Gotwaldt

Gotwaldt is a surname of German origin. It is generally regarded as a variant of Gottwaldt or Gottwald, names in the Germanic tradition that are typically linked to elements associated with God and a second element whose exact meaning varies by source. The spelling with a double-t ending reflects historical orthography and regional pronunciation, and several unrelated families may have converged on this form through phonetic similarity or clerical standardization.

In terms of distribution, Gotwaldt is most commonly found in Germany and among descendants of German-speaking communities in North America. Like many Germanic surnames, it has produced several orthographic variants in immigration records and civil registries, including Gottwaldt, Gottwald, and Gotwald, depending on the era and location of registration.

Because Gotwaldt is a family name, it does not denote a specific place, organization, or event in its own right, though it may appear in historical documents related to individuals who bore it. For researchers, standard references in onomastics and genealogical databases can provide guidance on regional origins, variant spellings, and migration patterns.

See also Gottwald, Gottwaldt, Gotwald.