Surname Eghardt - Meaning and Origin
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Eghardt: What does the surname Eghardt mean?
The last name Eghardt is of German origin and is derived from the German personal name Eghard. It is believed to be derived from the Olde High German terms egan, meaning “edge” or “edge of a sword,” and hart, meaning “strong” or “brave.” Thus, the surname can be literally translated to mean “strong edge” or “brave edge” and would have been an appropriate name for a warrior or warrior-like figure in Medieval times.
The surname Eghardt has remained quite popular in Germany over the centuries, but has become a widespread surname throughout much of Europe as well, particularly in countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. In the American colonies, it was often Anglicized to Egerton, a spelling that has also endured.
Today, the surname Eghardt is quite common throughout much of the English-speaking world, including the United States and Canada, though it never gained the same level of popularity as some other Germanic surnames, such as Miller or Schmidt. Those who bear the surname Eghardt today are likely descendants of a jealous person with a strong and indomitable spirit, ready to protect and fight for what was theirs.
Order DNA origin analysisEghardt: Where does the name Eghardt come from?
The last name Eghardt is a rare German surname, and its common bearer can be found in Germany and its surrounding areas.
The origin of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, with many sources specifying the Middle ages. It is believed to have been derived from the German words “eigen” meaning “own” and “hard” referring to “strong”.
The surname Eghardt is seldom used in Germany today, but there are pockets of the population where the name remains quite common. For instance, in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, around 16 towns are known to have a higher concentration of the Eghardt surname, such as Föhr, Modder and Lübeck.
The Eghardt name is also found in countries surrounding Germany, such as Denmark, Poland and even the Netherlands. Records show it to be particularly more common in Denmark compared to the other countries, with the highest numbers being found in the urban hub of Copenhagen.
Beyond Europe, the surname Eghardt can also be found in Germany’s historic colonies, such as Tanzania and Namibia. In recent years, there has also been an influx of the Eghardt family to North America. In the US, states such as New York, Illinois and Wisconsin are known to have a large concentration of the surname.
Overall, the surname Eghardt remains rare in today’s world, with its main clusters of population found mainly in Germany, Denmark and North America.
Variations of the surname Eghardt
The surname Eghardt has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Firstly, the variants are Egert, Egirt, Egurts, Egers, and Eghert. The spellings include Eggardt, Egherdt, Eget, Egett, Egarrd, Eggherd, Egerdt, Egerd, Egehart, Egghart, and Eggart.
Surnames of the same origin include Eichert, Eicher, Eicke, Eigeldinger, Egeling, Eifeler, Egelingh, Egers, and Eggen.
Eghardt is a German surname that originated in the ancient region of Saxony in Germany. The word ‘Eghardt’ means ‘brave’ or ‘strong’ in German. This surname was likely given to individuals who exhibited qualities of bravery and strength.
Many people with this surname originally lived in the region of Saxony, however, over the centuries, many migrated to other parts of Europe, especially Holland and the United States.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of Eghardt provide further clues to the history of this surname and where people with this surname originally came from. Researchers into family history should consider if any of these variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are linked to their family tree.
Famous people with the name Eghardt
- Ute Eghardt: German TV presenter and radio host
- Andrea Eghardt: German costume and stage designer
- Erich Eghardt: German footballer
- Johann Eghardt: German jurist
- Jürgen Eghardt: German judge and legal scholar
- Michael Eghardt: German composer
- René Eghardt: German physicist
- Robert Eghardt: German diplomat
- Walter Eghardt: German engineer and businessman
- Wolfgang Eghardt: German politician