Surname Handrich - Meaning and Origin
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Handrich: What does the surname Handrich mean?
The last name Handrich is of German origin. It derives from the German words "han" meaning "a group of people" + "rich" meaning "ruler" and together can be translated to mean "a ruling group of people" or "a ruler of many people". Handrich can be an occupational surname likely used to denote someone who held a ruling position within a group, such as a leader or head of the family.
The Handrich surname is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is believed to have derived from the given name "Hans" and its variants, which were popular among medieval Europe. From the given name Hans would have emerged a patronymic surname of Handrich, which later developed to Handrick and Hendricks in some regions.
The name is likely derived from the ancient Germanic Roots “hand” meaning “man” and “rihhi”, meaning “powerful”, thereby acquiring a meaning of “strong man”. This explains the name’s widespread usage throughout Europe as a title for local families who held positions of power and respect.
The diminishing usage of the Handrich surname today can be attributed to the various name changes adopted by local families in response to cultural, linguistic, and political changes in the times. However, its history still resonates within various families across the world, who proudly carry the name with honor.
Order DNA origin analysisHandrich: Where does the name Handrich come from?
The last name Handrich is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It has Germanic origins and derives from the Old Germanic word ‘hand’ meaning ‘hand’ or ‘worker’.
The name is thought to have originated from an occupational surname – a name for a manual labourer. Records of the name first appear in churches and court documents in Germany in the 15th Century. Handrich has also been recorded in Austria at least since 1633.
Since then, people bearing the last name Handrich have spread all across the world. Handrichs are now found in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere.
In Germany, Handrichs are most commonly found today in the northwest of the country, particularly in cities such as Berlin, Dresden, Hanover, and Hamburg. It is also quite common in parts of Austria.
The last name is not particularly common today, although there have been some notable people with the surname such as the German World War II dummy artist August Handrich and third-generation American oil painter Richard Handrich.
Variations of the surname Handrich
The surname Handrich is a German patronymic surname, derived from the German given name 'Hann'. It is likely derived from the Hebrew name 'Hananiah', meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'. The variants of this surname include Handric, Handrick, Handrek, Handricke, Handereck, Handreck, Handrecke, Handerer, Handers, Handhauser, Hann rich, Handricht, Handrichter and Handritch.
The above-mentioned variants of the Handrich surname can also be spelled differently, including Handricht, Handricke, Handrick, Handridge, Handrek, Handrecke, Handrichter, Handrichter, Handriction, Handricht, Handratch, Handricht, Handric, Handereck, Hanrich, Handers, Handhauser, Handritsch and Handritch.
The Scottish variants of the Handrich surname include Hannrich, Hanreach, Handrey, Hander, Handragh, Handreck and Hannrich.
Interestingly, some of the variants of Handrich, such as Handricht, Handrecke, Handrick, Handerers, and Hanreach, might have been derived from the Middle High German term ‘handerec’, meaning ‘hanndy worker’.
The surnames Handrich, and its variants, are still common in Germany today. Moreover, the Handrich surname can be found in various records and documents from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
Famous people with the name Handrich
- Gretchen Handrich: Gretchen Handrich is an American actress best known for her role in the television series "Northern Exposure" as Shelly in 1992.
- Russell Handrich: Russell Handrich is an American screenwriter who has written for films such as "The Scorpion King" and "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World."
- Paul Handrich: Paul Handrich is an American film director, cinematographer, and producer. He is best known for his work on the films "Uno" and "Cat Scan."
- Philip Handrich: Philip Handrich is a German actor best known for his roles in the films "Uno" and "Wilde."
- Charles Handrich: Charles Handrich is an American educator and is currently the director of the Green River Valley Museum in Green River, Wyoming.
- John Handrich: John Handrich is an American artist who works primarily in photography and painting. His works have been exhibited in the US and abroad.
- Brian Handrich: Brian Handrich is a senior television executive and Emmy Award-winning producer. He is best known for his work on the series "The Adventures of Paddington Bear."
- Clive Handrich: Clive Handrich is an English actor known for his roles in the films "Chapultepec" and "The Hours and Times."
- Michael Handrich: Michael Handrich is an American attorney and is currently the managing partner at Axiom Legal Group in Portland, Oregon.
- Lee Handrich: Lee Handrich is a former American football player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the National Football League.