Surname Ehrich - Meaning and Origin
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Ehrich: What does the surname Ehrich mean?
The last name Ehrich is derived from the German language, and is thought to be of locational origin. It is likely that it refers to a person from Ehren, a small town situated in the district of Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The town's name is derived from the German words ‘Ehre’ (honour) and ‘Ruhm’ (glory), These words combine to form the word ‘Ehrenruhm’, which means honour and glory, and ultimately gave the name Ehren to the town. As a result, it is very likely that the last name Ehrich is ultimately derived from Ehren, and is a reference to the glory surrounding the town.
Ehrich is a unique name, and some people may have also adopted it as an occupational name. The suffix ‘-rich’ is derived from Old German as ‘ric’, meaning 'power or authority'. This suffix was commonly used to form names of stewards, so it is possible that Ehrich could have been adopted by families of stewards who hailed from Ehren.
Today, the last name Ehrich is not particularly common, and it is found most commonly in Germany. The Ehrich family is believed to have origins in Germany going back many centuries, although there is some suggestion that the family may have initially come from Austria. Despite this, the Ehrich family is still connected to Germany and the German language, making its original meaning quite clear.
Order DNA origin analysisEhrich: Where does the name Ehrich come from?
The last name Ehrich is most likely Germanic in origin. It is a fairly uncommon surname, but it can still be found in parts of Europe and America today.
In Northern Germany, the name Ehrich is mainly concentrated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, which is located in the southwestern part of the country near the French border. According to Ancestry.com, this region is where the name originated from. In addition, there are pockets of Ehrichs found in areas of France, especially Paris, Alsace and the Moselle region.
The United States also has numerous Ehrichs living in it today, with many of them coming from Germany in the late 1800s. Most of them have settled in large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. You can also find a number of Ehrichs in Texas.
It seems that the United States is the main place for the last name Ehrich. Today, Ehrichs can be found in cities all over the country, including the Midwest, Northeast, and many of the Southern states. While it is still not a common name, chances are you'll encounter someone with this last name in your travels.
Variations of the surname Ehrich
The surname Ehrich, also spelled and rendered as Ehrig, Ehrg, Ehrige, Ehrge, Ehrich, Ehricht, Ehrick, Ehrke, Erich, Erier, Errig, Errige, Errigg, Errigge, and Arrigg, has its origins in Germany and the surrounding region. However, the origins of the surname have not been well documented, leaving the origin of the surname somewhat shrouded in mystery.
The surname Ehrich can be found amongst various religious and ethnic groups, including the Jewish, German, and Nordic populations. As far as the etymology is concerned, there are several different theories, ranging from the possibility of the name being derived from the Germanic ‘erig’ meaning “work”, to being derived from the Hebrew ‘erot’ meaning “courage” and “strength”.
Due to the varying spellings, it is possible that the surname originally referred to more than one clan, leading to a regional variation in the name. As immigration patterns changed, different spellings began to develop, with individuals from the same family changing their surnames simply to make them easier to pronounce or differentiate from those of other families. This is especially true for Jews who were persecuted and whose given names were changed upon emigration.
Regardless of the true origin, the surname Ehrich is still highly popular in the German speaking world, especially in the state of Bavaria, where the surname is among the most widespread. With such an impressive number of variants and spellings, it is clear that the surname has had a long-standing presence in the region and shows no signs of fading away.
Famous people with the name Ehrich
- Lili Reinhart: American actress known for her role as Betty Cooper in the CW series, Riverdale.
- Richard Ehrich: American film actor active in the 1950s and 60s, appearing mainly in westerns and musicals.
- Robert Ehrich: American composer, music producer and arranger best known for writing the orchestral scores of numerous Disney films.
- Bill Ehrich: American actor and film producer known for cult films The Howling and Halloween: Resurrection.
- Vivian Ehrich: German actress known for her appearance in Die schwarze Spinne.
- Joe Ehrich: American professional basketball player in the National Basketball League (NBL).
- John Ehrich: Australian pianist, composer and arranger.
- Joan Ehrich: American film and television producer.
- Marla Ehrich: American actress best known for her role as Emily in the teen comedy movie Can't Hardly Wait.
- Silvio Ehrich: German-Swiss actor, screenwriter and film director known for his roles in numerous German-language films.