Surname Rotermundt - Meaning and Origin

Rotermundt: What does the surname Rotermundt mean?

Rotermundt is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German terms rot and mund meaning "red mouth". The name is likely a reference to a personal characteristic of a family ancestor, such as a person with red lips or a fiery temper.

Alternately, it could stem from the Middle High German rote, which means "wheel" and range meaning "region". This implies that someone in the family came from a certain area and this was taken as their last name.

The name can be found mainly in modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and the Netherlands. Centuries ago, it could be traced to Dithmarschen, Schwansen, Eckernförde, and Flensburg, located in what was then part of Holstein. The Rotermundt family name is believed to have migrated to the Rhineland from these areas before the 1800s.

The surname has been found in a variety of spellings in historical records, including Rothermund, Rothermundt, Roter Mund, Rottermund, Rotermund, and Rottermant. Over time, the spelling has evolved into one that is easier to pronounce and recognize.

Today, the Rotermundt surname is found in many places across the world, primarily in Europe, although there are some members of the family found elsewhere as well. It is a reminder of German heritage and indicates the strength of its long-held traditions.

Rotermundt: Where does the name Rotermundt come from?

The last name Rotermundt is a fairly rare surname in the modern day. However, it appears to be more commonly found in Germany, with occurrences in the United States of America, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom being relatively scarce.

In Germany, the name has been in use since at least the mid-1700s, and appears in connection with noble families of the Prussian provinces such as Westphalia and Silesia. One such family, with the name Rotermundt, is documented as having property and houses in Westphalia during the latter half of the 1700s.

In more recent years, the name is still actively used in Germany, although in much smaller numbers than its original heyday. It is most commonly found in the west of the country, in states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, but can also occasionally be seen in the south and southwest of the country, in areas such as Baden-Württemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Bavaria.

Outside of Germany, the last name Rotermundt is much rarer. In the United States of America, it is extremely scarce and is more or less concentrated to states such as New York, California, and Ohio. One theory as to why this is the case is that, prior to World War II, the vast majority of those with the name moved to Germany or another European country. The same can be said for France and the United Kingdom.

Although it is not necessary the most common name, the last name Rotermundt still continues to be used to this day in both Germany and elsewhere around the world.

Variations of the surname Rotermundt

The surname Rotermundt is of German origin, and is derived from the Middle High German root rot, meaning “red” and mund, meaning “protection”. The earliest known recorded spelling of the name is Rotmultipl, which dates back to 1254.

Variants and alternate spellings of Rotermundt include Rotermel, Rothmeldt, Rothel, Rothmoel, Rothmeld, and Rottemel. This surname is also found in other countries, such as Austria, with similar forms such as Roteml and Rotmael.

The name has also seen variant spellings, making it harder to trace one’s ancestors: Rottman, Rothemel, Rothmel, Rothmeller, Rotemann, Rotemel, Rothmaier, Rottemel, Rothmayer, Rothmuller, and Rotermuller.

The Rotermundt surname is also found under various surnames of foreign origin. In Austria, the name has appeared as Rotmeel, Rotmeiel, Rotmeil, and Rotmöl. In Holland it became van Rotmelt. In England it appears as Rutmeier, and in France, it became Rothel.

It is believed that Rotermundt is a patronymic name, meaning “son of Rotermundt”, and there are many different identified families of the same name from various geographical locations. Among them are the Rotermundts of Krefeld, Kaldenkirchen, and Uedem in the German regions of Nordrhein-Westfalen and Niedersachsen.

Despite its relative obscurity, the name remains in use, with approximately 300 active surnames in Germany and around the world today. It is possible that even more variants of this surname still exist, and that others may emerge with further research.

Famous people with the name Rotermundt

• Gert Rotermundt: German cinematographer and documentary filmmaker
• Bart Rotermundt: Dutch musicologist and professor of speech and communication
• Melchior Rotermundt: German sculptor
• Lucas Rotermundt: German architect and draftsman
• Reinhard Rotermundt: German composer and lyricist
• Johann Rotermundt: German jurist and jurisprudent
• Mark Rotermundt: German historian and Indie comics writer
• Moritz Rotermundt: German philosopher and playwright
• Amalia Rotermundt: German-Jewish literary figure and early promoter of equality
• Friedrich Rotermundt: German writer, translator, and publisher
• Michael Rotermundt: German composer, conductor, and pedagogue
• Carl Rotermundt: German organist and early innovator in church music
• Johannes Rotermundt: German theologian and leader in the early Reformed Church
• Henning Rotermundt: German politician and representative in the Social Democratic Party of Germany
• Johan Rotermundt: Dutch art dealer, collector, and owner of the Rotermundt Auction House in Amsterdam
• Andreas Rotermundt: German painter and draughtsman
• Nicolaas Rotermundt: Dutch poet and typographer
• Elizabeth Rotermundt: German-American opera singer and lecturer
• Luca Rotermundt: German conductor and composer
• Laura Rotermundt: German-American cabaret singer and actress

Other surnames

Rotermund