Surname Erigsohn - Meaning and Origin

Erigsohn: What does the surname Erigsohn mean?

The last name Erigsohn is a German-Jewish name. It is derived from the given name Eri(c), an old Germanic name meaning “ever powerful”, and the German word for son, “sohn”. Thus, the name Erigsohn means “son of Eric”.

This surname is very common amongst Jewish families of German or Ashkenazi descent. It is believed to have originated in the East Prussian town of Memel (now called Klaipeda), situated by the Russian-Lithuanian border during the 1800s.

Throughout the 19th and 20th Century, many people changed their surname to Erigsohn to hide their Jewish ancestry due to increasing anti-Semitism. Many Erigsohns fled to America to escape Nazi terror.

When surnames first began to be used during the Middle Ages, last names like Erigsohn reflected a person's parentage. The name was often adopted as a way to honor family members and parents; so, with this particular last name, you would expect to find a person's lineage to stretch back to an Eric ancestor.

Today, the name Erigsohn continues to be used in many countries around Europe and the Americas. It is often combined with other surnames or changed to different spelling variations such as Erichson, Erygson, or Erikson. Despite the name's troubled past, some people choose to reclaim it and take pride in their ancestry.

Erigsohn: Where does the name Erigsohn come from?

The last name Erigsohn is quite uncommon today, but is found mainly in German-speaking regions such as Austria, Switzerland, and southern Germany. This is due to its origin as a German surname, derived from the male given name Ehrig.

In German, the spelling of the surname varies, but the most common variant today is spelled Erichsen. This is the variant found primarily in Germany. In Austria and Switzerland, the surname is found spelled Erigsohn, the variant closer to the original spelling.

Due to emigration, the surname is also found abroad, mainly in countries such as the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Brazil, among others. In these countries, the spelling of the name may differ, as it has been adapted to the language of the country it traveled to.

In the United States and Canada, for example, the surname is commonly spelled Erikson or Ericsson, while in South Africa, it is Ericson or Erickson. As for Brazil, the surname is commonly seen as Erichsen and Erickson.

Overall, if one is searching for the last name Erigsohn, it is best to look in German-speaking regions such as Austria, Switzerland, and southern Germany, as well as in other countries where the surname has traveled through emigration.

Variations of the surname Erigsohn

The surname Erigsohn is a patronymic surname of the German, Dutch, and Jewish origins. Patronymic surnames are surnames which are derived from the given or first name of the father. Erigsohn, and its variants and spellings, is derived from the given name Erik, which is derived from the ancient Norse name “Eirick”.

The common spellings of the surname Erigsohn are Erigsen, Erigson, Eriksen, Erikson, Eriksson, Erickson, Ericson, Erichson, and Erikkson. Variants of the surname Erigsohn, originating from various languages and accents, include Eriksonio, Eriksoni, Ericson, Erichson, Erricaon, Eriksonature, Erigeser, Eikesen, and Ercsson. Other surnames of the same origin as Erigsohn, including Dutch and Jewish surnames, are Erigman, Eriks, Erits, Erick, Erics, Erinc, Erringer, Ericsen, Erksohn, Ercksen, Ercsen, Ericsonn, Ertman, Erket, and Eriksonin.

Surnames such as Erigsohn allow us to trace back our lineage and learn more about our ancestry. Through research and genetic testing it is now possible to determine our origins from a variety of languages and cultures. Moreover, word variations of a surname are valuable in tracing back family connections and origins. Identifying the variety of spellings and variants for surnames can help to unearth the complete history of a family’s name.

Famous people with the name Erigsohn

• Karsten Erigsohn: He is a German cinematographer who has worked on well-known films such as Good Bye, Lenin! (2003) and The Lives of Others (2006).
• Sebastian Erigsohn: A German film producer who has notably worked on films such as Unter dem Milchwald (2014) and Die Seltsamen Erfahrung des Herrn Prüfer (2012).
• Erland Erigsohn: A Norwegian chess player who won the Norwegian Chess Championship in 1959.
• Gerhard Erigsohn : A German geophysicist who worked on wax lithification and terrace formation.
• Jen Erigsohn: An American author and poet, best known for her books “The Light of Innocence” and “Sanctuary”.
• Peter Erigsohn: An American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1989 to 1991.
• Schylling Erigsohn: A Danish physician best known for his development of the first successful vaccine for diphtheria.
• Christine Erigsohn: A German journalist who has written numerous articles for renowned publications such as Der Spiegel and The Economist.
• Jochen Erigsohn: A German sculptor, best known for his works “Vom Raum und der Zeit”, and “Landschaften”.
• Daniél Erigsohn: A French mathematician who did work in the field of number theory.

Other surnames

Erigson