Altmann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Altmann family is in the German province of Bavaria. Altmann is a German nickname surname. Such names came from "eke-names," or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute. The name Altmann derives from the High German word "alt" which means "old," and other components which meant "servant." It is also derived from the first name Aldman, which means old man.

Early Origins of the Altmann family

The surname Altmann was first found in Lower Bavaria, where the name is considered to have made an early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development in Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, as each group sought power and status in an ever-changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Altmann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Altmann research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1558, 1590 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Altmann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Altmann Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Altmann include Altmann, Alltman, Altmanns, Altmanne, Alltmanne and others.

Early Notables of the Altmann family

Prominent among members of the name Altmann in this period include

Christoph Ignaz Altmann, Silesian finance official, who became a knight of the Bohemian nobility in 1706

Altmann migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Altmann or a variant listed above:

Altmann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Altmann, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 1

Altmann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elisabeth Altmann, aged 27, who landed in America in 1839 1
Ida Altmann, who landed in Galveston, Tex in 1850 1
Doro Altmann, age 36 settled in Texas in 1850
Barbara Altmann, aged 27, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1850 1
Bertha Altmann, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1850 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)