Surname Ersfeld - Meaning and Origin

Ersfeld: What does the surname Ersfeld mean?

The surname Ersfeld is believed to be of German origin. It is derived from the personal name Ernst, which, in German, means "serious" or "sincere". It is also derived from the old German nickname ahrend, meaning "respectful" or "honorable". The name also can have a locative origin, derived from a place named after this personal name.

Ersfeld is thought to be most commonly found in Northern Germany near the border with Poland. Historically, the name may have been adopted by families that had moved or migrated from German-speaking countries to other (mostly western) countries in Europe.

In modern times, the surname of Ersfeld is most prominent in Germany. People with this surname can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain. There may also be families with this surname living in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.

In terms of occupations, people with the surname of Ersfeld may have traditionally been tradesmen, farmers, craftsmen, or other manual laborers. Nowadays, people with this surname usually pursue more modern professions, including business, finance, education, medicine, law, engineering, etc.

Ersfeld: Where does the name Ersfeld come from?

The surname Ersfeld is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a relatively uncommon surname, with fewer than 200 people bearing the name living in Germany today. The earliest record of the surname dates all the way back to 1730 in Ferschweiler, a small village in Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate state.

The family is believed to have originated from the region of Ferschweiler, but some branches have also emigrated to areas such as Spain and Latin America. The variant of the surname found in Latin America is "Erzfeld".

Interestingly, the surname is derived from a combination of two old German words which mean "old" and "field" respectively. This reveals that the family was likely of peasant origin, as the name indicates they most likely owned a field which had been passed down through the generations.

Besides Germany, the surname Ersfeld can also be found in Switzerland, Austria, France, The Netherlands, and the United States. In the United States, the family is found in predominantly in Pennsylvania, where some of the original immigrants from Germany settled in the early 19th century.

Overall, the surname Ersfeld is not a particularly common name, but it is still found to this day in both its original home of Germany and various other areas around the world.

Variations of the surname Ersfeld

The surname Ersfeld has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. They include the following:

• Erstfeld

• Erst fielding

• Erstfeldt

• Ersthelf

• Ersthelff

• Erstfelder & Ersthelfer

• Erstfling

• Erstelf

• Erstfelt

• Easthold

• Eastholt

• Eiseltfel

• Eastolf

• Eyrstfeld

• Estfeld

• Ersfelde

• Ersfelt

• Erselt

• Erchell

• Ersholt

• Ersholz

• Ershub

• Ersheim

• Ershul

• Ershuys

• Ershofen

• Ershaim

• Erbfelt

• Erbhelt

• Erbsenfeldt

• Erbsenueber

• Erbseifert

• Erbe

• Arstfelt

• Arcelt

• Arcfeldt

• Arceft

The common root of these surnames is the Germanic word ‘Ers’, which means ‘edge’, ‘riverbank’ or ‘ridge’. This indicates that the original bearers of the last name were likely farmers or dwellers in a region located on the edge of a river. Individuals named Ersfeld were likely to have lived on the edge of a river and their descendants carried the name on over the centuries. These origins are often found in Germanic places and even in viking raids.

Famous people with the name Ersfeld

• Edgar Ersfeld: German television actor famous for his roles in films like Der letzte Moment and Der Hexenwahn.
• Syd Ersfeld: American professional baseball player best known for playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1924 to 1925 and for the Chicago Cubs from 1920 to 1921.
• Werner Ersfeld: German soldier and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in World War II.
• Bruno Ersfeld: German screenwriter and director of movies such as Sturm über dem Montblanc, Die wilde Kraft, and Dora.
• Claus Ersfeld: German aerial photographer and film producer known for his work on films such as Der Landwirt and Der große Coup.
• Fritz Ersfeld: German WWI General and leader of the 181st Infantry Regiment.
• Edward Ersfeld: American military officer and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for his service during WWII.
• Arnold Ersfeld: German composer and music director who wrote the score for the movie Donnerlippchen.
• Alfred Ersfeld: German painter and sculptor famous for his work on the Frauenkirche in Munich and the City Hall in Nuremberg.
• Karl Ersfeld: German painter best known for his depictions of landscapes and cities in the Ruhr area.

Other surnames

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