Surname Kolterer - Meaning and Origin
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Kolterer: What does the surname Kolterer mean?
The last name Kolterer is of German origin and is a toponymic surname. It is derived from the word "Kolter", meaning "coal burner" or "coal miner". It is likely derived from a mountain near the village where the family lived with coal deposits. Historical records show that this surname was first found in Bavaria, Germany in the1500s.
People bearing the Kolterer surname typically come from from the Rhineland Palatinate and Bavaria regions of Germany. The earliest forms of the name are shown in documents dating to the 1500s, but the use of the name had spread to many other parts of Europe by the 17th century.
The Kolterer family name has been closely associated with mining and industrial endeavors in Germany since the 1500s. Over the years, many branches of the family have relocated around Europe, taking advantage of the industrial advances that have been made. The name has become embedded with the family's strong ties to the industrial world.
The Kolterers were highly literate and achieved a high level of scholastic recognition in their respective homelands. Notable Kolterers that made contributions to science, literature, and technology include Johannes Valentin Kolterer, a powerful Bavarian Baroque playwright in the early 16th century, and Thomas Kolterer, a 19th century Bavarian scientist and inventor whose contributions to mathematics, astronomical research, and mechanics propelled him to prominence.
Today, the Kolterer ancestry and heritage remains an important bond amongst the family's extended branches in Europe and other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKolterer: Where does the name Kolterer come from?
The last name Kolterer is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It originates from the German phrase "Kolter," which means "farmer." Kolterer is an occupational surname and was initially given to farmers in medieval Germany and Austria.
In Germany, the most common areas for Kolterer are Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Examples of cities that have a higher than average Kolterer population include Munich, Stuttgart, Köln, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hamburg. In Austria, the high concentration of Kolterers is found in Vienna and the rest of the eastern regions of the country.
Overall, the population of Kolterers is quite small. According to the 2010 census, there were only 741 Kolterer households in Germany and just over 1,000 in Austria. The majority of them are still located in the same areas where the surname originated centuries ago.
Given its small size, it is not a particularly well-known surname internationally. Individuals with this surname mostly originated from their home countries and moved away to other parts of the world. Still, the possibility exists that some Kolterers can be found in other countries, either through migration or intermarriage.
Variations of the surname Kolterer
The surname Kolterer is derived from the Middle High German word "kolter" meaning "sledgehammer or mallet". Variations of this surname include Költerer, Költner, Köldener, Kohldener, Kälterer, Keller, Kohldener, and Kohlder.
In the United States, variations of this surname are often found spelled in the anglicized form of Koldner, though the original German spelling of the surname is Költner. This variation of Kolterer is the most common form of the name found in the United States today.
In Germany, the main variation of the Kolterer surname is Költerer, and this spelling can be found in the well-known German phone book. However, different spelling variants of the name can be found in other areas such as Northern Germany, where Köldener or Kohldener is used.
In the Netherlands, Kohlder or Koldderen is the variant of Kolterer. In Poland and Slovakia, the surname is often spelled Koltar or Koltera. In Austria, Kälterer is the variant of the surname, while in Hungary, the surname is spelled Kolter or Kolther.
In Scotland, the variation of Kolterer is Kealter, while in England, the variation of the name is Koelter or Kooler. In the Czech Republic, the variant of the name is Kolter, in Slovenia the variant is Kolterar, while in Italy, the variant of the surname is Coltere, and in France, Koltair or Colter is the variation of the Kolterer surname.
Overall, Kolterer is a surname of Germanic origin with many different spelling variations found throughout Europe and the United States.
Famous people with the name Kolterer
- Richard Kolterer: Former Member of the Parliament of Germany (from 1977–1989), and President of the German Ski Association (1981–2004).
- Paul Kolterer: Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1912.
- Frank Kolterer: Former Icelandic football (soccer) player and international coach, who competed in three Olympic Games between 1948 and 1960 and earned three medals.
- Wolfgang Kolterer: German Olympic swimmer who won a bronze medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the 4 x 100 medley relay.
- Anthony Kolterer: American mixed martial artist and former Heavyweight Champion of the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) organization.
- Anna Kolterer: Austrian voice actress and opera singer.
- Karl Kolterer: Austrian composer and choir director.
- Rudolf Kolterer: Austrian mathematician and physicist, known for his research in electromagnetism.
- Emmy Kolterer: Austrian artist and ceramicist, known for her whimsical and colorful works.
- Markus Kolterer: Retired Austrian World Cup alpine ski racer.
- Dani Kolterer: Austrian footballer who plays for BSC Young Boys.
- Katrin Kolterer: Austrian television, theatre and film actress.
- Toni Kolterer: Austrian born singer, who now performs mainly in Germany.
- Robert Kolterer: Austrian lawyer and Chairman of the Raiffeisen Bank.
- Myriam Kolterer: Belgian Paralympic swimmer, specializing in short and long distance races.