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[Facts] Gothel
This is probably best known as the name of the witch in the fairy tale Rapunzel (especially the Disney version, but I think the Brothers Grimm used it in their version too). I think the name has something to do with the Goths. But I'm not sure of it. Of course, I know that no one in Germany would use it, just like they wouldn't use Rapunzel.Does anyone know any history of the name Gothel?
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It sometimes pops up on Jewish surname forums
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It seems that it's not a proper name, but a dialect word meaning "godmother".(My mother tongue is German, but I never heard this word form, only the form "Gotte". Maybe "Gothel" fell out of use a long time ago, or is in use only in some regional dialects.)I found this German text about the fairy tale that gives this meaning:
http://www.gabriele-uhlmann.de/rapunzel3.htmAnd this text confirms, in a context that has nothing to do with the fairy tale, that the word existed and really had this meaning:
http://www.sagen.at/doku/volksleben/geburt_kindstaufe.html
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Thanks!
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