Surname Kotes - Meaning and Origin
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Kotes: What does the surname Kotes mean?
The last name Kotes is an occupational surname. It is thought to have derived from the Old Slavonic word "kota," which translates to cage, or pen. Thus, the name is believed to be linked to someone who kept and sold animals, such as chickens and ducks, either to be bred or to be eaten. It is also possible that it was linked to someone who kept wild animals, such as birds of prey.
In some cases, Kotes might have been used as a nickname to refer to someone who kept a horse and coach, and was employed to drive and transport them. Some believe it could have been used to refer to someone who kept geese, as the name sounds similar to the Slavonic words for moss and gander.
Today, Kotes is an uncommon surname, but is still in use in certain parts of Europe, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as well as some areas of the United States such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Given its interesting history, Kotes is certainly an intriguing last name. It has a unique etymology, and hints at the lives of those who lived with it centuries ago. Whatever the exact meaning of the surname, it is certain that to its original owners it was a powerful symbol of their place in this world.
Order DNA origin analysisKotes: Where does the name Kotes come from?
The last name Kotes is primarily found in Eastern and Central Europe. It is most commonly found in the Ukrainian, Slovak, and Russian languages. In Ukraine and Slovakia, Kotes is the 25th most popular family name, and in Russia it is the 65th most popular surname. Other countries where this surname is found include Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Kotes is believed to be derived from the Ukrainian or Slavic word kot, which means “cat” in English. Some believe that the surname was given to those who either kept cats as pets or worked as pigeon catchers. It could also have been given to people with particular attributes such as agility, stealth, or a devious nature.
The variant spellings for Kotes include Kotez, Kotze, Kotz, Kota, and Kotas. People with this surname may find their ancestral roots in parts of Europe, and may have come from Germany or from Slavic countries.
Tracing the history of Kotes is difficult, as records are few and far between. Many branches of the family have migrated to different parts of the world, or changed their name due to immigration or marriage. Today, the Kotes surname is largely focused in countries such as Ukraine, Slovakia, and Russia, but can be found in other parts of Europe as well.
Variations of the surname Kotes
The surname Kotes is of Hebrew origin, meaning "Louis" or "from the shining land." Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Kotes, Kates, Kots, Kot, Cotes, Cates, Cots, Cot, Qotes, Qates, Qots, Qot, Khotes, Khates, Khots, KHot, Coteses, Catess, Cotses, Cotsess, Qoteses, Qotess, Khoteses, Khotess and probably more.
The spelling of the name Kotes is typically written and pronounced as Kotes, but language and dialect can change how it is spoken and spelled. In some cultures, it is common for a name to be changed or adopted from another language. For example, in French, the letter Q can be substituted for K. Therefore, the surname Kotes may be spelled as Qotes in certain places.
Surnames of similar origin to Kotes may also be found in Jewish, Dutch and Germanic cultures. The Dutch surnames of Van Koten and Van Kooten, and the German surname of Kotez are all derivatives of Kotes. Other surnames include Khot, Khotsche, Khotson, Kotser, Kotz and Kottes.
Despite the many spelling and regional variants of the name, the meaning remains the same: "from the shining land." The name is said to represent a new beginning, a fresh start, and the possibility for rebirth and a prosperous future.
Famous people with the name Kotes
- Murat Kotes: a Turkish journalist, author, and literary critic.
- Alexander Kotes: a renowned Russian film director and producer.
- Xavier Kotes: a Spanish sculptor, painter, and printmaker.
- John Kotes: an American politician from Texas.
- Gorazd Kotes: a Slovenian composer.
- Mizanur Rahman Kotes: a Bangladeshi language activist and researcher.
- Marin Kotes: a Croatian musician and composer.
- Aleksandar Kotes: a Macedonian-Australian obstetrician and gynecologist.
- Grandma Kotes: a character from the popular children's book series, Grandma Kotes' Tales.
- Tahir Kotes: a Turkish actor and producer.
- Vid Kotes: a Slovenian road cyclist.
- Rudi Kotes: a Canadian teacher and long-distance runner.
- Seshu Kotes: a prominent Indian judge.
- Walker Kotes: an American actor who is best known for his role in the television series Harper's Island.
- Iosif Kotes: a Moldovan singer, songwriter, and producer.