Show ContentsVogt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Vogt originates in the Latin form "vocatus" or "advocatus"and referred to someone who appeared in court on another's behalf. As a surname, Vogt is an occupational hereditary surname for a bailiff or overseer of a nobleman's estate.

Early Origins of the Vogt family

The surname Vogt was first found in central Germany, including Bavaria, Franconia, Hessen, and the Paltinate, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power. The oldest recorded individual of the many branches of this family was Johann Vogt von Hunolstein, who lived around 1080 and brought the family to the Rhine valley. There, the family's castle Hunolstein (four miles from Trier) prospered until 1523, when Franz von Sickingen laid the castle to ruins in his feud against the princes of Trier. They then moved into Lorraine where they eventually became counts. The other branches of Franconia and Hessen had divided off even before the 10th century.

Early History of the Vogt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vogt research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1672, 1674, 1694 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Vogt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vogt Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Vogt include Vogt, Voget, Voit, Voigt,Voight,Voigh, Vogtlin and many more.

Early Notables of the Vogt family

Prominent among members of the name Vogt in this period include

  • Baron Valentin Vogt von Salzburg, the Lord of Eichenhausen, Querbach, and Duerrnhof, who was first Privy Councillor to the Prince of Brandenburg, high administrator to the cities Uffenheim, Mainbernhe...
  • Philipp Valentin Vogt von Rieneck (d.1672), of the ancient Franconian line, was the Bishop of Bamberg...
  • His descendent, Carl Friedrich Vogt von Rieneck, was Dean of the cathedral in Wuerzburg and was made Count of Franconia in 1697...

Vogt Ranking

In the United States, the name Vogt is the 1,963rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Vogt is ranked the 8,794th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. [2]


United States Vogt migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Vogt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann, Daniel, and Abraham Vogt, all of whom, who settled in America in 1709 with their wives and families
  • Daniel Vogt, who arrived in New York in 1709 [3]
  • Henrig Vogt, who arrived in New York in 1709 [3]
  • Joh Vogt, who arrived in New York in 1709 [3]
  • Simon Vogt, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Vogt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Conrad Vogt, aged 34, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 [3]
  • Bern Heinr Vogt, who arrived in America in 1836 [3]
  • Robert Vogt, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1837 [3]
  • Adam Vogt, from Germany who arrived in Texas in 1844 aboard the ship "Ferdinand"
  • Karl August Vogt, aged 16, who landed in America in 1844 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Vogt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Vogt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Willhelm Vogt, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
  • Abraham Vogt, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875

Australia Vogt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Vogt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Vogt (post 1700) +

  • Evon Zartman Vogt Jr. (1918-2004), American cultural anthropologist
  • General John William Vogt Jr. (1920-2010), American commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, and commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany
  • Steven Scott Vogt, American astronomer, member of the California-Carnegie Planet Search Team
  • John E. Vogt, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
  • John W. Vogt Jr., American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 8 aerial victories
  • Linda Vogt, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Missouri 9th District, 1998; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 2000 [5]
  • Hugo Vogt, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 4th District, 1900 [5]
  • Herbert J. Vogt, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Arizona State Treasurer, 1974 [5]
  • Henry C. Vogt, American politician, Mayor of St. Charles, Missouri, 1953-57, 1965-67 [5]
  • Henry Vogt, American Republican politician, Member of New York Republican State Committee, 1930 [5]
  • ... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Manfred Vogt (1921-1941), German Fernschreiber who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [6]
HMAS Sydney II


Suggested Readings for the name Vogt +

  • The Astronom's Passengers: The Vogt Family in Southern Illinois by Ann L. Nilsson.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) VICTORIA 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Victoria.htm
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  7. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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