Surname Diether - Meaning and Origin
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Diether: What does the surname Diether mean?
The last name Diether is of German origin. The root of the name was "Theoder," a German form of the name "Theodosius," which is derived from the Greek words "theos" meaning "god," and "dōsios" meaning "worthy." Diether, therefore, roughly translates to "a godly person."
In the Middle Ages, the name Diether was popular among aristocratic classes in Germany, mainly because its meaning reflected the popularity of Christianity in northern and central Europe. During the 19th century, the name also became more common among farmers because it was a surname indicating a good and noble pedigree.
Throughout history, people bearing the Diether surname have held influential positions. For example, Heinrich Diether was a general in the Prussian Army, and Wolfgang Diether was a master of several music instruments.
Today, the surname Diether is primarily associated with noble and religious sentiments and is still common in Germany and nearby countries. It is also not uncommon in the United States, particularly in German immigrant families. In general, people who bear the surname Diether are thought to be spiritual, noble, and accomplished.
Order DNA origin analysisDiether: Where does the name Diether come from?
The last name Diether is most common in German-speaking countries, with a majority of those bearing the last name living either in Germany or Austria. Today it is estimated that there are approximately 12,500 people who share this last name. The highest concentrations of the name are found in areas such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Germany, and in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Diether is also present in France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Belgium.
In the United States, the name is most common in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New York. These states have historically had the highest rate of immigration from German-speaking countries and thus tend to have the highest concentrations of the name. It is estimated that there are around 1,000 people living in the United States who carry the last name Diether.
In general, the surname has been present in Europe since at least the early 1700s. An individual bearing the surname Diether is likely to have German-speaking relatives from the region. As with many German surnames, it is derived from the given name Diether. Diether was a popular German name during medieval times and is a combination of 'diet', meaning 'people', and 'her', meaning 'army'.
Variations of the surname Diether
The surname Diether can trace its origins back to Germanic languages and has various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin.
One of the main variants of the surname Diether is the German spelling “Dieter” with the “t” replacing the “th” making the pronunciation slightly different. Alternative spellings can include “Dieder”, “Diedrich”, “Didderich”, and “Dietrich”.
In America the spelling and pronunciation has been simplified in some cases to "Ditcher", "Dietz", "Dits", "Ditts" and "Dittrich".
Surnames that share the same origin include "Detter", "Deder", "Deders", "Diemer", "Dieters", "Ditters", "Dittersen", "Detyer".
Other related names include “Diedrichs” and “Dedrichs” which have become used as more common etymological variants as they were less prone to the variation in spelling which was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to the lack of formalized orthography.
All of the variants and spellings of the surname Diether are believed to trace back to the word “diutisc”, which is the German word for Germanic, and is most commonly used to describe German-speaking people and cultures. As such, it is believed that the surname originated as an occupational name for someone who was German by descent.
Famous people with the name Diether
- Kurt Diether (1945–2009) was a German American sculptor and professor.
- Walter Diether (1909–2006) was an Austrian-born American engineer, professor and aerospace executive.
- Erwin Diether (1921–2004) was an Austrian-born American leading cellist with the New York Philharmonic.
- August Diether (1914–2006) was a German-born American artist and illustrator.
- George Diether (1913–1994) was a German-American Civil Engineer who specialized in coastal engineering and hydraulics.
- Mona Diether (1911–1993) was a German-American Olympic Swimmer.
- Eduard Diether (1847–1919) was a German illustrator and painter renowned for his landscape and animal paintings.
- Hans Diether (1857–1928) was a German zoologist and herpetologist.
- Jonas Diether (1926–2010) was a German-American architect and urban planner who had an influence in the architectural boom that happened after the World War II.
- Heinrich Diether (1896–1980) was a German sculptor and professor who worked in the Art Nouveau style.