Vogt
A German occupational surname meaning an overseer, bailiff, or local official.
The #2,002 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,095 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Vogt comes from German words for a local representative or steward, especially a bailiff, overseer, or warden. The historical form is usually traced to Middle High German voget and Old High German fogat, with the ultimate source often linked to Latin advocatus, "one called in" or "advocate." In surname use, it began as an occupational name for someone who held such an office.
History
The name was common in German-speaking areas and also appears in variant forms such as Voigt. Historical surname writers note that it could arise from an official title and then become hereditary in families. It is also found outside Germany through migration to Central Europe, North America, and elsewhere.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In medieval records, Vogt could describe a legal or administrative officer, not just a generic worker, which is why the surname has a distinctly official flavor.
From the historical record
“Foreign Names. VOGT (Ger.) Overseer ; Bailiff ; Provost : V. the Appendix of Foreign Names. VOISEY (Fr.) Bel. to Voisey (Haute-Marne), A.D. 1162 Voisie [sufl. early forms upon which to come to a definite etymol. con- clusion are not forthcoming : phonetically Lat. visc-um, mistletoe, with the planta- tion- suff.…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)