Surname Voigtland - Meaning and Origin
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Voigtland: What does the surname Voigtland mean?
The last name Voigtland is of German origin and is linked to the region of Voigtland, which lies in southern Saxony, in eastern Germany. The Voigtland region is at the border of the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge).
The name Voigtland is derived from the German word "voigt", which means "magistrate" or "justice". This term was used by settlers to distinguish the region from its surrounding areas as it was historically known for its fair and honest governance.
The surname Voigtland, then, likely originated as a descriptive term to indicate a person from the region and may have been adopted by a family originating in the region as their surname. It is a relatively rare surname, with a recorded population of about 89 individuals in Germany as of 2018.
The Voigtland surname is an interesting one because it serves as an indicator of a person’s history and heritage and connection to a certain region. It is a reminder of the importance of fair and honest governance in a region, and is a way to honour the people who have shaped it for many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisVoigtland: Where does the name Voigtland come from?
The last name Voigtland is most commonly found today in the eastern parts of Germany. It is generally an area stretching from the eastern coastline of the country all the way eastward toward the eastern borders of the Czech Republic and the former German Democratic Republic.
The name dates back to at least the 14th century, when families from the region would have started to adopt it. By the 17th century, the name had become widely spread throughout the east of the country.
Today, the largest concentration of people using the name Voigtland is in the states of Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Bavaria, Saxony, and Brandenburg in particular. The city of Berlin also has a sizable number of people bearing the name.
With the re-unification of Germany in 1990, some of the people using the name may have spread throughout the country. However, the vast majority of them remain in the east of Germany.
People carrying the name Voigtland are mostly of German origin. Some may also come from other parts of Europe and even further afield.
The most common meaning of the name is ‘forest land’. This comes from the German word Voigt, meaning ‘forest’, combined with the suffix ‘land’. So it is very likely that at least some of the people with the name are descended from families who were originally from or close to the forest.
Variations of the surname Voigtland
The surname Voigtland is of Germanic origin, meaning “protecting the people”. Variants of this name include Vogtland, Voightland, Foightland, Voightlend, Foightlend, Voegtland, and Feygtland. It may also be spelled Vogtland, and its phonetic spellings include Foygtland, Foygtland, and Voígtland.
Variations of the surname Voigtland include Voigt, Voigtländer, Vögtle, Vogtel, Vogtler, Foygte, Feygt, Voichtland, and Voightlander. These all come from the same ancestral root, and are common throughout Germany and the United States. Other spellings may also exist, as many names were altered by illiterate clerks writing down the name phonetically.
Voigtland is also the name of a region in Germany, derived from the surname. The area was originally populated by the Voight family, and their descendants became rulers of the area. The Voight family had close ties to the nobility in the region, and as such the region took their name.
Today, many people with the surname Voigtland, or one of its variants, can trace their ancestry to the German region of Voigtland. Some may still own land in the region, as the Voight family still owns much of the area today.
Famous people with the name Voigtland
- L.M. Voigtland: Early German process engineer, inventor, scientist, and author known for inventing the Voigtland process and for his pioneering work on turbine theory
- Martin Voigtland: German politician, representative of the Christian Democratic Union party, and mayor of East Berlin
- Fritz Voigtland: German World War II pilot, awarded the Knight's Cross for bravery
- Elli Voigtland: German artist and sculptor, one of the founders of the Berlin Secession art movement
- Maria-Anna Voigtland: Sister of L.M. Voigtland, notable philanthropist and founder of the Maria-Anna-Voigtland Foundation
- Eric Voigtland: American businessman, former CEO and Chairman of the New York Investment Bank J.P. Morgan & Co.
- Lulu Voigtland: German sculptor and ceramics artist, most known for her stone sculptures
- Maria Voigtland: Sister of Elli and L.M. Voigtland, notable socialite and successful businesswomen
- Emma Voigtland: Sister of L.M. Voigtland and wife of British Prime Minister Lord Harcourt
- Robert Voigtland: American chemist, credited as one of the fathers of modern organic chemistry