Surname Rothemund - Meaning and Origin

Rothemund: What does the surname Rothemund mean?

The last name Rothemund is of German origin but its definitive meaning is unclear as it's not a common surname, nor it's clearly derived from German words. Like many surnames, Rothemund might have derived from a geographic location, an ancestor's occupation, or a personal characteristic. In terms of geographical locations, it may be related to the name Roth, a common place name in Germany, where 'roth' can mean 'clearing' and 'mund' could mean 'protection' or 'hand'. Therefore, it's possible that Rothemund may mean someone who originated from a clearing and provided protection. However, without specific historical or etymological data linked to this surname, any determination of its meaning would be largely speculative. It's also important to note that meanings of surnames can widely differ based on dialects, region, and historical context. It would require a comprehensive genealogical investigation to definitively pinpoint the meaning and origin of the surname Rothemund.

Rothemund: Where does the name Rothemund come from?

The last name Rothemund is most commonly found in Germany. The ancient German region of Upper Franconia, which is located in the state of Bavaria, is home to a large percentage of people with the Rothemund surname. People with that name also live throughout Germany, including in Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dusseldorf and Munich.

The Rothemund surname has spread to other countries as people with the name have immigrated and settled elsewhere. Those with the Rothemund name can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, among other places.

In Germany, the Rothemund surname is derived from the Old High German word rot meaning "red" and mund referring to "protection". This is believed to refer to a reddish-brown hair colour or hair colour associated with protection. People with the Rothemund surname are believed to be descended from the nobility of medieval Bavaria. In the modern day, there are a few notable people with the Rothemund name, including actor and filmmaker Robert Rothemund, who is known for his work on films like 2002's "Spellbound" and 2017's "Arrowhead", and historian and professor Dr. Richard Rothemund, who is noted for his books on German history.

Variations of the surname Rothemund

The surname Rothemund is of German origin. The variants of Rothemund include Rottemand, Rottemann, Rottemundt, Rotman, Rotmann, Rotmant, Rotmon, Rotmoy, Rotmyr, Rotmuld, Rotmund, Rotmundt, Rothman, Rothmann, Rothmant, Rothmur, Rothmum, Rothmund, Rotemann, and Rotemund.

The surnames derived from the spelling Rothemund have an established origin in several German-speaking countries like Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Additionally, the Rothemund surname is popular in countries like Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary.

Rothemund is most likely derived from the given name Rothmund, which is an Old German name composed of two elements. The first part, "roth", is an old German word that means “red”, and the second part, "mund", is an old German word that means “protection”or “executioner”. Put together, the name may be translated as “red protection”, “red defender”, or “red executioner”. Alternative meanings of the surname could be derived from a combination of the German word for road, “rot”, and the German word for “safety”.

There are many variant spellings of Rothemund that can be found in genealogical records. One common variant is Rottemund, where the letter 'h' has been replaced with a double 't'. This variant can also be found in records with a slight spelling change to Rotemund. Other possibility is Rottemann, which incorporates the Old German given name form Rotmund. The modern German spelling Rotemann is also derived from this variant.

No matter the spelling variant, these surnames all derived from the same root of Rothmund and share a common meaning of “red protection”.

Famous people with the name Rothemund

• Robert Rothemund: German film director, best known for his Academy-Award nominated movie, Das Leben der Anderen.
• Fritz Rothemund: Nobel Prize-winning German chemist primarily known for his pioneering work and research in the fields of organic chemistry and biochemistry.
• Georg Rothemund: German classical philologist who is best known for his works on Pre-Plotinian Jewish and Christian authors.
• Paul Rothemund: Computational molecular biologist and chemist from California Institute of Technology, known for his work on DNA folding.
• Rothemund Pate: American mathematician and computer scientist specializing in computational geometry and data structures.
• Thomas Rothemund: German actor with over twenty-five film, television, and stage credits, most notably playing the lead roles in the 2006 romantic comedy "Vier Minuten".
• Christiane Rothemund: German actress who has appeared in films such as "Hilde" (1995) and "Paradise Mall" (2007).
• Johannes Rothemund: German architect who is best known for his work on the Reformed Church in Gresenhaim.
• Manfred Rothemund: German painter and graphic artist who is renowned for his watercolor paintings of the Alps.
• Gustav Rothemund: German astronomer and astrophysicist who is best known for his works on spectroscopy and astrophysics.

Other surnames

Rothemundt