Surname Eggerath - Meaning and Origin
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Eggerath: What does the surname Eggerath mean?
The last name Eggerath comes from the German surname Egger, or Eggerding, which ultimately derives from the Middle High German term “ggoing” or “goging”, a word that referenced people living by a particular hill or cluster of hills. The development of this name into “Egger” or “Eggerding” isn’t known, though the spelling “Eggerath” has been in use for hundreds of years.
Thus, the Eggerath surname refers to someone who originally lived by a hill or cluster of hills. The individuals or extended family who originally used the surname Eggerath likely began inhabiting their homestead during the Middle Ages and could have come from the area now known as Bavaria or from other areas within current-day Germany.
In more recent history (late 19th century and onwards), the Eggerath family has spread to other countries. People with the Eggerath name can now be found in Australia, the United States, Canada, and many other countries.
In some instances, the spelling of the surname Eggerath has changed to Egerton or Evens over the course of time, though individuals can still be found with Eggerath as their primary surname. Despite the changes, the name still carries the same meaning of someone from the Germanic area originally who historically lived by a hill or mountainside.
Order DNA origin analysisEggerath: Where does the name Eggerath come from?
The last name Eggerath is most commonly found in Germany, where it is estimated to be a surname that is held by about 2,340 people. It is also found in Austria and the Czech Republic in small numbers. Eggerath can be found in other countries across the world, as different branches of the family have moved over the centuries. Additionally, spelling variations of the name can be found, such as Eggerath and Eggerard.
Eggerath families have lived in and around parts of Bavaria, Germany for generations. In particular, Eggeraths are quite common around Oberbayern, which is the region around Munich. The name can also be found today in other parts of Germany, including but not limited to the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse.
In the United States, Eggerath families have been present since the 19th century, but in much smaller numbers than in Europe. Some of the largest U.S. states where Eggerath families can be found are California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio.
Outside of Europe and the U.S., the Eggerath surname can be found in small numbers. In areas such as South America, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere, the name can be found primarily among descendants of emigrants from Europe.
Given the family's global spread, it may be that the last name Eggerath continues to move and spread to different countries and even continents in the coming years.
Variations of the surname Eggerath
The surname Eggerath is derived from the Middle High German term "Egerat" which is also spelled "Egerath" or "Egerhardt." It is believed to have originated from the German personal name "Egerhard." It is said to be derived from the words “ego” meaning “sword” and “hardu” meaning “hard” or “strong.”
The Eggerath surname has various spelling variations depending on the language or dialect. In some cases it is spelled Egerat, Egerath, Egeraht, Egerhardt, Egerart, Eagar, Eagarath, Eagard, Eagarhard, Egdar, Ekgar, Ekgarat, Ekgarhard, Eckard, Egter, Egget, Egghard and Eget.
The earliest known bearer of the Eggerath surname was Rüdger Eggerath, who was born in the mid-14th century in Westphalia, Germany. Other variant spellings and surnames of the same origin include Eger and Egerber.
Other related surnames can be derived from the Eggerath surname. Van Egeraat is a Dutch-speaking equivalent which means "from Eggerath" and Egghardt is a German-speaking variant which means "son of Eggerath". Also, Eggert is like Eggerath with an '-ert' suffix which is thought to have been a nickname for someone strong like an eagle.
Famous people with the name Eggerath
- Karl-Heinz Eggerath (1925-2001), a German soldier who fought in World War II.
- Johann Eggerath (1825-1908), Austrian politician and Prime Minister of Lower Austria from 1888 to 1893.
- Christopher Eggerath (b. 1948), German entrepreneur and museum director.
- John Paul Eggerath (b. 1951), American Orthodox Catholic priest and writer.
- Bridget Eggerath (b. 1974), Australian alpine skier and Olympian.
- Lothar Eggerath (1930-2018), German jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader.
- Marvin Eggerath (b. 1959), German business executive and technology evangelist.
- Max Eggerath (1871-1933), German artist and sculptor.
- Richard Eggerath (1898-1977), Austrian-American geneticist, pioneer of early genetic engineering research.
- Robert Eggerath (b. 1958), German lawyer and public speaker.