Surname Plattfuß - Meaning and Origin

Plattfuß: What does the surname Plattfuß mean?

Plattfuß is a German surname literally meaning 'flatfoot'. It was most likely a nickname for someone who had flat feet or who walked with a pronounced flat footed gait. It might also refer to someone who was particularly clumsy, as flat feet are associated with an awkward shuffle. Historically, it is thought to have derived from the Latin word 'platypodes', which means 'flap footed'.

The surname first appears in the 1300s and is more common in northern Germany, though it can be found throughout the country. As opposed to a surname like Schmidt (smith) which was given for performing a common profession, Plattfuß is not likely to indicate a particular profession.

In addition to being quite an uncommon name, Plattfuß is also one of the fewer surnames to include diacritical marks, further distinguishing it from other common surnames. As a result, it is rarely found in databases and genealogy records may misspell or leave out the diacritical marks.

Plattfuß has been around for several centuries and remains fairly uncommon, making it a distinctive and recognizable surname. For those with family relations to the name, searching through records, both modern and old, is necessary to trace its origins and uncover its history.

Plattfuß: Where does the name Plattfuß come from?

The last name Plattfuß is generally thought to originate in Germany. It is generally a very common name, being the 27th most common name in Germany in 1990 (when it was spelled Plattfuße). However, since then, its popularity appears to have declined somewhat as it is now the 234th most common surname in Germany according to 2019 census data.

The Plattfuß family can be found throughout Germany, particularly in the south and east of the country. For example, it is a particularly popular name in Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. It is also common in many other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

The Plattfuß name can be found in other parts of the world due to German emigration. In particular, it appears to be popular in the United States, particularly in the Midwest states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, as well as in large cities such as Chicago and New York. It can also be found in other countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Overall, the last name Plattfuß appears to be most common in German-speaking countries and German-descended populations in other parts of the world. It is a name that has been around for hundreds of years and it is likely to stay a relatively common one for years to come.

Variations of the surname Plattfuß

Plattfuß is a German surname which derives from the term for flat foot, meaning that the forefather of the family likely had a flat foot. It is an uncommon surname, and most of the variants spellings of Plattfuß are regional in nature.

The most common variants of Plattfuß include Platfuss, Plätfuß, Pfattfuß, Plattfuss and Pfattfuss.

Regional variants include Platsfuß (Upper Bavaria), Platsfusz (Eastern Austria, Southern Germany, and Hungary), Platzfuß (Prussia), Platsfuss (Pomerania), Plachtfuß (Bohemia), Platzfuss (Thuringia), Platsfuss (Saxony), Plätfusz (Breslau in Upper Silesia), Platsfaß (Lower Bavaria, Austria), Platsfus (Westphalia), and Plattfuss (Hesse).

Surnames of the same origin include Plattes, Pfattes, Plättfuss, Plagtfuß, Plaic, Plathe, Plaitis, Plates, Plais, Ploat, Plueckhahn, Platka, Platky, Platsch, Platzer, Plättner, and Plachetka.

Famous people with the name Plattfuß

• Berenice Plattfuss: German swimmer who won two gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
• Dennis Plattfuss: German volleyball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Jens Plattfuss: German handball player who won the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
• Jürgen Plattfuss: German rower and Olympic medalist who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
• Michael Plattfuss: German cross-country skier who won seven gold medals in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
• Paul Plattfuss: Austrian alpine ski racer who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
• Reinhold Plattfuss: German skeleton racer who won two bronze medals in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
• Sebastian Plattfuss: German bobsleigh driver who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
• assigned: German luger who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.
• Reiner Plattfuss: Austrian ski jumper who competed in the 2005 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Other surnames

Plattfus