Surname Butterweck - Meaning and Origin

Butterweck: What does the surname Butterweck mean?

The last name Butterweck is of German origin and is a compound surname derived from two German elements. The first element, ‘butter’, refers to butter production and the second element, ‘weck’, means ‘bake’ or ‘baker.’ Therefore, the literal translation for the name Butterweck is "baker of butter."

Butterweck families may have come from Germany as far back as the 1400s. According to Basil Yamey’s book ‘The Rhineland Emigrants," some Butterweck families were among the first people to settle in Pennsylvania during the 1600s. As well as Pennsylvania, Butterweck families have lived in parts of the United States such as Ohio, Wisconsin and California.

Over the years, Butterweck families have been associated with a variety of occupations, including dairy farming, milling, and baking. As the literal translation for the name suggests, however, it is likely that many Butterweck families have a history of making and selling butter. The Butterweck name may also be found in some Italian records, where it is spelled ‘Battelli,’ meaning ‘little butter’ in Italian.

Today, the last name Butterweck is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, and Canada. Although it is not as popular as it once was, it can be found in some family trees and documents. As such, it can serve as a reminder of the rich and varied history of the Butterweck family.

Butterweck: Where does the name Butterweck come from?

The last name Butterweck is most commonly found in the German-speaking areas of western Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in the United States, especially in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In Germany, it is most prevalent in the eastern regions of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt as well as the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Within Germany, the surname has its highest density in the region of former East Germany. This might be because the name Butterweck originated there in the mid-1800s. The first known instance of the surname dates back to the mid-nineteenth century in a small town in the Magdeburg region of Saxony-Anhalt.

Rather than being derived from a given name, this surname is thought to have come from the German word 'butterweg', meaning 'butter path'. This refers to the transport route of a bigger trade route where traders could exchange butter for other goods.

This is a relatively common surname that is still present in a number of countries around the world today. It has spread beyond continental Europe and is likely to become even more widespread in the coming years.

Variations of the surname Butterweck

The surname Butterweck is of German/Prussian origin and is derived from a combination of the words “butter” and “weck”. It originated as a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the father’s given name: Butters, Butz, Butzin, or Butzau.

The most common variant of the Butterweck surname is Butterwick. Other variants are Buterweck, Butterveck, Buterwic, Butterbick, Butterbeck, Buterwech, Buttweck, Buterwick, Butterick, Buterwick, Butterwec, Budderwick, Butterswick, Budderswick, Buttersweck, Buttricks and Butterworth. There are also various Germanic and Dutch spellings, such as Buterwegge, Buttervek, Buttersweck, Butterwische, Buddorwick, and Buddervig.

Surnames of similar origin include Butterwick, Butterfield, Butters, Burt, Bittle, Budgell, Buder, Buttersbottom, Buttersby, Buttery, and Buttwill. All of these surnames are either derived from German place names or are patronymic in origin. All of these surnames can be traced back to Germany and Prussia and are variations on the same root name.

The Butterweck surname has a long and storied history in the German/Prussian region and is an excellent example of how surnames can evolve over time as they are passed down through generations. The various variants, spellings, and related surnames show how important it is to trace surnames to their original forms, in order to understand their true origins.

Famous people with the name Butterweck

• Karl Butterweck: German novelist.
• Frank Butterweck: German politician.
• Sasha Butterweck: American reality television personality.
• Erika Butterweck: German game developer.
• Jan-Dirk Butterweck: German sculptor.
• Julia Butterweck: German entrepreneur.
• Heike Butterweck: German actress.
• Katja Butterweck: German geophysicist.
• Eva Butterweck: German athletics champion and Olympic medalist.
• Anton Butterweck: German Nobel Prize-winning author.
• Wilma Butterweck: German ballet dancer.
• Hermann Butterweck: German opera singer.
• Steven Butterweck: American educator and football coach.
• Alan Butterweck: American politician and attorney.
• Richard Butterweck: German film director and documentarian.
• Robin Butterweck: American Grammy-nominated songwriter.
• Christine Butterweck: German visual artist.
• Joseph Butterweck: Austrian author and playwright.
• Jason Butterweck: American professional wrestler.
• Jacob Butterweck: German professor and physicist.

Other surnames

ButterwegButterwegge