Surname Ermitage - Meaning and Origin
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Ermitage: What does the surname Ermitage mean?
The surname Ermitage is of French origin and derives from the word ermitage meaning hermitage or hermit’s retreat. The surname is likely to have originated as a result of a member of the family having lived in a hermitage, thus taking after the name of the place itself. Over time, the name changed, taking on a slightly different meaning and became associated with someone who was living in retreat in the wilderness or countryside. It might also have been used to describe someone who was a hermit who had retreated from society, whether for religious purposes or in order to live a solitary life.
Today, the surname Ermitage is found throughout Europe. It is commonly used in France, as well as countries such as Belgium and Switzerland. It can also be found in the United States, where some Anglophone families have adopted the surname in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The use of the surname Ermitage may also indicate some connection to monasticism or religious orders. Some families in Normandy have a long history of serving in monasteries, as indicated by their surnames. The word ermitage also maintains its original meaning in the name of several churches or chapels dedicated to solitary saints or those who have retired or secluded themselves.
In any case, the surname Ermitage indicates a certain connection to retreat or seclusion and suggests that the families which bear it have a long tradition of religious devotion and service.
Order DNA origin analysisErmitage: Where does the name Ermitage come from?
The last name Ermitage is most commonly found in France today. It is a topographical name derived from the Old French term ermitage, meaning “hermitage” or “place of retreat”. This name would have been used to describe someone who lived at or near a hermitage or place of retreat, or a family that had owned a hermitage over many generations. Alternatively, the name may have been derived from removed or deserted places such as abandoned cults or ruins.
The surname Ermitage is also found in Canada, where the French influence is strong. In the United States, communities founded in New Orleans and Louisiana by French settlers have helped to spread the name and its variations throughout the country.
The current population of Ermitage's in France is estimated at around 12,000 people. Their most prominent region is the historical province of Normandy. It has also spread to other regions such as Brittany and Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.
Outside of France, the Ermitage name can similarly be found in Canada and the United States. It has also spread to other parts of the world such as the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Ermitage
Variants and spellings of the same origin for the surname Ermitage include Ermetage, Ermentage, Ermitaz, Ermetaz, Ermentaz, Ermetaz, and Ermedage. Additionally, other surnames with similar origins include Ermitagne, Ermitagnon, Hermitage, Hermetage, Hermentage, and Hermutage.
The surname Ermitage originates from the French word "ermitage", meaning "hermitage, a small community of hermits". The name likely began as a nickname used to describe someone who lived as a hermit, or belonged to a hermitage.
The name Ermitage is found in records dating back to the 1500s. One such record is the "Protestants banished of France" documenting various individuals whose religious beliefs led them to exile. Among them is listed Adam Ermitage, who was exiled from Coligny in 1688.
Other records exist in both French and Italian, documenting individuals with the surname Ermitage throughout European countries in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Ermetaz is likely a variant from the Germanic version, while Ermedage is a more recent variant of the original name. Today, the name Ermitage is still relatively rare in both France and other countries, and is most commonly found in France today.
Famous people with the name Ermitage
- Alex Ermitage: FTA World Champion Freestyle Tricker
- Hervé Ermitage: French snowboarder
- Elizabeth Ermitage: Retired professional tennis player from the United States
- William Ermitage: Retired French boxer
- Adele Ermitage: Australian Paralympic swimmer
- Emile Ermitage: French actor
- Natacha Ermitage: French alpine skier
- Marc Ermitage: Belgian former football midfielder
- Jean-Paul Ermitage: French former racing cyclist
- Marie-Christine Ermitage: French former synchronized swimmer
- Ida Ermitage: American archer
- Benoît Ermitage: Former French professional ice hockey player
- Ioan Ermitage: Romanian former professional football player
- Vincent Ermitage: French actor, director, and producer
- Helen Ermitage: British television presenter
- Nicolas Ermitage: French film director, actor, and producer