Surname Erny - Meaning and Origin
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Erny: What does the surname Erny mean?
The last name Erny is believed to be of German origin. It is an occupational surname which originated from the Latin word “arnica” meaning “eagle”. This is believed to refer to someone who bred eagles or was a falconer. It may have also indicated that someone was employed in a position of authority, as eagles are associated with power and strength.
The earliest record of the Erny surname dates back to 1290, when one Johannes Erny appears in the historical records of the city of Basel in Switzerland. By the 1500s, the Erny family had spread from Switzerland to Germany and the Netherlands.
The Erny family is known to have great reverence for the eagles which symbolizes strength and honor. This characteristic is apparent in the family’s coat of arms, which prominently features an eagle in two different designs.
The last name Erny is a proud example of its German heritage. It is a reminder of the family’s history, of its strength and of the respect for eagles. The last name Erny is a testament to the family’s spirit of courage and fortitude, steeped in rich tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisErny: Where does the name Erny come from?
The last name Erny is most commonly found in areas in or around Germany, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, however, it is not limited to those locations. Erny is a Germanic surname derived from the name Ernault which is possibly derived from either a personal name or a topographic name.
In Germany, evidence of the surname dates back to the late 13th century and is mainly found concentrated in Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria. Some variations of Erny can also be found in these locations such as Earny, Arni, Ernö, Hirny, Arney, Erni, ernihs, and Ernöny.
In France, Erny is most commonly located in the Alsace region and is of Germanic origins as opposed to the French version Ernault, which mainly originates from the northern part of France.
Erny can also be found in Belgium and Luxembourg but is less commonly found. There is evidence of the name as early as the 16th century.
Given it's location in Europe, Erny is a relatively popular name with over 6,000 occurrences in Germany alone. Despite Erny's popularity, it is still a relatively uncommon name across the globe with the majority of occurrences found in Europe.
Variations of the surname Erny
Erny is a surname of French, German, and Dutch origin. It is derived from the personal name Ern (or Erni) which is itself derived from the Old Germanic name "ērnō", meaning honour or integrity.
Variants of Erny include: Erney, Ernay, Ernée, Erni, Ernoe, Erno, Ernoey, Ernoi, Ernye, Ernyei, and Ernys.
In French, the surname is often spelled Erné or Ernée. In German, it is commonly written as Erni and in Dutch, it is usually written as Erny, or Ernoey.
The name also appears in various forms in other countries. Dutch-speaking Zealanders (in the Netherlands and Belgium) spell the name as Ernoe. Swiss-Germans may spell the surname Ernö. In the United States, the surname is often spelled as Ernay, Erney, or Erny.
Surnames that sound similar to Erny and may be of the same origin include: Arnia, Arnie, Arny, Ernieder, Ernies, Ernsteen, Ernieuw, Erns, and Erny.
It is possible that the spelling of Erny has evolved over time to take on various forms. It may have started as Ernoe, and then become Ernée in French, Erni in German, and Erny in Dutch. With the expansion of the family, additional spellings may have developed. Therefore, when researching the origin and history of this surname, it is important to consider all these variants.
Famous people with the name Erny
- Dave Erny: Dave Erny is an American comic artist who worked for a variety of publishers during the 1990s and 2000s. He is known for his work on various Hannah-Barbara comic series, the Archie comics, and the Avatar series.
- Theo Erny: Theo Erny is a French-Malian professional football player currently playing for Rotherham United of the Championship.
- Vickie Erny: Vickie Erny is an American actress and voice actress who has appeared in a variety of television shows and films. She is best known for her work in the animated series Star Wars: Rebels and the popular web series Puttin' on the Ritz.
- Noah Erny: Noah Erny is a Swiss alpine skier who has won a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
- Robert Erny: Robert Erny is a German politician who is currently the leader of the Left Party in the German state of Saxony.
- Caroline Erny: Caroline Erny is a French news presenter on French television, best known for her work for the public network France 2 and for hosting the afternoon news program.
- Baillot Erny: Baillot Erny is a French former professional cyclist, who competed professionally between 1988 and 2000.
- Mike Erny: Mike Erny is a former American basketball player who played college basketball at Notre Dame and professionally for hire in Azerbaijan in the early 2000s.