Surname Katter - Meaning and Origin
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Katter: What does the surname Katter mean?
The surname Katter is primarily found in the German-speaking regions of Europe, though it is present elsewhere around the world today. It is believed to be derived from the German word ‘Kater’, which means ‘tomcat’ or ‘tom’. This suggests that the earliest known uses of the name may have been a nickname for a rambunctious or mischievous person with untamable tendencies. In medieval times, it may also have been used to denote someone who was brave or fearless, similar to the way 'wildcat' is used today.
The surname is also used in a variety of other languages, largely related to the German language, such as Dutch and Afrikaans. This could be due to a combination of migration and cultural influence, suggesting that the name may spread further still in the future.
In more recent times, the most famous person associated with the name is the Australian politician Bob Katter, who has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1993. Alongside politics, the name could be due to descendents of Christian Katter, who helped to win a court case in 1837 that saw the freedom of half of the slaves in the United States.
Due to its varied origin, the surname Katter holds a variety of meanings and associations. Whether it be used to denote a brave, fearless and untamable spirit, a political legacy, or a hopeful symbol of freedom, it's certain that the name has a long and fascinating history.
Order DNA origin analysisKatter: Where does the name Katter come from?
The last name Katter is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, as well as in some Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria and Romania. German immigrants brought the name to the United States in the 19th century, and it has since spread to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other areas with German settlers.
Katter is a German-origin name, derived from the Middle High German word “Katter,” which means “cat.” So it is used as either a name meaning “cat,” or as a nickname for someone with a particularly feline temperament, such as a hunter or a sly person.
In the United States, the last name Katter is most commonly found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, and California. In Minnesota, for example, there are more than 1,000 people named Katter. In California, Katter is found primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
In Canada, the surname is most numerous in Ontario and Quebec, and in Australia it is most commonly found in New South Wales. In New Zealand, Katter tends to be clustered mostly in Canterbury and Otago.
The surname Katter is also found in Austria, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Romania. Katter is even an uncommon last name in Japan, with a few scattered examples in Tokyo and Osaka.
Variations of the surname Katter
The surname Katter is derived from the German word katter, meaning 'cat'. As a result, variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Katter include Catters, de Kattere, Kather, Katterman, Kattermann, Katterer, Kattermann, Katters, Kattermann, Katteres, Kattermann, and Katteress.
Katter is the anglicised spelling of the surname. The earliest known record of the Katter name was found in the Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany around the 1600s. In the 1600s this region was part of the Holy Roman Empire and was the small independent duchy of Schleswig. During this period, people moved around from one place to another and took the name Katter on the journey with them.
Katter is also a Jewish surname. It originated from the Hebrew word for "cat" and became popular among Ashkenazi Jews in the 17th century. It is thought to be an adaptation of the German Kattere, meaning “cat”.
Katter is also found in other languages, with variations being Katra in Czech, Kater in Dutch, Kat in Dutch, and Kattere in German. The surname is also found as a variation of the Swedish Kater and Katter and the Danish Ketter and Kettering.
The name can also be found as Cats in the Netherlands, Katterlin in Switzerland, Kattori in Italy, Kattermann in Germany and Katr in the Czech Republic.
All of these many and varied versions of the original Katter surname share the same origin and all point back to the German word for ‘cat’.
Famous people with the name Katter
- Bob Katter: politician and leader of Katter's Australian Party in Australia
- Carmel Katter: Australian philanthropist and community advocate
- Henry Katter: American soccer player
- John Katter: American football player
- Robert Katter, Jr.: American politician from Florida
- Robert Katter, Sr.: American politician from Virginia
- Stuart Katter: American golfer
- Norwayne Katter: former Olympic sprinter from Grenada
- Geoffrey Katter: American academic and author
- Mark Katter: American television producer and director