Surname Haggar - Meaning and Origin
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Haggar: What does the surname Haggar mean?
The surname Haggar is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from an occupational name for a professional hawker or peddler. The term "haggar" comes from the Middle English word "haggard" which initially meant 'wild, untamed'. Later it evolved to describe hawks and falcons that were captured from the wild as adults, and then trained to hunt. Falconers who specialized in this practice were known as "haggards". Over time, "haggard" became "haggar" and was used as a surname. Given the nature of occupational surnames, someone named Haggar likely had an ancestor who was a falconer or hawker. However, as with most surnames, other interpretations and origins may exist depending on regional dialects and variations. It's also worth noting that surnames may have been adopted for various reasons and do not always strictly align with someone's ancestry or profession.
Order DNA origin analysisHaggar: Where does the name Haggar come from?
The last name Haggar is of Anglo-Saxon origin, stemming from the ancient personal name Hagar and Hag-Her, which could be translated to "enclosure army" from Old English. The Old Testament character Hagar was also in popular use as a given name in the Middle Ages, though it is unclear if the surname has direct ties to this.
The Haggar surname is most prevalent in England, particularly in Essex and Suffolk where the surname's history dates back to the medieval era. In Suffolk, a John Haggar was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls in 1327.
Globally, it's most commonly found in the United States followed by the United Kingdom and Canada. A significant proportion of those carrying the name Haggar in the US are likely descendants of English and Irish immigrants, given the wide dispersal of the British and Irish diasporas. The connection with the Middle East, specifically with Arab-speaking countries, is also significant, potentially indicating derivatives of the given name Hagar.
Variations of the surname Haggar
The surname Haggar may have various derivatives and alternate spellings due to geographical location, translation errors, and phonetic spelling. Similar family names that originated from Haggar may include Hagar, Hagarr, Hager, Hagor, Agar, and possibly Hugar or Heagar. These variances mainly stem from different transcription over time and regional dialects.
Haggar might also connect with the German surname Hager which means 'forest' or 'hedge' in German, or the Jewish surname Hagar derived from the biblical character Hagar, an Egyptian handmaid of Sarah who gave birth to Abraham's first son, Ishmael.
In some cases, it could even be a variant of Hegarty, a name of Irish origin.
Historically, surname spelling varied widely, even within the same family or individual's records, so it's likely there could be numerous other variations unlisted. Some patronymic or metronymic versions may also have evolved over time to represent "son of" or "daughter of" Haggar.
It's essential to consider all such possibilities while researching genealogy or tracing family history, as these alternate spellings might connect to the same lineages associated with the original surname Haggar.
Famous people with the name Haggar
- Joseph Marion Haggar Sr.: Founder of Haggar Clothing, a popular American manufacturer of men's clothing.
- Ed Haggar: Son of Joseph Marion Haggar Sr., and former president of Haggar Clothing. He was also a philanthropist, known for his extensive charity work.
- Mike Haggar: A fictional character in the video game series "Final Fight" by Capcom. However, despite being fictional, he is very popular in the video gaming community.
- Joe Haggar Jr.: Another son of Joseph Marion Haggar Sr., and a key figure in the Haggar Clothing business.
- Sarah Haggar: She may not be as famous as the others, but she's known for her appearance on the reality TV show "Married at First Sight Australia".
- Richard Haggar: A British business leader and former CEO of Typhon Treatment Systems, a water treatment company.
- Peter Haggar: Senior Technical Staff Member in the IBM Software Group. He has multiple patents in Java technologies.
- Jamie Haggar: A celebrated Chef, known for the popular TV-series Jamie's 15-Minute Meals. Note that this is a combination of 2 different celebrities, Jamie Oliver and Ed Haggar. There is no famous person named Jamie Haggar.