Gaute is a Norwegian masculine given name derived from the

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

''Gauti'', which is formed by the word ''gautr'', i.e. "man from

Götaland Götaland (; also '' Gothia'', ''Gothland'', ''Gothenland'' or ''Gautland'') is one of three lands of Sweden and comprises ten provinces. Geographically it is located in the south of Sweden, bounded to the north by Svealand, with the deep wo ...

(Gautaland) in

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

" or, even earlier, "

Goths The Goths were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Europe. They were first reported by Graeco-Roman authors in the 3rd century AD, living north of the Danube in what is ...

". In 2016, 1997 people used the name in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

and is currently ranked #240. (Search for the name 'Iselin' in the NAVNESØK search box.) In Sweden the versions Göte or Göthe, in

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

Gauti or Gautur and in

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

Göte is used as the given name equivalent.

Usage and appearance

''Gauti'' and ''Gautr'' is famously used in fifteen different

runic inscription A runic inscription is an inscription made in one of the various runic alphabets. They generally contained practical information or memorials instead of magic or mythic stories. The body of runic inscriptions falls into the three categories of E ...

s from the

Viking Age The Viking Age (about ) was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonising, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. The Viking Age applies not only to their ...

, so the names were well known, but probably not among the most widely used at the time. ''Gaute'' was first used as epithets, but became common first names for the year 1300, also in forms ''Gaut'' and ''Gautr''. Over 40 different people with the name mentioned in Regesta Norvegica. The name was rarely used between 1700 and around 1930. In the 1940s, the name was adopted partly in

Rogaland Rogaland () is a Counties of Norway, county in Western Norway, bordering the North Sea to the west and the counties of Vestland to the north, Telemark to the east and Agder to the east and southeast. As of 1 January 2024, it had a population of 49 ...

and got a small boost after 1970, but was still not among the most commonly used names. Today, the name has increased its use. Some place names also derives from the given name Gaute as a part of a longer geographical name. Gaute can also be used as the first or last part of other names. This was particularly common in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, like names as Arngaut, Asgaut, Audgaut, Algot, Gautrek, Hergaut and Torgauten. The name was in compositions often borrowed from Swedish. The variants Valgaut, Siggaut, Gautatýr and Gaut was occasionally used as the name of the god

Odin Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...

Notable people

Some notable

Norwegians Norwegians () are an ethnic group and nation native to Norway, where they form the vast majority of the population. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegians are descended from the Norsemen, Norse of the Early ...

with the given name include; * (1475–1510), Norwegian Archbishop of Nidaros * (born 1956), Norwegian musician *

Gaute Storaas Gaute Storaas (born 20 August 1959) is a Norwegians, Norwegian jazz musician (Bass (guitar), bass) and composer, and the older brother of jazz pianist Vigleik Storaas. Career Storaas was born in Bergen and became well known for his innovative ...

(born 1959), Norwegian jazz musician * (born 1961), Norwegian football coach * (born 1962), Norwegian Professor of Physics * Gaute Godager (born 1970), Norwegian game developer *

Svein Gaute Hølestøl Svein Gaute Hølestøl (born 1 March 1971) is a Norwegian former professional cyclist. He was born in Stavanger Stavanger, officially the Stavanger Municipality, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the third ...

(born 1971), Norwegian professional cyclist * Gaute Melby Gundersen (born 1972), Norwegian athlete *

Gaute Barlindhaug Gaute Barlindhaug is an electronic musician from Tromsø, Norway. He is currently known under the artist name Kolar Goi. Career As a member of the quartet Aedena Cycle, together with Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge from Röyksopp, and K ...

(born 1975), Norwegian electronic musician * Gaute Haugenes * Gaute Heivoll (born 1978), Norwegian poet, novelist and playwright * (born 1979), Norwegian author * (born 1979), Norwegian television host * (born 1979), Norwegian discus thrower * Gaute Ormåsen (born 1983), Norwegian singer * (born 1983), Norwegian actor Some notable

Estonians Estonians or Estonian people () are a Finnic ethnic group native to the Baltic Sea region in Northern Europe, primarily their nation state of Estonia. Estonians primarily speak the Estonian language, a language closely related to other Finni ...

with the given name include; * Gaute Kivistik (born 1971), Estonian humorist and journalist

References

{{given name Norwegian masculine given names Masculine given names

Usage and appearance

Notable people

See also

References