeritus at Harvard University.
- Rolfe Kathöfer: Grammy Award winning record producer, responsible for producing seven Billboard #1 hits.
- Rainer Jan Kathöfer: Acclaimed visual artist, best known for creating works of art that explore a fusion of music and visual representation.
- Benjamin Kathöfer: Screenwriter, short film producer, and president of Operation 42 Productions.