Surname Gutkauf - Meaning and Origin
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Gutkauf: What does the surname Gutkauf mean?
The last name Gutkauf is of German origin, coming from the adjective “gut kaufen,” meaning “to buy well.” It is used to signify a person who is good at finding bargains or purchasing items at a good price.
The surname itself first appeared in records in Germany during the late 16th century and has remained a common surname in the region ever since. There are numerous variant forms of the name, including Gutkow, Gutkeuf, Gutkeuff, and Gutkaus.
Over the centuries, the surname has gained popularity throughout the German diaspora. It can now be found in places like the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Today, Gutkauf is primarily a family name. Many people with the surname bear the same name as distant family members.
Although the meaning of the surname has a long and interesting history, it is primarily a reminder of an individual’s great ability to find good deals and purchase items at inexpensive prices. Those that bear the surname can take pride in being part of a larger group of people who have a knack for finding excellent bargains.
Order DNA origin analysisGutkauf: Where does the name Gutkauf come from?
The last name Gutkauf is of German origin, traceable back to the area of Prussia. Today the name is most commonly found in Germany and the surrounding countries. It appears in records from at least the 16th century and the first known record of the name was from 1646 in Brandenburg, Germany when one Brand Hermann Gutkauff was baptized.
Since the 1600s, the name has spread throughout Germany and Central Europe in areas such as Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Later on, the name would make its way around the world with German emigration. According to the 2019 German Surname Atlas, Gutkauf is the 195th most common surnames in Germany with an estimated 60,000 people in Germany bearing the name.
In the United States, the name is much rarer outside of those with German heritage. The name appears on the US Census of 1910 but mainly in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York. According to the 2019 US Census, only 144 people in the US have the name Gutkauf, with the largest concentrations in Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, and India on the East Coast.
As for the rest of the world, it appears the name Gutkauf is mostly found in Germany, Central European countries, and is mainly concentrated on the East Coast of the United States.
Variations of the surname Gutkauf
The surname Gutkauf is generally thought to originate from the German region of Silesia and is mainly found there today. It is a relatively uncommon surname, with only about 273 people worldwide bearing the name, according to WorldNames publicProfiler.
Variants of the surname spellings include Guttkauf, Guttkoff, Guttkoph, Gutkeuf, Gutkauff, and Gutkopf. The variants can be found in records both before and after the 19th century standardization of German spelling.
There are also many variants of the surname within the Silesian region that may point to localized variations of the name over time. Notable variants include Gudekaf, Gutkoff, Gadekauf, and Gadkouf.
The surnames that may be related to Gutkauf are Gothkauf, Gudzkauf, and Goffkauf. This may indicate another region of origin or simply a transcribing error during record-keeping at some point. There may also be a link between the surname Gutkauf and the surname Gudak, although this is less likely.
Overall, it appears that the surname Gutkauf is relatively uncommon, with few variants and potentially related surnames existing. Nevertheless, the variations in the spelling of the surname point to its Silesian origin, and the numerous regional variants demonstrate the possible localized variations of the name over time.
Famous people with the name Gutkauf
- Annika Gutkauf: an actress from Germany who has appeared in productions such as 'Game of Silence' and 'Tatort'.
- Richard Gutkauf: a former ice hockey goaltender from Germany. He played professionally for EC Kassel Huskies and several other teams throughout his career.
- Carlos Gutkauf: a Brazilian actor who has appeared in television shows such as 'Malhacao' and 'Mister Brau'.
- Wilhelm Gutkauf: a German botanist who was best known for his work on the taxonomy of Galega officinalis.
- Arno Gutkauf: a German footballer who played in the 1950s for various clubs, primarily Gütersloh.
- Raymund Gutkauf: an Austrian painter who gained notoriety for his vibrant artwork. He was also a professor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.
- Marius Gutkauf: a German aeronaut who in 1909, became the first man to launch himself into the air from a floating balloon.
- Ottomar Gutkauf: a German cyclist who won a gold medal at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Oswald Gutkauf: a German banker who worked at the Deutsche Bank before the Second World War.
- Karl Gutkauf: a German theologian of the Protestant Church, who wrote and published many works and essays.