Surname Rothwein - Meaning and Origin
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Rothwein: What does the surname Rothwein mean?
The last name Rothwein is thought to have originated from Germany. It is believed to derive from the Old German term ‘rothwine’ which literally translates to ‘red wine’. It is also thought that the term could have been derived from the combination of two words ‘roth’, which means ‘red’ and ‘wein’, which means ‘wine’. Alternatively, the term could have also derived from other Old German words such as ‘rot’, meaning ‘red’, and ‘wein’, meaning ‘meadow’. Thus, the meaning of the name could be interpreted to mean ‘red meadow’.
Regardless of its exact origin, the last name Rothwein is most common among Jewish families and is found throughout Germany, Central Europe and North America. It is considered to be a rather rare surname, with its highest concentration being found in Austria and Germany.
The earliest reference to the name Rothwein dates back to the early 16th century in the German town of Fulda. In 1565, one of the earliest Rohtwains to appear in German records was a Mathias Rothwein from Fulda.
The last name Rothwein is most commonly associated with those of Jewish decent. However, the origin of the term could actually have multiple interpretations and meanings, representing an array of cultural heritages.
Order DNA origin analysisRothwein: Where does the name Rothwein come from?
Rothwein is a German surname most often found in the western German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse, though there are some occurrences of the name in other parts of Germany as well. It is also common in some areas of Switzerland, and there are some instances of the name occurring in Austria and other parts of continental Europe. The name is relatively uncommon in the United States and Canada, though there are some occurrences of the name in both countries. Beyond these locations, Rothwein is not particularly common anywhere else in the world.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rothwein name is most often concentrated around the cities of Oberhausen, Mühlheim an der Ruhr, Düsseldorf, and Grevenbroich. In Hesse, the name is most commonly found around Frankfurt am Main, but can also be found in other parts of the state, such as Kassel, Offenbach, Wiesbaden, and surrounding areas.
In Switzerland, the name is common in the areas around the cities of Basel, Bern, Lucerne, and Lausanne. In Austria, the name can be found mainly in the country's western and northwestern regions, particularly near the cities of Innsbruck and Salzburg.
Overall, the prevalence of the Rothwein name is most predominant in western parts of Germany and in the western parts of neighboring countries. However, there are a few additional occurrences of the Rothwein surname in other parts of Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Rothwein
The variants of the surname Rothwein include Roethwein, Rothenwein, Rothwine, Rothbain, Rothbein, and Rathbain. The additional spellings Rothwein and Rotwein are also sometimes found.
All of these surnames are derived from the surname Rothwein, and they are all largely associated with individuals of German descent. The surname is most likely derived from the German word “rot” which means “red” and the word “wein” which means “wine”. Therefore, Rothwein is a descriptive name that likely referred to a vintner who made red wine.
Rothwein is also sometimes spelled Rotherwein and Rotherwine, which may be derived from an older form of German, Middle High German, and has the same origin as Rothwein. The surname Ruprecht may also be a variant of Rothwein, as it is derived from the same German words.
The surname Rothwein is also found in many other languages and cultures. For example, in Dutch it is spelled Roodewijn. The Polish version is Rudwin and the Czech name is Rotvin. In Jewish tradition, European Jews often adopted a particular Yiddish spelling, such as Rotwein or Rotran.
Overall, Rothwein is a German surname that can take many forms and variations depending on the culture or language of the individual it is associated with.
Famous people with the name Rothwein
- Stephen Rothwein: American film, television and voice-over actor
- John Rothwein: Entrepreneur and liberalism advocate
- Karl Rothwein: Swiss Roman Catholic priest and prelate
- Robert Rothwein: American entomologist and artist
- Arnold Rothwein: Canadian professional hockey referee
- Amadeus Rothwein: German composer
- Mark Rothwein: Olympic weightlifting champion
- Gretchen Rothwein: American tattoo artist
- David Rothwein: American poet
- Rodolfo Rothwein: Argentine physician and chemist