Surname Pallkötter - Meaning and Origin
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Pallkötter: What does the surname Pallkötter mean?
The last name Pallkötter is an occupational surname originating from Germany, denoting someone who would originally have worked as a tax collector ("Steuereinnehmer" in German). The surname is ultimately derived from the German terms "Pall," meaning tax, and "Kötter," a name derived from the verb "Koten," which means to collect.
As the name suggests, Pallkötter was a fairly common occupation in medieval Germany. Tax collectors were responsible for collecting taxes imposed upon the people of a particular region, usually in the form of goods or money. Despite the unpopularity of their profession, tax collectors were vital for the administration of the government, and ensured that the necessary funds were available to pay for military campaigns and other important services.
The Pallkötter surname was most common in the western Germany, particularly in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It is likely that people bearing this surname were part of the nobility, wealthy merchants, or officials. Today, it is believed that there are still individuals with the surname Pallkötter living throughout Germany. The name is still relatively common in North Rhine-Westphalia but is increasingly found in other regions of Germany as well.
Overall, the last name Pallkötter is a reminder of Germany's long and fascinating history, as well as of the important role of tax collectors in German society.
Order DNA origin analysisPallkötter: Where does the name Pallkötter come from?
The last name Pallkötter is most common in western Germany, particularly in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse.
Pallkötter is likely derived from the Old Germanic given name Pallkot or Palkot, meaning “bold ruler.” The name has been used in Germany since at least the 13th century. The surname Pallkötter has spread from its origins in western Germany to other parts of Europe due to population migration.
Currently, the highest concentrations of Pallkötter in Germany are in the cities of Oldenburg, Minden, Gütersloh, Bremen, and Lemgo. The last name is also common in countries such as Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Lesser concentrations of the name can be found in the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
In the United States, the earliest documented appearance of the last name Pallkötter was in 1854 in Indiana. As of 2020, the highest concentrations of Pallkötter were found in Minnesota, California, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Today, Pallkötter is still a widespread surname in many parts of western Europe and North America. It is likely that the name will continue to spread to other parts of the world due to population migration.
Variations of the surname Pallkötter
The Pallkötter surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variation of Pallkötter is Pallketter, but there are many other variations too such as:
-Pallkoetter
-Pallketter
-Pallköeter
-Pallkoeter
-Palköeter
-Palkötter
-Palketter
-Palketter
-Pollenkötter
-Polenköter
-Polenkötter
-Polkötte
-Polköter
-Polkötter
The Pallkötter surname originates from the Low German word "Pattkoet(t)er" which translates to "pat(-maker)". It is a nickname for a maker of wooden clogs.
The surname can be found in various countries as it travelled with immigrants through the centuries. Many branches of the Pallkötter family tree can be found in Germany, Netherlands, and the United States. During the mid-19th century the Pallkötter surname began to become more widespread, eventually reaching Canada, Portugal, England, and many other countries around the world.
Alphabetically speaking, some common spellings of the Pallkötter surname in Germany include Paleteller, Palme, and Palke. The surname could also be shortened to Pel or Pell to make it more manageable.
In the Netherlands, the surname could be very similar to the German variation, but it also could be found in spellings such as Peletier, Paletier, and Pelthier.
In Portugal, a few variations of the Pallkötter surname are Paleto, Palhoto, and Palheta.
In England, the surname may be found as Pelter or Pelterhell.
For those who wish to explore the origins of the Pallkötter surname further, there is a great deal of research available on various genealogy sites, family history databases, and other genealogical records.
Famous people with the name Pallkötter
- Holger Pallkötter: a German musician who is a member of the musical group Die Fantastischen Vier and is known for his jazz and funk style of playing.
- Ulrich Pallkötter: a German ornithologist who specializes in the research and conservation of birds in Central Europe.
- Felix Pallkötter: a German professor of medicine, lecturer, and author in the field of neurology and psychology.
- Wilfried Pallkötter: a German journalist and editor who wrote for the publication Neue Westfälische and was an editor-in-chief of Port magazine in Düren.
- Christine Pallkötter: a German social worker and politician who has been a member of the Christian Democratic Union since 1994 and is currently a member of the state parliament of Lower Saxony.
- Johannes Pallkötter: a German statistician and epidemiologist who has been working since the 1990s in the field of cancer epidemiology and is a professor at the Technical University of Munich.
- Peter Pallkötter: a German business consultant, former venture capitalist, and professor at the German Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business.
- Wilhelm Pallkötter: a German botanist and biogeographer who created one of the first detailed maps of plant geography in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.