Surname Hamprecht - Meaning and Origin
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Hamprecht: What does the surname Hamprecht mean?
The last name Hamprecht is German in origin. It is derived from a combination of the Middle High German words 'hamp' and 'rich'. The word 'hamp' is thought to mean a small enclosed piece of land or meadow, and 'rich' was used in a variety of contexts to describe anything that was abundant or powerful.
Together, the two components of the name suggest a strong link to land ownership and wealth. Indeed, members of various Hamprecht families held influential positions in Germany in the 1500s and 1600s, such as members of the nobility or high-ranking government officials.
The name Hamprecht is also somewhat common today in what used to be West Germany. It is present in a number of countries, such as the US, Australia, and Canada, where German immigrants settled in the 19th century.
In sum, the name Hamprecht has an illustrious history and is something of a testament to the immense potential of land ownership and power in a distant era of German history. It is a reminder of the importance of family, wealth and power in the days of old.
Order DNA origin analysisHamprecht: Where does the name Hamprecht come from?
The last name Hamprecht is commonly found in Germany today. According to official records, as of August 2020, approximately 2,695 people living in the country have the last name Hamprecht.
The name is strongly linked to an old German family with deep roots in the areas of Silesia, Pomerania, and Rhineland. The name can be traced to the early 13th century, when it was used as a clan name in Silesia. It was incorporated into various aristocratic and noble families in this area in the Middle Ages.
The first known bearer of the name was Constance von Hamprecht, a wealthy 13th-century landowner in the area of Upper Silesia. The name Hamprecht has also been prevalent in the Rhineland region since the 1800s and was likely connected to families with a military background.
Today the name Hamprecht is still found in various parts of Germany, including Lower Saxony, Thuringia, and the city of Berlin. It is also known to be widespread in the United States, especially in areas with large German immigrant communities such as Pennsylvania.
Variations of the surname Hamprecht
The surname Hamprecht is a German/Austrian last name. Its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Hansprecht, Hamprich, Hanprecht, democrat, Hombreeht, Hambrecht, Humprecht, Hanbrecht, Hanprecht, Hamrecht and Hampelrecht.
Hamprecht is an occupational type surname, specifically referring to a crown officer. This can be a steward, a witness/ legal officer, treasurer/ controller or an official.
The earliest record of the surname can be found in 1252 recorded in Frankfurt am Main when one Waltherus de Humbrecht is mentioned in the town register. In 1291, Heminrich de Hombreht is mentioned in the charters of the Archbishop of Köln.
Although the surname is German/Austrian, one of its variants –Hampelrecht is Dutch. One Bartin de Hanprecht is recorded in Holland in 1454 at the Hearke Deventer proeveboeck.
The surname was spread throughout the Netherlands, Germany and Austria, and can also be found in the United States, France, Australia and Canada. A variant of the name – Democrat is found in the Afrikaans-speaking areas of Southern Africa and Namibia.
Most variants of the surname are derived from the father’s name - Hans, which is the German form of John.
Hamprecht is an old and enduring name, which is still being used today in various versions in many countries.
Famous people with the name Hamprecht
- Friede Hamprecht: Friede Hamprecht is a German forage expert and author of several books on forage topics.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Hamprecht: Friedrich Wilhelm Hamprecht was a nineteenth-century German botanist who studied the structure of the stem and root systems in plants.
- Jan-Philipp Hamprecht: Jan-Philipp Hamprecht is a German actor and sculptor who has appeared in many films and television shows.
- Franz Hamprecht: Franz Hamprecht was a German industrialist in the 19th century who founded the Hamprecht Mechanical Factory in Darmstadt, Germany in 1825.
- Georg Hamprecht: Georg Hamprecht was a German architect in the 19th century who worked on many projects in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.
- Johann Hamprecht: Johann Hamprecht was a German surgeon in the 19th century who is known for pioneering new procedures in facial reconstruction.
- Jacob Hamprecht: Jacob Hamprecht was a German physicist in the 19th century who made several discoveries in thermometry and thermodynamics.
- Louise Hamprecht: Louise Hamprecht was an early German feminist and writer in the 19th century.
- Ernst Hamprecht: Ernst Hamprecht was a German composer and musicologist in the 19th century who wrote several books on musical theory.
- Andreas Hamprecht: Andreas Hamprecht was a Swiss composer and musician in the 19th century. He was a professor at the Zurich Conservatory of Music and composed several pieces for the piano, organ, and orchestra.