The Gauthier patromym

1. Origin of the patronym

a) From the germanic languages "Waldhari" (Wald-Walden meaning " to govern" and Hari meaning "armed"). Thus from the Teutonic: WALD -> GALT -> GALD -> GAUT WALDEN = to govern, HER = to like
He who likes to govern 

Source : "Le livre nos prénoms", J.M. de Fauville, Parents-Hachette, Paris, 1986, p. 153

b) From the old French:
GAULT = GAL = Small forest and GAUTHIER = Goose's fledgling

Source : "Votre nom n'est pas une énigme" in the "Revue francaise de Généalogie", hors série, no 2, Noel '88, pp 40-41.
 
c) From the Latin: ARIUS = He who commands
Source : "Les noms de familles" by Dauzat.

d) In Normandy, Gautier was often the surname given to lumbermen. It originated from the old Gallic name "Gaut" meaning forest.

e) GAUTHIER: name of a saint, in latin:VALTHERUS from the old germanic WALDER, which is also written WALTHER, GWALTER, GAUTER (always reflecting the transformation of the W in a G and AL in AU, seen so often. Most etymologists translate this name as "CHEF de FORET " WALDHER ", which agrees with the mordern german, but not the ancient, which according to FORSTEMANN, would mean, army chief (WALD governor) (HER:army) or august leader, since HER also has this other sense.

Source:"Le dictionnaire des Noms de Famille et des Prénoms" Philippe LAGNEAU et Jean ARBULEAU. Publlisher: Ver noy-Arnaud de Vergre, .No d'Édition:543 de 1980.

2. Variations of the patronym

The name Gauthier has many variations. Here are the variations the name has known throughout history:

Belgium

Gauthié, De Galtier, Gaultier, Du Gauthier, Gauthey, Gathier, Gathy, Jotthier, Gaudier, Gaudy, Gautiez, Codier, Caudy, Wauthier, Wauthy , Walthère et Gauthy.

Canada and USA

Gauthier, Gauthié, Gothier, Gautier, Gaultier, Gaulthier, Goca, Gocha, Gochee, Gochey, Gochie, Goka, Gokee, Golka, Golkie, Gokey, Golka, Gotchy, Gotchee, Goochey, Goodrich, Gootee, Gooty, Gothyer, Gotty, Gowty, Gonthier, Gaultie, Gonthier, Gouty.

France

Gauthier, Gautié, Gauthié, Gauthiez, Gothier, Gautier, Gaultier, Gaulthier, Gouty, Gontier, Gaultie.

3. History of the patronym

Originally, it is not a family name. Around the 12th century in France, it is an ancient first name which sometimes signifies a lumberjack, and at other times signifies a chief or governor. Under the reign of Henri IV, Gauthier was an ordinary individual. It was usually said a "Gauthier" to signify a man of the people.

It was François 1, who, by the decree of Villers-Cotterêts in 1539, made it mandatory to transmit the father's name to all his children. Therefore, the surname became hereditary and, the name Gautier, became a family name.

In Belgium: 

The oldest Gauthier found in Belgium was Walthère, son of Walthère dit Gauthier of Quiévrain in Liège in 1280. 

In the 1600s, a certain Jehenne (Jeanne) Codier married Hubert Gilkin on 23 january 1683 in Herstal (actual province of Liège), the Barony of Herstal, a dependence of the Duchy of Brabant at the time. She was the daughter of Pierre Caudy and Ailid Le Gallet, Pierre is sometimes shown as Gauthier or Wauthier."

Copyright © 1999 Association de généalogie des familles Gauthier

Toute reproduction de ce site sans l'accord écrit préalable de ses auteurs est INTERDITE.