Surname Dortmund - Meaning and Origin
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Dortmund: What does the surname Dortmund mean?
The last name Dortmund is of Germanic origin, indicating a place of origin in the region of Dortmund in the Westphalia region of Germany. The city of Dortmund was once a medieval imperial city and its name is derived from the words "thor" and "mund" which mean "thorn" and "mouth", respectively.
The surname Dortmund appears to have originated from the presence of a stream or brook, known as the Dorf-Mund, that ran through this area during the early 13th century. It is likely that those living near this brook eventually adopted Dortmund as a surname.
The popularity of this last name is largely due to the city of Dortmund's history and significance as a major hub of both industry and culture in the region for centuries, with the opening of the Dortmund-Ems Canal in the late 19th century making it an important river port for shipping and passenger transport.
Alternatively, the Dortmund surname could have derived from another source, such as the old German word “turt” which means guard or keeper. This could have been applied to someone who held a position such as guard or custodian for a certain area, and eventually their name became a part of the local vocabulary.
Whatever its origin, Dortmund remains a popular last name, most commonly found among those of German heritage, which is perhaps indicative of its strong roots in the region and its people who still take pride in it to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisDortmund: Where does the name Dortmund come from?
The last name Dortmund is most commonly found in Germany today. It is most concentrated in the Ruhr area in the northwest of the country, particularly in the cities of Dortmund and Iserlohn. Formerly it was primarily found in the Westphalia region of Germany. The words "Dor" and "Mund" form the base of the name Dortmund, which could mean a "door to the mouth" of a river or a "gateway to a mountain".
The Dortmund family name dates back to the 12th century, when a man named Thiadmannus de Dortmundo appears in a Latin document. From this point, the name spread throughout the surrounding area of Westphalia.
In modern times, thousands of people around the world bear the surname. It is estimated that in Germany alone, there are more than 30,000 people with the last name Dortmund. Additionally, it is assumed that the name is spread across the world with German emigrants over the last two hundred years, and there are likely people with the last name Dortmund in the United States, Canada, South America, and other countries with German communities.
The name Dortmund is associated with a variety of notable figures, from the Dortmund family of North Rhine-Westphalia, which was historically influential in the region, to a wide variety of footballers from Borussia Dortmund, the professional German football club.
Variations of the surname Dortmund
The surname Dortmund is of German origin and has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Dormund, Dörmund, Dormant, Dornant, Dormand, Dornond, Dormont, d'Ormond, d'Ormand, de D'Ormond, de D'Ormand, d'Otmond, d'Otmont, Donmond, Donmont, Doemond, Domeont, Dondond, Dontont and Dontand.
The spelling of Dormund is likely derived from the Germanic personal name Dudo, which means “leader”, which was often granted by a liege lord to someone who displayed strength and leadership qualities. ‘Dormund' is likely a variation of the German place name Dormund, located at the mouth of the Oder near Berlin.
The spelling of ‘Dörmund' is likely derived from a German corruption of the name ‘little fortress’, referring to a fortification near the original location. The surname Dormant is derived from a variation of the word ‘Dormunt’, which means ‘of the fortress’.
The spelling of ‘Dondond’ is likely derived from the Old French ‘don’ meaning ‘lord’, referring to a title of nobility conferred upon a leader.
The spelling of ‘Doemond’ is likely derived from a corruption of the French ‘d’or’, meaning ‘of gold’.
The spelling of ‘Donmont’ is likely derived from the Latin ‘dominus’, meaning ‘lord’.
The spelling of ‘Dontont’ is likely derived from the Germanic ‘dant’, meaning ‘journeyman’. This was a term used to refer to someone who had completed an apprenticeship and was an expert at their craft.
Famous people with the name Dortmund
- Philipp Hofmann: Professional Footballer for Borussia Dortmund
- Erik Durm: Professional Footballer for Huddersfield Town
- Sebastian Kehl: Management official for Borussia Dortmund
- Helene Fischer: German Pop-Singer
- Markus Anfang: Former manager for FC Köln
- Gideon Jung: Professional Footballer for Hamburger SV
- Roman Weidenfeller: Retired Professional Footballer for Borussia Dortmund
- Bansemir Dortmund: German Actor
- Reinhard Rauball: President of Borussia Dortmund
- Nuri Şahin: Professional Footballer for Werder Bremen