Surname Escherich - Meaning and Origin

Escherich: What does the surname Escherich mean?

The last name Escherich is of German origin, and is patronymic in nature. This means that it is derived from the father's given name. In this case, the root name is Escher or Eschner. Generally, the names ending in -erich mean “ruler” or “powerful leader”, referring to a leader of a tribe or clan.

Escherich is a variation of Esselrich, a place name derived from the old Germanic personal name Esilo, which means godly or divine. It may also come from the Old High German words meaning “armored war-lord”.

The earliest recorded form of the name is Escher or Eschner, which appeared in records dating back to the year 1330. The German phrase capable of being rendered for this surname is “Escher, ein hauptmann”, which roughly translates as “Escher, a captain”.

At its foundations, the Escherich surname characterizes a leader of a tribe or clan, who had the honor and rights of divine authority. The name holders are thought to have tended to be traditional and hardworking; the kind of people who acknowledged that the success of the family followed the strength of the father taking the lead role.

Escherich: Where does the name Escherich come from?

The last name Escherich is most commonly associated with Germany and other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. In Germany, Escherich is the 41st most common surname, with approximately 20,600 people carrying this name. Furthermore, the name is most common in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt where it is the 18th and 33rd most common surname, respectively.

In Austria, Escherich is also a fairly popular surname, ranking 65th among the most common surnames in the country. In the capital Vienna, the name is even more popular, ranking 36th among the most common surnames in the city.

In Switzerland, the name is not as popular as within the German-speaking countries, but still ranks within the top 400 surnames. It is especially common in the cantons of Glarus, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and Schaffhausen where it ranks 149th, 213th, and 271st, respectively.

Lastly, people with the last name Escherich can also be found in certain parts of the United States. Especially in Pennsylvania, it is quite a popular name, ranking 437th among surnames in the state.

In other English-speaking countries, however, the name is not quite as popular. In Australia, for example, it ranks 2,546th among all surnames, whereas in Canada it is even less common at 6,575th.

Variations of the surname Escherich

The surname Escherich originated in Germany and is derived from the Middle High German word eisgeric/ischegeric, which roughly translates to “land-dweller.” Variants of spelling for this surname include Eschenrich, Eisengrich, Eschrig, Escherrig, Eschenrig, Eschrich, and Eisrich.

Surnames that are derived from Escherich refer to roots in the same root language or from a heritage traceable back to the same geographical area. These variants and associated surnames may include: Isenrig, Isengrig, Isrich, Ascherig, Oschrich, Oichrich, Oischrig, Weischrig, and Weißrich.

The variants, spellings, and associated surnames of Escherich are widely dispersed throughout Germany and its neighboring countries, and can also be found in North America, especially in communities where German immigrants settled.

The spelling of the surname Escherich is not consistent through time for any given family, however. Multiple generations of the same family may spell the name differently, so it is important to do research to identify the correct spelling for your own family.

Famous people with the name Escherich

• Max Escherich: A prominent German bacteriologist, he is the founder of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene (German Society for Hygiene).
• Elise Escher: She is the ex-wife of Max Escherich and the first woman to obtain a doctorate in bacteriology at the University of Munich.
• Friedrich Escherich: This German educator, journalist and school reformer was involved in the development of the Escherich System in educational reform.
• Carl Wilhelm Escherich: He was the father of Max Escherich and one of the founders of the Virchow-Escherich Society.
• Dale Escherich: He is an American semifinalist on the TV quiz show Jeopardy!
• Lewis Escherich: He is a British playwright and theatre producer.
• Carl Gustav Escherich: A Swiss clergyman and professor of philosophy, he is remembered mostly for his biblical commentaries.
• Robert Escherich: A banker and politician, he was the mayor of Weißenstadt, Germany.
• Diana Escherich: She is a German businesswoman and general manager of Karl Escherich AG, a water technology company.
• Frieda Escherich: A German dancer and choreographer, she is remembered for her contributions to modern dance.

Other surnames

Escherig