Surname Eichstätter - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Eichstätter: What does the surname Eichstätter mean?
The last name Eichstätter originated from a place in Bavaria, Germany, in the region of Lower Franconia known as Eichstätt. It is likely that at some point in time, one of the local inhabitants adopted the place name as their own family name.
The place name itself is believed to originate from the German term for a birch tree, “eiche”, along with the suffix “-stätte” or “-städter” meaning “city” or “settlement”. Put together, it literally means “birch-city” or “birch-settlement”, likely referring to a town with many birch trees.
Eichstätt is one of the oldest towns in Bavaria, first mentioned in an official document back in the year 806. While the exact reasons for this town being called Eichstätt remain unexplained, the surrounding area features many birch tree-lined fields, which could be the origin of the place name.
In modern day Germany, the last name Eichstätter is still a common one. However, it is also still in use as a place name in some parts of the Bavarian region. It carries a deep sense of history and tradition in its name, as it has been around for more than a millennia and is rooted in the German culture of the area. The last name Eichstätter continues to be associated with Germany, in the same way the memories of its landscapes, birch trees, and streets are associated with the people who call it home.
Order DNA origin analysisEichstätter: Where does the name Eichstätter come from?
The last name Eichstätter is often associated with modern-day Germany and Austria. Its origins can be traced back to the early Middle Ages in Bavaria as well as Bavaria’s neighbour's Thuringia. This name was likely adopted as a way of distinguishing an individual or family from those living in and around the same area.
Today, this last name is commonly seen throughout Germany, particularly among those living in Bavaria and the Palatinate and Swabia regions. It is also found in Austria, especially in Tyrol and Salzburg. It is worth noting also that the name is mainly found in rural areas. This may be because of the name’s affinity for rural farm households that persisted into the modern age.
Recorded in documents at least as far back as the early 17th century, records show that Eichstätter is also found in North America, largely among the descendants of immigrants from Germany and Austria. In the United States, the surname is often found among communities founded by German and Austrian immigration in places such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
That said, the last name Eichstätter remains most common today in areas associated with it from earlier times, namely, Germany, Austria, North America, and other regions where German or Austrian immigrants have settled.
Variations of the surname Eichstätter
The surname Eichstätter is sometimes spelled Eichstatter and Eichstetter. It is an occupational name which originates from the Bavarian city of Eichstätt and is derived from the German words eich, meaning ‘oak’, and stätt, meaning ‘settlement’. As such, Eichstätter was originally a name given to one of the people who lived in or near the city.
Variants and spellings of the surname include Eichstadt, Eichstadter, Eichstatt, Eichstetter, Eichsteider, Eichstädler, Ajchstader, Ajchstaedter, Aichstadt, Aichstadter, and Aichstatt. These forms are all derived from the same root, and so can all be considered as having the same origin as Eichstätter.
As with other German surnames, Eichstätter may also take the form of a patronymic with the addition of the suffix -s or -er. Forms of the surname with the -s or -er suffix, such as Eichstätters or Eichstätters, may indicate that the individual is descended from someone who was originally from the city of Eichstätt.
In terms of family coat of arms, there is a specific Eichstätter family crest. It features a black shield with two silver oak leaves, each with three acorns, symbolizing the source of the name and establishment from which it originates.
Overall, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames that have the same root origin as Eichstätter, though all have the same meaning and significance.
Famous people with the name Eichstätter
- Wolfgang Eichstätter, a World War II Wehrmacht Major General who commanded the German 36th Infantry Division
- Peter Eichstätter, a German actor
- Julius Eichstätter, a German composer
- Annemarie Eichstätter, a German radio journalist
- Bodo Eichstätter, a German computer scientist
- Kurt Eichstätter, a German-American judge
- Herbert Eichstätter, a German-American ophthalmologist
- Max Eichstätter, a German banker
- Otto Eichstätter, a German banker
- Erich Eichstätter, a German writer
- Wilhelm Eichstätter, a German bishop
- Johann Eichstätter, a German theologian
- Johannes Eichstätter, a German jurist
- Ulrich Eichstätter, a German bicycle racer
- Jakob Eichstätter, a German judge
- Philipp Eichstätter, a German historian and sociologist
- Hans Eichstätter, a German illustrator
- Andreas Eichstätter, a German composer
- Anton Eichstätter, a German mayor
- Johann Baptist Eichstätter, a German architect