Surname Ehrsam - Meaning and Origin
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Ehrsam: What does the surname Ehrsam mean?
The last name Ehrsam is of German origin, derived from the personal name Ehrenfried, which was formed from the elements ‘ehre’ meaning ‘honor’ and ‘fried’ meaning ‘peace’. As such, the name Ehrsam can be interpreted to mean ‘honorable peace’.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Ehrsam dates back to the 17th century in what is now known as the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Historically, the majority of individuals with this surname resided in that region.
The name is still prevalent in Germany today and has spread to other countries including the United States. As an immigrant surname, it is strongly connected to a rich German heritage.
The surname Ehrsam can also be found in records as Ehrisman or Ehrsmann. This variant form of the name has been adopted by American English-speakers, likely due to Anglicization.
In terms of its wider symbolic purpose, the surname Ehrsam is associated with themes of honor and peace. This can be seen in traditional German beliefs that honor and integrity are fundamental tenets of life. Therefore, the name serves as a reminder of the importance of leading a principled and honorable life.
Order DNA origin analysisEhrsam: Where does the name Ehrsam come from?
Ehrsam is a surname of Germanic origin, originating in the form of "Ehr" meaning "honor" and "Sam" meaning "one who listens." The name is likely to have been brought to the United States from Germany by German immigrants before the 20th century. Today, the surname is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. While it is relatively rare, it is most concentrated in places where German immigrants settled, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. There are also notable concentrations of Ehrsam in the southwest US in places like Texas and Arizona, with some families likely having roots among Mennonites of German descent. The surname is also found in parts of Mexico, particularly among people of German-Mexican heritage.
Outside of North America, Ehrsam is most common in Germany and other near-by countries, particularly Switzerland and Austria, though it is not unheard of in places such as France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. There is also evidence of some Ehrsam families in Suriname, a former Dutch colony. Ehrsam is also found in the Philippines, likely due to German immigrants having settled there.
The Ehrsam surname is still quite present in present-day North America and Europe, but remains relatively rare in comparison to more common surnames. The surname has likely been somewhat scattered throughout the world, and is likely to be found anywhere that German immigrants have settled.
Variations of the surname Ehrsam
The surname Ehrsam is an Anglo-German, Swiss-German, and Ashkenazic Jewish surname that has many variants and spellings.
Variants of Ehrsam include Ehrsem, Ahrsem, Ersham, Ahrsam, Ershomm, Ersem, Aersam, Aershem, Equersem, Ersam, Eirshem, Essam, and Ehrshom. These variants originate from the Middle High German words “er”, meaning honor, and “sam”, meaning one who is true to his word.
Spellings of Ehrsam include Aersheim, Ehrcem, Ehrcemr, Ehrceman, Aershmes, Ehrsmann, and Ahrsum. These spellings all originate from the 16th century German language.
Surnames of Ehrsam origin include Ahrschmidt, Ersham, Ershamser, Ehrsonen, Eretz, Ehrens, Aersheim, Aershman, Ahrshom, Aersheim, Ershamberg, Ahrsheman, and Ershan.
The name Ehrsam is also affiliated with several places of origin, such as Germany, with its versions Ehrsem and Ehrshom; Switzerland, with variant Ahrsem; and the Czech Republic, with variant Ersham.
Overall, Ehrsam is a relatively widespread surname with many variations and spellings that have their origins in the Middle High German language and additional dialects from Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
Famous people with the name Ehrsam
- Eric Ehrsam, American film and television editor
- Francis Ehrsam, French painter
- Tim Ehrsam, former professional bible bowler
- Jean Ehrsam, French sculptor
- Jørgen Ehrsam, Danish revolutionary socialist
- Robbie Ehrsam, American professional ice hockey player
- Thomas Ehrsam, Swiss journalist
- Egmont Ehrsam, German sculptor
- Matthias Ehrsam, German composer
- Josef Ehrsam, Austrian composer