Surname Erharter - Meaning and Origin

Erharter: What does the surname Erharter mean?

The surname Erharter is derived from a Germanic personal name, composed of two elements: ‘Ehr’ meaning honour and ‘Hart’ meaning strong or brave. The origin of the Erharter surname dates back to the Middle Ages, when individuals with these names were found throughout the regions of Switzerland, Austria and Germany. During this time, the surname was used as a Status name to identify people based on their loyalty to the aristocracy. Over time, the Erharter name developed numerous variants such as Erhart (German), Ehrer (Austrian), and Erharte (French).

It is possible that the Erharters were originally a noble family, as the original meaning of ‘Ehr’ supports the idea that they may have been of high social standing, and the fact that the name is Germanic indicates that they were of Germanic descent. The ‘Hart’ element of the name suggests that the original bearer was strong and brave, and was valued by his peers.

The Erharter name has been used in Europe for many centuries, and is found in many different countries and cultures. The name has been found in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and more recently, in other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada and Australia. It is likely that the Erharter family migrated to these places in search of economic opportunities during times of political strife in Europe.

Today, the Erharter name is not as common as other Germanic surnames, but it still carries a sense of honour and strength with it and stands as a testament to the significant contributions that the Erharter family has made in the course of history.

Erharter: Where does the name Erharter come from?

The surname Erharter is most commonly found in Germany, where it has been recorded in public records as far back as the late 13th century. The name was likely derived from the German word "erhard," which has several meanings, including "brave," "strong," or "outstanding."

The Erharter surname is still relatively common in Germany today. In 2019, it was the 4,245th most common surname in the country, with over 10,000 people bearing the name. Regions with the highest concentration of the surname include the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Thuringia, Rheinland-Pfalz, Hesse, and Northrhine-Westphalia. Outside of Germany, the surname Erharter is comparatively less common.

It is also found in Austria, although to a far lesser extent. In 2019 it was the 4,313th most common surname in the country, with fewer than 400 people bearing the name. The surname can also be found in Europe, the United States, Canada, and several other countries worldwide.

Variations of the surname Erharter

The variant spellings and alternative surnames that originate from the surname Erharter are Erhardt, Erhart, Earhart, Ehrhart, Ehrhardt, Earhardt, Ehret, Ehrat, Ahart, Ahert, Ehret, Ehert, Erhard, and Airhart.

The surname Erharter is most commonly found in Germany and is, in fact, quite a common surname there. Germany is the origin of the Erharter surname and, as it happens to most family names, variations have arisen through the ages. As modern migrations around the world happened, families had to adapt and change the form of their surname to fit the language or dialect of the destination.

From Erharter, there were various migrations to other countries such as the United States, Mexico, Austria, Canada, and Luxembourg. The forms Erhardt, Erhart, Earhart, Ehrhart, Ehrhardt, Earhardt and Airhart became more common in America and its territories. In other countries such as Austria, Luxembourg, or Mexico, the surname took different variants such as Ehret, Ehrat, Ahart, Ahert, or Ehret.

Coming back to Germany, the most common forms of the Erharter surname are Erhart and Erhardt. But the Erharter spelling is also present at the German-speaking regions across Europe.

Overall, the Erharter surname has different variants and spellings all around the world, with Erhardt and Erhart being the most common ones, but that does not exclude the possibility to find the original spelling in some places.

Famous people with the name Erharter

• Robert Erharter: music producer and filmmaker from Austria.
• Wayland Erharter:founded Erharter Photography, a family owned and operated business specialising in aerial photography, in 1982.
• Urs Erharter: An Austrian mountain guide and director of the Feuerwerk der Turnkunst show.
• Harold Erharter: second bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
• Theodor Erharter: Austrian philosopher and professor of philosophy at the Vienna University of Technology.
• Jürgen Erharter: Austrian writer and journalist for Wiener Zeitung.
• Albert Erharter: Austrian geologist and volcanologist.
• Erich Erharter: Austrian sculptor
• Hermine Erharter: Austrian contemporary artist
• Hermann Erharter: Austrian sculptor and member of the Bruno-Göttelmann-Gesellschaft.
• Wolfgang Erharter: contemporary sculptor from Berlin, Germany.
• Mathias Erharter: Austrian lawyer and president of the Oesterreichisches Verfassungsgericht from 1946 to 1951.
• Carola Erharter: Austrian contemporary artist
• Martina Erharter: award-winning Austrian fashion designer.
• Stanislaus Erharter: Austrian multimillionaire entrepreneur and inventor.
• Gottfried Erharter: Austrian mountain guide and activist for mountain safety.

Other surnames

Erhart