Surname Rothvoss - Meaning and Origin
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Rothvoss: What does the surname Rothvoss mean?
Rothvoss is a German surname derived from the Old High German word “Hrodafuns”, which translates roughly to “fame-wolf”. It can be broken down further into two elements - “hrod”, meaning glory or fame, and “afuns” a derivative of “vulf”, the word for wolf. The meaning of the name, then, is essentially “famous wolf”.
Rothvoss is likely associated with an ancestral figure or a noble family from whom the name was derived. In times long past, German families gave their children surnames to honour the achievements of previous generations or to reflect their affiliations to certain qualities, traditions, and pastimes. Thus, the name Rothvoss might honour the strength, power, and bravery of an ancestral wolf figure; or, it could be a reference to a particular family’s connections to wolf-hunting.
Interestingly, Rothvoss is related to the names Rothenberg and Rothenburg. Both of these surnames are derived from the words “hrod” and “berg/burg” which translates literally to “fame mountain”. Likewise, the surnames Hoffmann and Houseman refer to “fame man” and “fame house” respectively.
Overall, the Rothvoss surname allows its bearer to feel a rootedness in their German ancestral line and to take pride in their ancestors’ strength, power, and bravery. It is possible that the bearer of this proud name is related to a noble and honourable line of individuals who bravely faced the challenges of their time and inspired others to greatness.
Order DNA origin analysisRothvoss: Where does the name Rothvoss come from?
The last name Rothvoss is primarily found in Germany and in countries of German origin. It is also found in the United States, where it has been used as a surname for almost 200 years. The earliest known records of Rothvoss immigrants in the United States date back to the mid-1800s, when they settled in several states including New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. Over the years, however, their numbers have grown throughout the country.
Today, the last name Rothvoss is most common in New Jersey, where 15% of all residents with the surname live. Other states with a large concentration of the surname are Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York. Nearly 50% of all people with the Rothvoss surname in the United States are of German descent.
There are several variations of the Rothvoss name in German-speaking countries, including Rothof, Rothhoff, Rothfuß, and Rotthoff. As a result, some current holders of the surname may not be directly related to one another, although they may still share German ancestry. Because the surname has been popular in the United States for almost two centuries, it is likely to continue to be found among German-Americans for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Rothvoss
The surname Rothvoss is a German patronymic surname meaning “son of Roth.” It is also spelled Rothvoss, Rothvos, Rothvossen, Rothvoß, and Rothvoßen. Variants of Rothvoss include Rotvos, Rotvos, Rotvosen, Rotvoß, and Rotvoßen.
Surnames of the same origin include Rotvig, Rothfuss, Rodfuss, Rotvig, Rodvig, Rothveg, Rodveg, Roth Vogel, and Rotvig. Common nicknames for Rothvoss include Rot, Roth, Roty, Rottie, Rott, Rossi, Rosse, Rosi, Rothi, Rothen, Rotz, Rothchen, Rothmann, Rothweiler, and Rotter.
In addition to areas of Germany, the Rothvoss surname is found in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United States, and Canada. Many of these countries have changed the spelling to Rothfuss or Rotvig.
The Rothvoss surname has been documented in German church and civil records since at least the 16th century. In the early 1700s, the Rothvoss family of Magdeburg, Germany adopted the name ‘voss’ which means ‘fox’ in German. In the 19th century, a branch of the family emigrated to the United States and changed the spelling of their name to Rothvoss.
The Rothvoss surname is still common today in Europe and North America. It continues to be an important part of a family's history and identity.
Famous people with the name Rothvoss
- Christian Rothvoss: German photographer from Lübbenau, Germany who has gained notoriety for his photographs of abandoned buildings.
- Tobias Rothvoss: an American painter, actor, and producer. He is best known for his role in the feature film One Night Only and for his art installations, which often promote environmental and social justice causes.
- Armin Rothvoss: German architect and urban designer who designed and oversaw numerous projects in Berlin, including the Berlin International Airport and the BMW Headquarters.
- Karl Friedrich Rothvoss: German naturalist and explorer who was credited with establishing the first German scientific research station in Svalbard, Norway, in the late 19th century.
- Ursula Rothvoss: German ballerina and member of the Hamburg Ballet who gained international recognition for her performances in productions of Choreoscope and Swan Lake.
- Hans Rothvoss: German-born actor and singer who appeared in the Broadway productions of Cabaret and Beauty and the Beast, and earned an Emmy nomination for his work in the television series, Fingers.
- Margot Rothvoss: German physicist and astronaut who became the first woman to reach the moon, and was the first person to walk on its surface, in 1972.
- Dieter Rothvoss: German classical historian and author whose works include A History of Ancient Rome and The Roman Empire.
- Irene Rothvoss: German figure skater and five-time Olympian who competed at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 and is famous for her trademark jump, the Triple-Lutz.
- Ernst Rothvoss: German World War 1 hero who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his heroic actions in the Battle of Passchendaele.